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Stanislaus County Fire Authority

The Salida Fire Protection District currently holds two contracts with the county of Stanislaus, training and communications. 

 

FY 2007-2008 Business Plan

The Stanislaus County Fire Authority is a joint powers agreement established in November 2005 by the fire agencies in Stanislaus County to administer the Less Than County Wide fire tax and establish a cooperative relationship among the parties to the agreement for the provision of these contracted services.

OVERVIEW:
The Joint Powers Agreement began as a visioning process by the Stanislaus County Fire Chief’s Association in July 2004. Issues of mutual concern were identified and through a work-group process, the Fire Authority came together for the following purposes:

  • Facilitate cooperation among the Fire Agencies and the County related to the allocation and use of the Less Than County Wide Fire Tax.
  • Provide a forum for discussion and study of countywide problems of mutual interest.
  • Identify, inventory, and comprehensively plan for solutions to countywide problems requiring multi-jurisdictional cooperation.
  • Facilitate cooperation among the Fire Agencies and the County for specific purposes, interrelated actions, and for the adoption of common policies with respect to issues and problems which are common to the parties.
  • Develop countywide plans and policies for growth and development.

The following agencies are signatory to the joint powers agreement:

Burbank Paradise Fire District
City of Ceres
Denair Fire Protection District
Hughson Fire District
Keyes Fire District
City of Modesto
Mountain View Fire Protection District
City of Newman
City of Oakdale
Oakdale Rural Fire Protection District
City of Patterson
Salida Fire District
Stanislaus Consolidated Fire District
Stanislaus County
City of Turlock
Turlock Rural Fire District
Westport Fire District
Woodland Avenue Fire District
West Stanislaus Fire District
Cal Fire – Santa Clara Unit

us County Fire Authority Board is comprised of a representative from each agency that pays into the Less Than Countywide Fire Tax and the City of Modesto, the City of Turlock, Stanislaus County and the California Department of Forestry. Each individual agency must adopt a resolution to approve the Joint Powers Agreement in order to participate. Each representative is entitled to one vote.  As outlined in the Joint Powers Agreement, the Stanislaus County Fire Warden’s Office is the administering agency; however the membership may substitute any other agency to serve in this capacity.  The Fire Authority may designate any representative of a member agency to serve as Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary.

The membership of the Stanislaus County Fire Authority adopted formalized Board Policies and Rules of Procedure at their January 2006 meeting. These documents provide a framework for the Fire Authority to conduct business.

A quorum of at least one half of the member agencies is required for the Fire Authority to take action.  A two-thirds majority of those members present are required to approve all fiscal matters, including the use of the Less Than County-Wide Fire Tax, but not including expenditures of less than $500.

On April 13, 2006, the Fire Authority conducted a workgroup meeting to identify service priorities, performance expectations and funding allocations for those services. Services critical to the fire agencies in Stanislaus County were prioritized, and then, based on available funding, the group targeted achievable service levels. At that time there were services that were identified as necessary, but due to inadequate funding were placed lower on a prioritized list.  

It is the intent and purpose of the Fire Authority to achieve the most efficient and effective use of the Less Than County Wide Tax revenues and to seek partnerships to advance our ability to provide fire and emergency services in Stanislaus County.  Currently the Fire Authority is a Joint Powers Agreement, not an agency, and is therefore unable to employ individuals to provide the services we require.  All prioritized services listed in the following section of the business plan must be provided through contracts with individual agencies.