City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Fire
Meeting Date: March 2, 2026
Report #:2602-5922
TITLE
Approval of Amendment No. 1 to the Multi-Agency Staffing Agreement for Fire Station 8. CEQA Status – Not a Project.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the First Amendment to Fire and Emergency Medical Services Agreement between Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District, Los Altos Hills County Fire District, and the City of Palo Alto for the Operations and Funding of Fire Station 8, to continue staffing Palo Alto Fire Station 8 (Foothills) during wildland fire season in calendar year 2026, and with an annual renewal for up to four additional one-year terms through December 31, 2031 (Attachment A – First Amendment; Attachment B – Original Agreement).
BACKGROUND
Santa Clara County and the greater Bay Area continue to experience heightened wildland fire risk, particularly in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) where neighborhoods and open space areas are closely connected. Fire Station 8 (Foothills) is strategically located adjacent to WUI terrain and regional open space, and seasonal staffing improves readiness and response capability during the wildland fire season.
In 2021, the City of Palo Alto entered into a tri-party agreement with the Los Altos Hills County Fire District and the Santa Clara County Fire Department to implement a seasonal staffing model for Station 8, including a planned rotation of staffing between Palo Alto Fire and Santa Clara County Fire and a cost recovery framework supported by Los Altos Hills County Fire District funding. The proposed action is approving the First Amendment to continue the staffing model through calendar year 2026. The amendment updates the agreement document as needed for continued implementation, with no significant operational or financial changes to the staffing model beyond the updated terms reflected in the amendment. The amendment
also includes annual renewal for up to four additional one-year terms through December 31, 2031.
ANALYSIS
The Foothills area and adjacent open space remain a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) environment where response time, access constraints, and fast-changing fire weather can quickly increase incident complexity. Seasonal staffing of Fire Station 8 (Foothills) strengthens initial attack capability and improves coverage for WUI fires and other all-risk incidents during the wildland fire season.
The First Amendment continues the established tri-party operational model with Los Altos Hills County Fire District and the Santa Clara County Fire Department, supporting coordinated regional resource positioning and mutual aid readiness during periods of elevated demand.
Operationally, the program maintains a three-person company at Station 8, with minimum daily coverage and the ability to extend hours when conditions warrant, with staffing provided on a monthly rotation between Palo Alto Fire and Santa Clara County Fire.
Financially, the agreement structure continues cost recovery through partner funding consistent with the amended billing and rate terms, with the City’s role focused on contract administration, Fire Station 8, three-person staffing rotation, and routine station/apparatus maintenance. Amendment extends an existing program and does not change the core service delivery model.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
Los Altos Hills County Fire District (LAHCFD) shall continue to provide funding to recover the cost of a three-person fire crew assigned to Station 8 (Foothills) during the wildland firefighting season, consistent with the Agreement as amended. LAHCFD will continue to be billed monthly in accordance with the updated billing provisions in the First Amendment.
The applicable fiscal year budget will be adjusted as necessary to reflect revenue and associated overtime expenditures consistent with historical practice and the amended cost recovery methodology. There are no additional general fund resources required as a result of this amendment other than routine facility and apparatus maintenance.
As previously established, Palo Alto Fire and Santa Clara County Fire will continue to staff Fire Station 8 (Foothills) on a monthly rotation beginning in June and extending through the end of wildland fire season (typically November). County Fire shall continue to be authorized to occupy and use Fire Station 8 (Foothills) during wildland firefighting season solely for the purpose of providing fire protection and related services, consistent with the Agreement as amended.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Because the First Amendment continues an existing, multi-agency operational agreement, stakeholder engagement focused on coordinating implementation details and confirming continued partner participation for the upcoming wildland fire season.
Partner Agency Coordination: Palo Alto Fire Department staff coordinated with the Los Altos Hills County Fire District and the Santa Clara County Fire Department to confirm continued operational interest, staffing rotation expectations, facility use protocols, and cost recovery/billing parameters reflected in the First Amendment.
Operational Readiness / Field Input: Fire operations leadership reviewed the seasonal staffing approach to confirm feasibility, readiness, and alignment with WUI response needs, including initial attack capability and coverage during elevated fire weather conditions.
Public Outreach: No separate public outreach was conducted for this item because it extends an established seasonal service model and does not change public access, service levels, or operational impacts beyond continuing existing practice. The item is being presented on the Consent Calendar consistent with its continuation/administrative nature.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Council approval of this First Amendment to the Fire Station 8 staffing Agreement is an administrative action of government to continue an existing operational agreement and does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Station 8 First Amendment to the 2021 Agreement Attachment B: Station 8 2021 Agreement
APPROVED BY:
Stephen Lindsey, Fire Chief