(November 4, 2025)
Fire Department
DATE: November 4, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Aaron Osorio, Fire Chief
Rico Rincon, Deputy Fire Chief
Victor Bontempo, Battalion Chief/EMS Director
Subject:
Interagency Agreement with Contra Costa County Health
Services for Emergency Medical Services Program
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The funding consists of an allocation from Contra Costa County Measure H Fund in the amount of $229,462 for
Fiscal Year 2025-2026 (Account String: 1007-10706022).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
October 18, 2022
April 15, 2025
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Fire Department receives funding through a tax
measure (Measure H) passed in 1988 from the Contra
Costa County Health Services in support of the Fire
Department’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
program. City staff are requesting approval of the
interagency agreement to continue receiving this funding for the current fiscal year.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution to: (1) ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE
funds in an amount not to exceed $229,462 in Measure H
funding from the Contra Costa County Health Services,
and (2) APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the City Manager,
or their designee to execute an interagency agreement
for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026 – Fire Department (Chief Aaron Osorio 510-307-
8021/Deputy Chief Rico Rincon 510-307-8041/Battalion
Chief Victor Bontempo 510-620-6893).
AGENDA
REPORT
(November 4, 2025)
DISCUSSION:
In 1988, Contra Costa County voters passed Measure H, which provided enhancements to the Contra Costa County Emergency Medical Services System. These funds are provided annually to fire agencies throughout the County to be used solely for emergency medical training/education, emergency and rescue equipment, and medical supplies.
Funding distributions were based on a “per engine” formula for many years. However, beginning in 2009, fire station closures began to prevent the full distribution of funds.
This created an unintended budget shortfall for impacted fire agencies. On May 14, 2013, a population-based allocation formula was adopted in an effort to support preserving fire first medical response to mitigate the reductions to fire agency funding.
The proposed interagency agreement would provide the City of Richmond with Measure H funding of up to $229,462 for Fiscal Year 2025-26 (Attachment 1). The following Emergency Medical Services (EMS) programs will be funded using the Measure H funds:
EMS Quality Improvement Program
EMS Dispatch Quality Assurance
Medical Equipment and Supplies
EMS Certification and Training Software/Platform
Communication Equipment and Dispatch (EBRCS)
City staff recommend that the City Council adopt a resolution to accept and appropriate funding from Contra Costa County Health Services for the Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Services program and approve and authorize the City Manager, or their designee, to execute an interagency agreement for the period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026 (Attachment 2).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Contra Costa County Interagency Agreement #23-551-6 Attachment 2 – Resolution