Report Prepared by: Casey Wilson, Interim Fire Chief, Scott McBride City Manager
Title
SUBJECT: Direction Regarding Potential Fire Services and Emergency Operations Coordination Between the City of Merced and Merced County Including Mutual Aid, Automatic Aid Agreement, and Service Agreement Options
REPORT IN BRIEF
Provide Direction to City Staff regarding potential aid agreements or service agreement between the City of Merced and Merced County.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Provide city staff with direction regarding aid agreements or service agreement with Merced County for the unincorporated county area adjacent to the City of Merced including County islands within the city limits.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Provide Staff Direction; or,
2. Ask Staff to return a stated date for further direction; or,
3. Deny.
DISCUSSION
Cities and counties often utilize agreements to render reciprocal or supplemental assistance in the event of fire or other fire department related emergencies. The most common agreement types are automatic aid, mutual aid, and service contracts.
The agreement types describe their function.
Mutual Aid - assistance agreement between jurisdictions to provide services upon request on a case-by-case basis.
Auto Aid - assistance automatically by contractual agreement between two communities to emergency incident.
Service Contracts - one jurisdiction assumes all service needs for a defined area.
Merced County has expressed interest in an automatic aid agreement with the city. Agencies throughout California and other states utilize various types of service agreements. Staff is seeking policy direction to formalize discussions with Merced County. Some policy issues that likely need to be addressed include.
* Identify the appropriate type of service arrangement.
* Define the service area.
* Provide direction on cost recovery.
* Agreement term and other considerations.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
None at this time.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Presenta...
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