Elfin Forest/Harmony Grove Fire Department

March 2, 2007

Supervisor Bill Horn

600 Pacific Highway Room 335

San Diego, CA 92101

Dear Supervisor Bill Horn:

Subject: Fire and EMS Service Studies

The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) study of Reorganization of Structural Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services in Unincorporated San Diego County (Micro) is now drawing to a conclusion. LAFCO’s process has been professional and informative. LAFCO staff has done a remarkable job of utilizing the experience of the fire service professionals from all affected areas, including the County Service Areas, as well as both volunteer and paid personnel in this long and arduous process. The only area we feel needs improvement is the public notification of the workshops.

In contrast to the positive utilization of resources exemplified by LAFCO, the Department of Planning and Land Use (DPLU) Conceptual Reorganization of San Diego County Fire Services Plan was created without any input from the fire services in the affected areas. Whereas LAFCO brought into consequence the opinions of the agencies involved, the communication between DPLU and the affected agencies has been nonexistent. As the plan created by DPLU has been included in the Micro report as an attachment, it was expected that a DPLU staff presentation would be included at the recently held LAFCO workshops. This was not the case. We are requesting that DPLU accept the invitation extended to them by the Elfin Forest / Harmony Grove Town Council to present their plan to the community on Wednesday March 7, at 7:00 pm.

Included with this packet is a Resolution of the Elfin Forest / Harmony Grove Fire Department Inc. and the Fire Advisory Board of Directors of County Service Area 107- Elfin Forest. The resolution makes the following requests:

1) The Elfin Forest/Harmony Grove Fire Advisory Board of Directors requests that County Service Area 107 - Elfin Forest be removed from Phase I and be placed in Phase II of the LAFCO Micro Report, as well as, the placement of all existing funding and future revenue in Phase II. And,

2) The Elfin Forest/Harmony Grove Fire Advisory Board of Directors request that the County Service Area 107- Elfin Forest be removed from any and all actions of the DPLU’s Conceptual Reorganization of San Diego County Fire Services, and that all existing funding and future revenue remain with CSA 107- Elfin Forest.

Please read our resolution carefully as the reasons for the exclusion of CSA 107– Elfin Forest from the Phase 1 Micro report and the County Conceptual Plan are well documented.

Also included are petitions of support to and direction for the Elfin Forest / Harmony Grove Fire Department. The 157 petitions from our residents / registered voters demand their inclusion in all decisions affecting fire and emergency medical services in their communities.

Our residents support the position of the Fire Advisory Board. The residents pledge that if either proposal goes forward without secured, sustainable and ongoing funding in place prior to implementation, their actions will be to protest and to cause a vote.

The Fire Enhancement Program proposed by DPLU has some merit that should be further explored but discussions must include all affected agencies. The lack of communication, secrecy, lack of accountability of the monies already spent, and the stolid demands of DPLU only create mistrust and suspicion of ulterior motives.

DPLU would be doing themselves and the fire agencies of the unincorporated areas a great service if they were to communicate in an honest and open manner.

DPLU has not asked CSA 107- Elfin Forest if we have a planning process or if we have had a plan in place to raise our level of service. DPLU might be surprised to find out we have a service improvement plan already in place. In 2001, a 15-year financial and service plan was created with community input via a focus group. This plan included a Benefit Fee increase ballot measure along with the recommendations of paid full time staffing. (Benefit Fee measure passed with 87% approval.)

The Board of Supervisors’ approval of the 750 home development Harmony Village, makes clear that CSA 107– Elfin Forest needs additional funding to continue providing our community with now two full time fully staffed fire stations.

Our means of increased funding was the increase of Benefit Fees, access to fire mitigation fees, and developer mitigation including cash, land and building construction. DPLU has removed all but the Benefit Fees from our financial plan, which also stops our momentum toward fully paid staffing.

We ask you, Supervisor of CSA 107- Elfin Forest, to direct DPLU to reinstate all funding past, present and future and the control of how this funding is to be utilized to the Elfin Forest / Harmony Grove Fire Advisory Board.

We request you, the Supervisor of CSA 107- Elfin Forest, to direct DPLU to meet with Chief Twohy and the Fire Advisory Board to explore additional means releasing DPLU’s Fire Enhancement Program funding to C.S.A 107 – Elfin Forest. We believe the intent of the Fire Enhancement Program is to help under funded agencies. We believe this should be extended to agencies like ours, whose plan does not include CDF, but does include full time staffing and possible consolidation/reorganization into a larger Fire District. The additional funding would allow us to be an equal player with equal services.

You may contact myself or Chief Frank Twohy with any questions or items that need clarity.

Respectfully,

Nona T Barker

Chairwoman

Elfin Forest / Harmony Grove Fire Advisory Board

Enclosure (2)

cc: Supervisor Greg Cox

Supervisor Dianne Jacob

Supervisor Ron Roberts

Supervisor Pam Slater

Chief Administrative Officer Walt Ekard

Director of Planning and Land Use Gary Pryor

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	Fire Board Letter to Bill Horn Send your petition by April 6, 2007 Sample letter Fire Board Resolution 2007 1.1.07 March 2, 2007 Supervisor Bill Horn 600 Pacific Highway Room 335 San Diego, CA 92101 Dear Supervisor Bill Horn: Subject: Fire and EMS Service Studies The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) study of Reorganization of Structural Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services in Unincorporated San Diego County (Micro) is now drawing to a conclusion. LAFCO’s process has been professional and informative. LAFCO staff has done a remarkable job of utilizing the experience of the fire service professionals from all affected areas, including the County Service Areas, as well as both volunteer and paid personnel in this long and arduous process. The only area we feel needs improvement is the public notification of the workshops. In contrast to the positive utilization of resources exemplified by LAFCO, the Department of Planning and Land Use (DPLU) Conceptual Reorganization of San Diego County Fire Services Plan was created without any input from the fire services in the affected areas. Whereas LAFCO brought into consequence the opinions of the agencies involved, the communication between DPLU and the affected agencies has been nonexistent. As the plan created by DPLU has been included in the Micro report as an attachment, it was expected that a DPLU staff presentation would be included at the recently held LAFCO workshops. This was not the case. We are requesting that DPLU accept the invitation extended to them by the Elfin Forest / Harmony Grove Town Council to present their plan to the community on Wednesday March 7, at 7:00 pm. Included with this packet is a Resolution of the Elfin Forest / Harmony Grove Fire Department Inc. and the Fire Advisory Board of Directors of County Service Area 107- Elfin Forest. The resolution makes the following requests: 1) The Elfin Forest/Harmony Grove Fire Advisory Board of Directors requests that County Service Area 107 - Elfin Forest be removed from Phase I and be placed in Phase II of the LAFCO Micro Report, as well as, the placement of all existing funding and future revenue in Phase II. And, 2) The Elfin Forest/Harmony Grove Fire Advisory Board of Directors request that the County Service Area 107- Elfin Forest be removed from any and all actions of the DPLU’s Conceptual Reorganization of San Diego County Fire Services, and that all existing funding and future revenue remain with CSA 107- Elfin Forest. Please read our resolution carefully as the reasons for the exclusion of CSA 107– Elfin Forest from the Phase 1 Micro report and the County Conceptual Plan are well documented. Also included are petitions of support to and direction for the Elfin Forest / Harmony Grove Fire Department. The 157 petitions from our residents / registered voters demand their inclusion in all decisions affecting fire and emergency medical services in their communities. Our residents support the position of the Fire Advisory Board. The residents pledge that if either proposal goes forward without secured, sustainable and ongoing funding in place prior to implementation, their actions will be to protest and to cause a vote. The Fire Enhancement Program proposed by DPLU has some merit that should be further explored but discussions must include all affected agencies. The lack of communication, secrecy, lack of accountability of the monies already spent, and the stolid demands of DPLU only create mistrust and suspicion of ulterior motives. DPLU would be doing themselves and the fire agencies of the unincorporated areas a great service if they were to communicate in an honest and open manner. DPLU has not asked CSA 107- Elfin Forest if we have a planning process or if we have had a plan in place to raise our level of service. DPLU might be surprised to find out we have a service improvement plan already in place. In 2001, a 15-year financial and service plan was created with community input via a focus group. This plan included a Benefit Fee increase ballot measure along with the recommendations of paid full time staffing. (Benefit Fee measure passed with 87% approval.) The Board of Supervisors’ approval of the 750 home development Harmony Village, makes clear that CSA 107– Elfin Forest needs additional funding to continue providing our community with now two full time fully staffed fire stations. Our means of increased funding was the increase of Benefit Fees, access to fire mitigation fees, and developer mitigation including cash, land and building construction. DPLU has removed all but the Benefit Fees from our financial plan, which also stops our momentum toward fully paid staffing. We ask you, Supervisor of CSA 107- Elfin Forest, to direct DPLU to reinstate all funding past, present and future and the control of how this funding is to be utilized to the Elfin Forest / Harmony Grove Fire Advisory Board. We request you, the Supervisor of CSA 107- Elfin Forest, to direct DPLU to meet with Chief Twohy and the Fire Advisory Board to explore additional means releasing DPLU’s Fire Enhancement Program funding to C.S.A 107 – Elfin Forest. We believe the intent of the Fire Enhancement Program is to help under funded agencies. We believe this should be extended to agencies like ours, whose plan does not include CDF, but does include full time staffing and possible consolidation/reorganization into a larger Fire District. The additional funding would allow us to be an equal player with equal services. You may contact myself or Chief Frank Twohy with any questions or items that need clarity. Respectfully, Nona T Barker Chairwoman Elfin Forest / Harmony Grove Fire Advisory Board Enclosure (2) cc: Supervisor Greg Cox Supervisor Dianne Jacob Supervisor Ron Roberts Supervisor Pam Slater Chief Administrative Officer Walt Ekard Director of Planning and Land Use Gary Pryor
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