REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Oliver Chi, City Manager
PREPARED BY: David A. Segura, Interim Fire Chief
Subject:
title
Approve and authorize execution of a Fourth Amended Joint Powers Agreement for Metro Cities Fire Authority
body
Statement of Issue:
The attached Fourth Amended Joint Powers Agreement for the Metro Cities Fire Authority is being presented for approval. This organization provides fire dispatch services for Huntington Beach as part of a regionalized fire dispatch delivery system and the recent removal of the City of Garden Grove necessitates an amendment to the agreement.
Financial Impact:
Due to the withdrawal of the City of Garden Grove, the fair share percentage distribution of costs will increase for the remaining member agencies. This will be addressed in the FY 2020/21 budget process. There will be no impact to the City’s FY 2019/20 budget.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Approve and authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk to execute the “Metro Cities Fire Authority Fourth Amended Joint Powers Agreement.”
end
Alternative Action(s):
Take no action and direct staff to consider other dispatch alternatives.
Analysis:
Since 1969, the City of Huntington Beach has participated in a regionalized fire dispatch delivery system. In 1992, the Central Net Operations Authority’s Joint Powers Agreement was adopted by the cities of Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Westminster, which formalized this regionalized approach for both training and fire dispatch services. However, as a result of Westminster’s 1995 decision to join the Orange County Fire Authority, the cost effectiveness of operating a communications center with the remaining three cities was no longer viable. As a result, several fire dispatch alternatives were pursued, which resulted in the formation of Metro Cities Fire Authority as the most cost-effective service delivery model.
The Metro Cities Fire Authority, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Brea, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Orange, officially began operating on July 1, 1996. The City of Anaheim administers the fire dispatch services at an Anaheim location.
The Joint Powers Agreement for the Metro Cities Fire Authority was last amended on June 3, 2013. At that time, an amendment was required due to the addition of the City of Brea as a member of the Authority.
In August 2019, the City of Garden Grove contracted with the Orange County Fire Authority for emergency services. This necessitated withdrawal of their membership in the Metro Cities Fire Authority. At this time, the remaining member agencies are asked to amend the Joint Powers Agreement to reflect this change in membership.
The proposed changes are contained in the Fourth Amended Agreement (Attachment 1). An interlineated copy of the Agreement (Attachment 2) is included and shows the proposed additions and deletions. These include the deletion of Garden Grove as a member, along with changes related to annual audit reconciliation and a statement that non-member agencies which subscribe for service are non-voting members.
To assure continued success of the Metro Cities Fire Authority, it is recommended that the proposed Fourth Amended Agreement be approved.
Environmental Status:
None.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Enhance and modernize public safety service delivery
Attachment(s):
1. Fourth Amended Joint Powers Agreement for Metro Cities Fire Authority
2. Interlineated copy of the Fourth Amended Joint Powers Authority Agreement for Metro Cities Fire Authority