SFD Fire and Emergency Service Delivery Options
Status Quo Sebastopol
Fire
Department
(SFD)
Option
Gold Ridge
Fire
Protection
District
(GRFPD)
Option
Graton Fire
Protection
District
Option
Sonoma
County Fire
Protection
District
(SCFPD)
Option
Contract
with other
agency
JPA
Example: City of
Sonoma, Valley
of the Moon Fire
District
Estimated
Cost
$1.4 Million
$200 for day
stipend shift
1.4 million +
$280,000 for
expansion of
stipend
program
+ $515,000
for career
staffing in 3
years.
Approx.
Total $2.25
budget in 3-5
years
2.7 million
includes O&M
personnel and
apportionmen
t for overhead
and
administration
$100 for day
stipend shift;
$50 for night
$2.2 million
includes O&M
and
apportionmen
t for overhead
and
administration
$150 for day
stipend shift
$2.5 Million
includes
apportionment
for overhead
and
administration
Does not
include O&M –
total
estimated cost
$3.5 million
$2.5 million
for 3
staffing
24/7
assigned
admin chief
ONLY does
not include
O&M
Estimated
$2-2.5 million as
negotiated.
Approximate
parcel Tax
ramifications
None None for
phase 1;
Parcel tax for
approximatel
y $250 per
parcel and
.14 cents per
square ft for
businesses
for 24-hour
staffing
phase
$273 per
residential
parcel and .14
cents per
square ft for
businesses at
time of
completion of
reorganization
$250 per
parcel and .14
cents per
square ft for
businesses at
time of
completion of
reorganization
$247 per
parcel and avg
.10 cents per
square ft for
businesses at
time of
completion of
reorganization
Requires a
tax increase
to fund or
greater
allocation
of GF
revenues
Requires a tax
increase to fund
or greater
allocation of GF
revenues
Achieves
24/hour
staffing
No Yes – initially
by way of
stipend FF’s
Yes, full time
staffing upon
passage of a
tax
Yes – after
completion of
reorganization
and funds
from applied
parcel tax
Yes – after
completion of
reorganization
and funds
from applied
parcel tax
Yes – after
completion of
reorganization
and funds
from applied
parcel tax
Yes- after
finalization
of contract
and
provided
funding
Yes- after
finalization of
agreement and
provided
funding
SFD Fire and Emergency Service Delivery Options
Status Quo SFD Option GRFPD Option Graton Option SCFPD Option Contract with other
agency
JPA
Improves
response
times and
reliability
No – Status
quo
Yes – provide
for 24-hour
stipend FF
phase 1,
provides for
24-hour
career
staffing
phase 2
Yes – provides
24-hour
career staffing
Yes – provides
24-hour
career staffing
Yes – provides
24-hour career
staffing
Yes –
provides
24-hour
career
staffing
As determined
by agreement
Requires
LAFCO
oversite
No No Yes, requires a
MSR and
reorganization
process 2- 4
years
Yes, requires a
MSR and
reorganization
process 2- 4
years
Yes, requires a
MSR and
reorganization
process 2-4
years
Yes as
required by
SB 209
No
Change in
Governance
Authority
No change -
City Council
control
No change -
City Council
control
Yes – shift to
district board
of directors.
Yes – shift to
district board
of directors.
Yes – shift to
district board
of directors.
No – City
Council
control
Possible – JPA
governing body
Provide
Battalion
Chief (BC)
management
level coverage
24/7
No – status
quo; no
designated
officer M-F.
Designated
officer on
weekends.
No – status
quo; no
designated
officer M-F.
Designated
officer on
weekends.
Yes- 24-hour
Battalion
Chief
coverage and
duty chief
coverage
district wide
No - No
designated
chief coverage
unless
negotiated in
the
reorganization
process
Yes- 24-hour
Battalion Chief
coverage and
duty chief
coverage
district wide
Yes- 24-
hour
Battalion
Chief
coverage
assigned to
Sebastopol.
As determined
by agreement
SFD Fire and Emergency Service Delivery Options
Status Quo SFD Option GRFPD Option Graton
Option
SCFPD Option Contract
with other
agency
JPA
Like culture
Size/volunteer
No Change No
fundamental
change
Shifts to a
large (300 sq
mile, 17
stations)
department
mostly career
staff
supplemented
by volunteers
Maintains
similar culture
in size and a
mostly
volunteer
supplemented
by career staff
culture
Shifts to a
large
department
mostly career
staff
supplemented
by volunteers
Maintains
similar
culture in
size and a
mostly
volunteer
supplement
ed by
career staff
Maintains
similar culture
in size and a
mostly
volunteer
supplemented
by career staff
culture
Provides Fire
Prevention
functions
Yes – under
city
governance
Yes – under
city
governance
Yes – under
district
governance
Yes – under
district
governance
Yes – under
district
governance
Yes – under
city
governance
Yes – under city
governance
Provides
Emergency
Management
and EOC
oversite
Yes – under
city
governance
Yes – under
city
governance
No –
responsibility
will need to
shift to
another city
department
No –
responsibility
will need to
shift to
another city
department
No –
responsibility
will need to
shift to
another city
department
Yes- under
city
governance
Yes – under city
governance
Changes ISO
Rating
(insurance rates)
NO NO Possible – will
need to be
determined
Possible – will
need to be
determined
Possible – will
need to be
determined
NO NO
SFD Fire and Emergency Service Delivery Options
Status Quo SFD Option GRFPD option Graton Option SCFPD Option Contract with other
agency
JPA
Notes:
Has been a
cost effective
delivery model
and provides
the
community
with quality
service but
does not
address some
long response
times and
occasional
failures in
ensuring for a
response to an
emergency.
Cost effective
option to
incrementally
improve 24-
hour response
staffing while
achieving
funding.
(So Co wide
fire sales tax,
or other SEB
tax measure)
necessary to
ultimately
reach 24-hour
career staffing.
Will not result
freeing up any
GF funds.
This option
does not
address the
short term
need to
improve
staffing but
does
accomplish 24-
hour career
staffing once
the
reorganization
is complete.
Imposes parcel
and commercial
building tax
W/O voter
approval.
This option
presents a
culture shift
from the
current SFD
organization.
Will not result
freeing up any
GF funds.
This option
does not
address the
short-term
need to
improve
staffing but
does provide
24-hour career
staffing once
the
reorganization
is complete.
Imposes parcel
and commercial
building tax
W/O voter
approval.
This option
presents a
culture
consistent with
the current SFD
organization.
Will not free up
any GF funds.
This option is the
highest cost. This
option does not
address the shortterm need to
improve staffing
but does provide
24-hour career
staffing once
reorganization is
complete.
Imposes parcel
commercial
building tax W/O
voter approval.
This option
presents a culture
shift from the
current SFD
organization. That
may result in the
demise of the
volunteer
program.
Will result in a
greater allocation
of GF funds to
cover the high
cost that parcel
tax will not cover.
High Cost
and does not
come with a
parcel tax to
cover cost.
Is a potential way
to partner with a
neighboring
department and
evaluate future
consolidation.
09/18/2023