Posted January 18, 2022 https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/ramona-sentinel/news/story/2021-12-08/planning-group-supports-water-districts-move-to-relinquish-its-emergency-services-oversight Ramona Planning Group supports plan to move fire and emergency services oversight to county By Julie Gallant Dec. 8, 2021 9:33 AM PT Ramona Community Planning Group members are backing the Ramona Municipal Water District’s efforts to transfer its oversight of fire and emergency medical services to the San Diego County Fire Protection District. At their Dec. 2 meeting, members voted 14-0-1, with member Kevin Wallace abstaining, in favor of the proposal. “This should have happened a long time ago,” said Casey Lynch, a Planning Board member. “The Ramona Municipal Water District needs to get back to providing water, sewer and parks services. Getting fire services off the books and into the county’s hands, where we know they do a good job, will give us more protection and care in fighting fires.” Water district Directors Jim Hickle and Jim Piva gave a presentation to the group on how emergency service response levels could be increased without taxes or fee increases. Hickle said the water district took charge of fire and EMS services in 1981, when it merged with the Ramona Fire Protection District. In 1993, the water district started contracting for emergency services with Cal Fire, which continues to provide services today. Most water district customers have paid $188 per household annually for emergency services since that time, but the costs to provide the services have been increasing by about 5 percent per year, Hickle said. And the growth in emergency responses to 4,000 calls annually is due in part to tourists and other pass-through traffic in Ramona and also to a growing population of 45,000, he said. Hickle and Piva joined Craig Schmollinger, interim general manager, on an ad hoc subcommittee to review the finances of providing emergency services and the need for increased services. One of their recommendations was to increase staff on fire engines at Ramona Fire Stations 81 and 82 to three personnel, which they say is an industry standard. Another was to add a third advanced life support (ALS) ambulance in Ramona. Committee members also looked at ways of increasing emergency services. But after a meeting with Cal Fire Chief Tony Mecham they determined the best solution is to transfer authority to the San Diego County Fire Protection District. Reverting to a self-run Ramona Fire Department would be too costly and placing a fire services tax on the ballot for voters to consider is not likely to pass with a two-thirds approval requirement, they said. “Fire services need to increase, not decrease,” Hickle said. “We came to the agreement that what we feel is the best option is to transfer authority to San Diego County Fire Protection District. The county has more discretionary funds and economies of scale to pay for the services.” On Dec. 14, the water district board will meet at 6 p.m. at the Ramona Community Center, 434 Aqua Lane, to get public input on the proposal to apply to the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to transfer oversight to the county Fire Protection District. Planning Group member Dawn Perfect asked whether the Ramona Fire Department’s buildings, land and equipment would be transferred to the county if the transition takes place. Piva said the facilities and their maintenance would become the county’s responsibility. But if Ramona incorporates in the future, the assets, including the land, would be returned at “zero cost,” which is the same as what the water district is charging the county, he said. In other action, Planning Group members agreed to draft a letter expressing their interest in “exploring” the option to move Ramona to a Community Services District and send it to LAFCO. In August, LAFCO staff recommended that Ramona form a Community Services District as a way for the community to be governed locally. It would be considered a transitional step toward incorporating in the future, officials said. The recommendation was made based on Ramona’s growing population and trend toward urbanization. Planning Group member Torry Brean said the letter should clarify that the Planning Group is not taking a position on forming a Community Services District but intends to get more information about the concept to be able to make an informed decision. Planning Group Chairwoman Robin Joy Maxson said the group already responded to LAFCO’s presentation on the proposal and sent their feedback to the agency. The next step is to send a letter to LAFCO expressing their interest in exploring options, she said. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted January 18, 2022 I noted on a T/C response tonight Ramona was running USAR#80 on that run. I did not realize Ramona got a USAR. They previously were running a 2007 or so walk-around rescue they received I believe from the County of San Diego Fire Authority. Interesting changes ahead up in Ramona. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
