TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Mark Danaj, City Manager
FROM:
Robert D. Espinosa, Fire Chief
SUBJECT:Title
Update Report on the Fire and Medical Services in Manhattan Beach If Hermosa Beach Contracts Fire Services with Los Angeles County Fire Department (Fire Chief Espinosa).
INFORMATION ITEM ONLY
Line
_________________________________________________________
Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff is presenting the attached documents and report for informational purposes at the request of City Council.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications with this action.
BACKGROUND:
At the August 2, 2016 City Council meeting, staff presented a report on the impacts to Manhattan Beach if Hermosa Beach contracts with Los Angeles County Fire Department for services. Staff provided the following three options for Council consideration:
1. Potential service models with Hermosa Beach that can help maintain the status quo for fire and medical related service in our area;
2. Shared service models with Hermosa Beach that could improve services to our communities through practical cooperative agreements; and
3. New substitute and/or augmented partnerships with Los Angeles County Fire Department and El Segundo to maintain service levels to our community.
The Council directed staff to pursue all of these options simultaneously.
DISCUSSION:
As reported in the August 2, 2016 staff report, staff provided potential impacts to fire and medical services in Manhattan Beach if Hermosa Beach agreed to contract services to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Since then, staff has met with Hermosa Beach staff. All of the information below will be presented in a verbal report at the October 18 City Council meeting. Items discussed included:
• Acknowledgement that shared services and current agreements would not resolve their on-going staffing issues
• Verification Hermosa Beach is interested in continuing our relationship (automatic aid and other services) until a decision has been made on the future of their fire department
• Hermosa Beach is very interested in the possibility of an agreement for fire services with Los Angeles County Fire Department.
• High interest by both cities to share a basic life support ambulance program
• Explore the opportunity of a shared Emergency Services Coordinator
In addition, the City of Manhattan Beach Fire Command Staff met with Chief Officers from Los Angeles County to discuss some of the highest priority concerns and impacts should the City of Hermosa Beach move to contract with the County. The topics discussed are listed below and staff will provide a verbal report to the Council during this item:
• Creation of an automatic aid agreement to maintain and enhance fire and medical services in both cities
• Development of an ambulance transportation program that will best provide service in the two communities
• Assurances residents and visitors to our beach areas receive the same level of care and services as the rest of our city.
• Consideration for solutions to reduce dispatch delays between the two different 9-1-1 centers when an emergency response is needed in Manhattan Beach
• Confirmation when the Los Angeles County fire engine or rescue ambulance is unavailable the station in Hermosa Beach will be backfilled to maintain automatic aid services
We are in the process of discussions with the City of El Segundo to discuss automatic aid and other mutually beneficial program sharing possibilities as well as to maintain service levels to our community.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Not applicable.
LEGAL REVIEW
No legal analysis is required.
Attachment/Attachments:
1. Hermosa Feasibility Study
2. Automatic Aid Agreement Between the Cities of Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach
3. Automatic Aid Agreement Between the City of Manhattan Beach and Los Angeles County Fire Department