City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JUNE 25, 2024
FROM: FIRE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: EXTENSION OF THE MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT FOR FIRE PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY SERVICES THROUGH JUNE 30, 2029 ISSUE:
Approve an extension to the agreement for mutual aid between the City of Riverside Fire Department and San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (SBCFPD) to provide fire protection and emergency services within the respective jurisdictions with a five (5) year term ending June 30, 2029, unless otherwise terminated.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve an extension to the current mutual aid agreement between the City of Riverside Fire Department and San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (SBCFPD) for providing fire protection and emergency services within the respective jurisdictions for a five (5) year term ending June 30, 2029, unless otherwise terminated; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the Mutual Aid Agreement on behalf of the City and all other documents necessary to effectuate the agreement, including making minor non-substantive changes.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Riverside Fire Department participates in the California Fire Service and Rescue Emergency Mutual Aid system designed to provide a systematic mobilization, organization, and operation of necessary fire and rescue resources when needed to mitigate the effects of natural and man-made disasters throughout the State. California is continually faced with wildfires, floods, mudslides, water rescue, and many other emergencies requiring the activation of the system. One of the subcomponents of the plan identifies the ability for local agencies to establish local mutual aid agreements for fire protection and emergency services.
The intent of the original agreement 2019 agreement was to provide guidelines for the mutual aid of resources between the City of Riverside Fire Department and the SBCFPD for day-to-day emergency incident support. The agreement allowed each agency to request up to five (5) resources, such as Type 1 and Type 3 engines, water tenders, trucks, or other specialized equipment, for any emergency incident in their respective jurisdictions. The agency receiving the request would have the option to approve or deny the request depending on the availability of resources and incident activity within their own jurisdiction.
From 2019 to 2024, the City of Riverside Fire Department on average provided and received mutual aid with SBDCFD two (2) to three (3) times per year.
DISCUSSION:
The City of Riverside Fire Department is requesting to amend and extend the current contract to continue the mutual aid agreement between the City of Riverside Fire Department and the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District.
The Agreement does not obligate either agency to reimburse the other for any action taken, aid rendered, or materials and equipment used under the terms of the Agreement. The amendment does remove Section A.10. of the 2019 contract at the request of the SBCFPD. This change does not allow for the City of Riverside Fire Department to participate in the SBCFPD Cost Recovery Program or for the SBCFPD to participate in the City of Riverside Fire Department Cost Recovery Program. During the 2019 Agreement no items were used that required the use of either Cost Recovery Program.
The Fire Department will not seek cost recovery for local mutual aid provided for day-to-day routine emergency incidents. However, in the event of a major or catastrophic incident, which exceeds 12 hours or is other requested by the Fire Chief, the Department would likely seek cost recovery through the State Mutual Aid system.
Upon City Council approval, the term of the Agreement shall be for five (5) years or until either party provides a 90-day written notice of intent to terminate the Agreement.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
The item contributes to the following Strategic Priorities:
No. 2 Community Well-Being:
No. 2.6 Strengthen community preparedness for emergencies to ensure effective response and recovery.
Community Trust – This Mutual Aid agreement ensures that the citizens of the City of Riverside will have sufficient resources to respond to and properly mitigate a emergency incidents within the City of Riverside.
Equity – The Mutual Aid agreement ensures all residents of the City of Riverside will have the ability to respond to all communities within the City of Riverside with the proper equipment and training to effectively deal with emergency incidents.
Fiscal Responsibility – The Mutual Aid Agreement between the County of San Bernardino and the City of Riverside is at no cost to the City of Riverside.
Innovation – Leveraging expertise from the SBCFPD when the City of Riverside allows agencies to work together and gain experience that benefits all communities in the City of Riverside and the County of San Bernardino.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The Mutual Aid Agreement between the County of San Bernardino and the City of Riverside provides resiliency by having additional emergency response resource to respond to and if needed assist the City of Riverside Fire Department.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the approval of the Agreement for Mutual Aid with the SBCFPD. Local Mutual Aid would be provided at the discretion of the Riverside Fire Department for day-to-day emergency incidents and would not incur overtime or other additional costs. Likewise, no additional costs would be associated with aid received for day-to-day emergency incidents. There is no fiscal impact related to the removal of the cost recovery clause, as neither agency has historically sought cost recovery.
Prepared by: Steve McKinster, Deputy Fire Chief
Approved by: Michael A Moore, Fire Chief
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Mike Futrell, City Manager Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Amendment No. 1 (19-402 a-1) Agreement for Mutual Aid Between the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District and the City of Riverside.
Mutual Aid Agreement - SBCO ● Page 2