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Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2009
Atwater City Council: Oversight of Cal Fire ratchets up
ATWATER -- The City Council was the scene of another skirmish Monday night in the on-again, off-again war over the city's nearly yearlong contract with Cal Fire.
The meeting opened with a review of Cal Fire's performance as the council ratcheted up its oversight of Cal Fire.
The council voted unanimously for monthly reviews of Cal Fire's performance -- with the option to terminate the contract -- even though Cal Fire already submits monthly reports to the city's public safety commission.
In its second review in three months, Cal Fire fended off a raft of questions and misconceptions about its service, the cost to the city and whether or not the city has lost control of its fire service.
"We have met or exceeded our obligations in the agreement," said Dale Hutchinson, Cal Fire's unit chief for Madera-Mariposa and Merced.
Hutchinson reassured the council that the cost of out-of-town work, such as wildfires, done by fire fighters from either of the two Atwater stations, was borne by the state.
Also, the council, he said, could change staffing and service levels at its pleasure. Hutchinson also addressed concerns over whether the city went too quickly into its agreement with Cal Fire. It took 15 months of negotiations, much of it in public, before any agreement was made.
While Councilman Nelson Crabb and Mayor Joan Faul voiced their satisfaction with Cal Fire's performance, three councilmen questioned everything from weed control to cost savings.
Gary Frago, who has been a vocal opponent of Cal Fire along with Joe and Jeff Rivero, questioned Cal Fire over whether the city was really saving any money.
"We need to account for every dollar," said Frago.
Pete Robinson, an Atwater resident who raised many of the questions addressed by Cal Fire, said he was pleased with Cal Fire's presentation.
On Oct. 1, 2008, Cal Fire took over Atwater's fire department. The city gained a guaranteed staffing level at both its stations and is estimated to save $500,000 a year after four or five years.
Reporter Jonah Owen Lamb can be reached at (209) 385-2484 or jlamb@mercedsun-star.com.
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