San Carlos Considers Contracting Out Fire Services
SAN CARLOS (BCN) -- The San Carlos City Council is holding a special meeting Monday night to discuss how the city will provide fire and emergency services to its residents if the Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department is dissolved next year as proposed.
The cost of maintaining a fire department, which San Carlos has shared with neighboring Belmont since 1979, has been the fastest-growing portion of the city's general fund budget since 2006, according to staff reports, increasing more than 19 percent over the last four years.
San Carlos paid for 53.5 percent of the Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department's $15.7 budget for fiscal year 2010-11, according to staff reports.
In April, San Carlos officials sent a letter to the Belmont Fire Protection District announcing its intent to dissolve the Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department on or before Oct. 12, 2011, ending the two cities' firefighting agreement and opening the door for San Carlos to find a less expensive way to provide emergency services for its community.
The options include establishing an independent, restructured fire department or contracting out firefighting services to a larger agency for net savings.
According to an independent analysis report to be presented at Monday's meeting, the option for a stand-alone fire department would be the city's most costly choice.
"Costs will be high, possibly higher than the city pays now," the report stated.
The report presents various cost-reduction strategies for a stand-alone fire department, including contracting out administrative and code enforcement duties, discontinuing hazardous materials response services and exchanging an underused aerial ladder fire truck for a less expensive fire engine.
The City Council will also consider directing the city clerk's office to formally solicit contract proposals from outside agencies to provide fire services, including Redwood City, Cal Fire, San Mateo and Menlo Park Fire Protection District.
Monday night's meeting began at 6 p.m. in council chambers at 600 Elm St. in San Carlos.
On Sept. 2, the City Council voted unanimously to contract out San Carlos' police services to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, a move projected to save the city more than $2 million.
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