HomeMy WebLinkAboutD-2 Staff Report - County Fire Parcel Tax ReportSCHEDULED ITEM
D-2
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
VIA: SERGIO GONZALEZ, CITY MANAGER
FROM: TALIKA M. JOHNSON, DIRECTOR OF ADMINITRATIVE SERVICES
DATE: OCTOBER 21, 2019
SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION OPTING FOR THE CITY OF AZUSA TO BE
INCLUDED IN THE POTENTIAL PARCEL TAX MEASURE BY THE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
FOR FIRE PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES COSTS IN
THE EVENT THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ELECTS
TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MEASURE
BACKGROUND:
Staff presented to Council on October 7th a receive and file report and requested direction to return for
action regarding the Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County’s (Fire District of
District) proposal for placing a special parcel tax measure on the ballot in 2020, which would require an
opt in by the City by the end of this month. The recommended actions are for Council to opt in for the
parcel tax to be included as a potential ballot measure, and to allow Azusa voters to vote on the parcel
tax measure that would provide the additional funding for fire protection and emergency medical
services. If the City opts in on the parcel tax measure and it passes, it will allow the City to fund a part
of the fire protection and emergency medical services cost increases through the parcel tax and would
allow voters to decide whether or not to support additional funding for fire protection and emergency
medical services. If the City does not opt in on this potential parcel tax measure, any additional fire
protection and emergency medical services cost increases will have to be paid strictly out of the General
Fund.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff recommends the City Council take the following actions:
1)Adopt the attached Resolution No. 2019-C37 opting for the City of Azusa to be included in the
Fire District’s Potential parcel tax measure for fire protection and emergency medical services.
2)Authorize the City Manager to issue a written notice to the Fire District that the City of Azusa
has determined to allow voters to decide on this important funding measure and therefore
authorizes the Fire District to include the City of Azusa within a 2020 ballot measure to provide
critical funding for fire protection and emergency medical services.
APPROVED
CITY COUNCIL
10/21/2019
County Fire Special Parcel Tax Measure
October 21, 2019
Page 2
ANALYSIS:
The City of Azusa contracts with the Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County for
medical and fire protection services. The District has identified a need for additional funding and is
contemplating placing a special parcel tax measure on the ballot in 2020, which would require an opt in
by the City by the end of this month.
In 1983, the City of Azusa decided to annex to the Los Angeles County Fire District to receive fire
protection and emergency medical services. In 1997, the agreement between the City of Azusa and
District was amended to reflect the City’s decision to opt in when the Fire District proposed and
successfully passed Proposition E. Revenues from the special parcel tax are credited back to the City to
offset costs related to fire and medical services provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Station 32. In
2016, Station 97 was added to serve the cities of Azusa and Glendora. This station was paid for by
Rosedale Land Partners as part of the Rosedale Planned Community and ongoing costs are covered by
special district assessments.
The District is currently considering requesting voter approval of a special parcel tax in 2020. However,
if the County decides to place a special parcel tax measure in 2020, the City has the option to opt in and
give its permission to place the measure before Azusa voters. If voters approve the measure, it would
allow the City an opportunity to defray additional costs related to District staffing needs, facility and
equipment upgrades, and overhead charges. Approval of the special tax measure would require a 2/3
passing rate by Azusa voters in order take effect. Placement of a ballot measure by the Fire District is
under evaluation, but in order to meet established ballot deadlines, the District needs to know whether or
not Azusa elects to opt in by October 31st. Pomona is one of the District’s contract cities and the Pomona
Council voted to opt in at its October 7, 2019 meeting.
Since 1993, the service incident rate in Azusa has grown by 59% through 2018 (Attachment 2). The City
of Azusa paid County Fire $4.6 million in Fiscal Year 2018-19 for medical and fire protection services.
That amount is expected to increase to $5.7 million in Fiscal Year 2019-20, nearly a $1.1 million or 23%
increase. County Fire costs for Azusa have risen by 46% or $1.8 million in the past seven years and it is
expected that costs for fire services will continue to increase.
Opting in on the above recommendations will allow the City to use the parcel tax generated through the
parcel tax ballot measure to be used for fire protection and emergency medical services costs. Funds
raised in each fee-for-service city (including Azusa) will be allocated to a zone to ensure that funds will
be expended within the city they are generated for major fire station repairs/replacement, additional
paramedic services, and offsetting costs for equipment, vehicles, dispatching and communications
equipment, etc., which would be specified in a resolution by the Los Angeles County Board of
Supervisors that places a measure on the ballot. Should a ballot measure be pursued and approved by the
voters, the Fire District estimates Azusa based revenues would range from $1.4M to $2.0M annually
(Attachment 3), depending on the tax levy formula established by the District. Cost for the ballot
measure would be borne by the Fire District. The City Council’s agreement to opt in to the ballot
measure would allow voters to decide whether or not to support additional funding for fire protection
and emergency medical services.
County Fire Special Parcel Tax Measure
October 21, 2019
Page 2
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact is associated with the recommended actions. However, if the District decides to place a
measure on the ballot, all associated costs will be the responsibility of LA County Fire. The City
Council’s agreement to opt in to the ballot measure would allow voters to decide whether or not to
support additional funding for fire protection and emergency medical services. Should the Council
decide to opt in and the District pursue a measure, which is subsequently approved by voters, the Fire
District estimates Azusa based revenues would range from $1,356,000 to $2,012,000 annually,
depending on the tax levy formula established by the District.
Prepared by: Reviewed and Approved:
Talika M. Johnson Sergio Gonzalez
Director of Administrative Services City Manager
Attachments:
1)Attachment 1 – Resolution No. 2019-C37
2)Attachment 2 – Incident Growth for fee-for-services Cities (Provided by Fire District)
3)Attachment 3 – City Revenue Estimates from Fee (Provided by Fire District)
RESOLUTION NO. 2019-C37
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA OPTING
FOR THE CITY OF AZUSA TO BE INCLUDED IN A PROSPECTIVE 2020
REVENUE MEASURE TO FUND FIRE PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY
SERVICES SHOULD THE CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF
LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS DECIDE TO PURSUE SUCH A MEASURE
WHEREAS, In 1983, the City Council approved annexation to the Consolidated Fire
Protection District of Los Angeles County (Fire District) to contract for Fire and Emergency
Services; and
WHEREAS, The Fire District’s records dating back to 1993, show the number of total
incidents within the City have increased by 59%; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to continue to provide fiscally sustainable Fire and Emergency
Services for our residents and stakeholders and to address the City’s continually evolving
service demands; and,
WHEREAS, The Fire District estimates Azusa based revenues from a potential revenue
measure between $1,356,000 and $2,012,000, depending the tax levy formulation determined by
the Fire District; and,
WHEREAS, if such a measure is pursued by the Fire District and subsequently approved by
voters, Azusa generated revenues would be used as negotiated by the City and Fire District
to determine appropriate staffing enhancements and Fire Station improvements to mitigate
increased incident levels in the City and provide fiscally sustainable Fire and Emergency
Medical Services; and,
WHEREAS, To meet established election deadlines, the City must advise the Fire District of
their desire to opt in to the ballot measure no later than October 30, 2019, to be included on a
potential revenue measure for the scheduled March 3, 2020 Election.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Azusa as
follows:
SECTION 1. That the City Council of the City of Azusa, State of California, hereby
opts for the City of Azusa to be included into consideration of the Los Angeles County Fire
District’s potential 2020 funding measure for fire protection and emergency services, and;
SECTION 2. That the City Council authorizes the City Manager to issue a written
notice and executed copy of the proposed resolution to the Fire District indicating that the City of
Azusa has determined to allow voters to decide on this important funding measure and therefore
authorizes the Fire District to include the City of Azusa within a 2020 ballot measure to provide
critical funding for fire protection and emergency medical services.
SECTION 3. That the City Clerk shall certify to the approval and adoption of this
Resolution.
Attachment 1
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 21st day of October 2019.
____________________________________
Joseph Romero Rocha
Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Jeffrey Lawrence Cornejo, Jr.
City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF AZUSA )
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution No. 2019-C37 was duly adopted by the
City Council of the City of Azusa at a special meeting thereof, held on the 21st day of October 2019, by the following vote of the Council:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
___________________________________
Jeffrey Lawrence Cornejo, Jr.
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
___________________________________
Best Best & Krieger, LLP
City Attorney
Attachment 2
INCIDENT GROWTH FOR FEE‐FOR‐SERVICE CITIES
City
1st Contract
Year 2018 % Increase
Azusa* 2,491 3,961 59%
Commerce* 2,160 3,473 61%
Covina 3,474 5,123 47%
El Monte 6,778 9,502 40%
Gardena 4,840 6,765 40%
Hawthorne 6,378 9,458 48%
Hermosa Beach 2,026 2,025 0%
Inglewood 10,590 14,850 40%
La Habra 3,396 4,866 43%
Lynwood 4,907 6,593 34%
Palos Verdes Estates* 489 1,086 122%
Pomona 11,512 17,464 52%
* The Department's incident reporting system changed in 1993, and records are not available
prior to the change in systems. Therefore, for the cities of Azusa, Commerce, and PVE,
1993 was used as the base‐year for incident growth even though they were annexed into
the Fire District prior to that year.
Number of Incidents
F:\Planning\Special Tax ‐ Infrastructure Measure\Incident Growth for Fee Cities.xls (9‐24‐2019)
Attachment 2
CityHigh Estimates Low EstimatesAzusa$2,012,000 $1,356,000Commerce$3,604,000 $2,430,000Covina$2,679,000 $1,806,000El Monte$4,051,000 $2,731,000Gardena$3,608,000 $2,432,000Hawthorne$3,761,000 $2,535,000Hermosa Beach$1,347,000$908,000Inglewood$4,849,000 $3,269,000Lynwood$1,925,000 $1,297,000Palos Verdes Estates$1,390,000$937,000Pomona$6,608,000 $4,455,000A range of various rates is still being evaluated; this information is subject to change. F:\Planning\Special Tax ‐ Infrastructure\Fee City Rev Estimates.xls (9‐23‐2019)Attachment 3Attachment 3