RESOLUTION NUMBER: 6648-2025
CITY OF SEBASTOPOL
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL APPROVING THE REVENUE SHARING
AND PROPERTY TRANSFER AGREEMENT WITH THE GOLD RIDGE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT WHEREAS, the City previously created a Fire Ad Hoc Committee to evaluate the City potentially reorganizing its Fire and Emergency Medical Services (hereinafter, “fire services”) into the Gold Ridge Fire Protection District (the “District”); and
WHEREAS, in April 2024, the City Council received a comprehensive report from the Fire Ad Hoc Committee and City staff recommended that the City proceed with reorganizing fire services with the District, and authorized the Fire Ad Hoc Committee to lead negotiations with the District; and WHEREAS, in May 2024, the City and District entered into a memorandum of understanding for shared services which results in greater fire and emergency medical services management and coordination between the two agencies; and
WHEREAS, on October 1, 2024, the City Council adopted Resolution 6619-2024, a Joint Resolution of the City and District Endorsing the Proposed Annexation of the City of Sebastopol’s Fire and Emergency Medical Services into the Gold Ridge Fire Protection District subject to certain terms and conditions; and WHEREAS, the Fire Ad-Hoc Committee and staff have been working diligently to complete due diligence and negotiate the detailed terms and conditions of the reorganization of Fire Services with the District; and
WHEREAS, reorganization of fire services into the District will enable the City to receive an increased level of service at less of a cost for the City’s General Fund due to the District’s economies of scale, depth of personnel, and resources; and
WHEREAS, it would cost the City at least a $1 million more from the City’s General Fund to maintain a fire department that will provide the same level of service as the District, or at least $2 million more from the City’s General Fund if City voters would not approve a new parcel tax for fire services; and WHEREAS, maintaining the City fire department with the current level of service will result in fire services being provided at level that does not meet community expectations or current standards; and WHEREAS, under the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000, the Sonoma County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) has the authority to review and approve or disapprove proposals for changes in the boundaries and organization to include consolidations, and must approve the proposed reorganization of the City’s fire services into the District; and WHEREAS, as part of LAFCO’s consideration of the proposed reorganization, the City and District must reach an agreement for the transfer of revenue from the City to the District to pay for the District’s cost of providing the reorganized fire services; and
Docusign Envelope ID: 9BBA5CC2-E8E9-4482-B386-DF98480F289F WHEREAS, the City and District have determined that the best way to pay for the reorganized services is for the City to make an annual payment to the District from the General Fund, without any reallocation of the City’s AB 8 property tax allocation to the District; and WHEREAS, the Fire Ad-Hoc Committee has completed extensive negotiations with the District regarding the revenue payment, and the parties have agreed that the City will make annual payment to the District of $1.11 Million; and
WHEREAS, the annual payment will be increased annually by the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for the San Francisco Bay Area, with a minimum annual increase of 2% and a maximum annual increase of 5%; and
WHEREAS, the proposed revenue sharing agreement incorporates the District’s LAFCO application for reorganization; and
WHEREAS, the proposed revenue sharing agreement includes various terms and conditions, including regarding the transfer of City owned fire engines and the fire station, and incorporates as an exhibit the deed for the transfer of the fire station; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has carefully reviewed the proposed Revenue Sharing and Property Transfer Agreement with the District, a copy of which was included in the agenda packet for February 4, 2025 City Council meeting; and
WHEREAS, the City and District intend the revenue sharing agreement to satisfy the requirements of Revenue and Taxation Code section 99; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to authorize the City Manager to make minor changes to the Revenue Sharing and Property Transfer Agreement without further Council approval in order to prevent unnecessary delays in the LAFCO proceedings.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Sebastopol hereby approves the Revenue Sharing and Property Transfer Agreement with the Gold Ridge Fire Protection District, and authorizes the City Manager to execute the Agreement and related documents in a form approved by the City Attorney.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City Council’s approval of the Revenue Sharing and Property Transfer Agreement is contingent upon LAFCO adopting a resolution approving the reorganization proposal based upon the District’s application for reorganization, in the form approved by the City Council.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City Council authorizes the City Manager, in coordination with the Fire AdHoc Committee, to approve minor modifications to the Revenue Sharing and Property Transfer Agreement.
The above and foregoing Resolution was duly passed, approved, and adopted at a meeting by the City Council on the 4th day of February, 2025 by the following vote:
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Maurer, Vice Mayor McLewis and Mayor Zollman Docusign Envelope ID: 9BBA5CC2-E8E9-4482-B386-DF98480F289F Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain:None
APPROVED: ______________________________________________________________ Mayor Stephen Zollman
ATTEST: _________________________________________________________________ Mary Gourley, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk, MMC
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ______________________________________________ Alex Mog, City Attorney
Docusign Envelope ID: 9BBA5CC2-E8E9-4482-B386-DF98480F289F