Jennifer Donabedian

This strategic planning document for the Groveland Fire Department focuses on ensuring the long-term financial sustainability and high-quality provision of fire protection and emergency services. It addresses the challenges of sustaining funding, details current costs and revenue, and outlines the benefits of the CAL FIRE partnership. The plan emphasizes evaluating service costs, exploring funding options, and aims to maintain critical services, improve response times, and enhance wildfire readiness for residents, with results of the planning expected by May 2026.

This document outlines a replacement strategy for fire apparatus, prioritizing based on operational criticality, usage, risk exposure, and firefighter safety. The strategy recommends replacing the primary Type 1 engine (2009) between 2028 and 2030, with the current Type 1 transitioning to reserve status to allow retirement of the Type 2 engine (2000) by 2032-2035. The Type 3 engine (1997) will be replaced on a condition-based approach. This plan aims to enhance safety, maintain operational readiness, ensure fiscal responsibility, and improve grant competitiveness.

This document presents a preliminary evaluation and plan for Groveland Park amenities, aiming to enhance usability, function, and revenue generation. The plan focuses on increasing park safety and functionality, boosting recreation and tourism opportunities, and serving the local community. Strategic priorities include reconfiguring event spaces and support facilities, evaluating the feasibility of recreational features like skate parks, RV/tent campgrounds, mountain biking, and disc golf courses. It also emphasizes developing Mary Laveroni Park as a community hub and destination, leveraging natural recreation areas, establishing connections to regional trails, and preparing Groveland for increased year-round residency while preserving its character and natural resources.

The Special Meeting addressed several crucial items, noting that it was conducted via teleconference due to COVID-19 mandates. Key discussions included the adoption of a resolution to approve a consulting services agreement with SCI Consulting for a Fiscal Impact Analysis regarding fire and emergency response services to new land development projects, as the current funding model based solely on in-boundary property taxes is strained by increasing external responses. The Board also planned to adopt a revised Conflict of Interest Policy, accept a Fiscal Impact Analysis related to fire services, and amend the budget to include funding for the Fire Department Tax Measure consulting services. Furthermore, the Board planned to adopt resolutions authorizing the acceptance of grant funds under the Volunteer Fire Assistance Program and approving a Cooperative Fire Protection Agreement with CALFIRE. Other items included coordinating for a FEMA BRIC Grant application for emergency response equipment, considering options to preserve fire services consistent with deployment standards, and reviewing the status of the Hetch Hetchy Trail Project.

The Board of Directors meeting addressed administrative matters, including approving the order of the agenda with one item removed. The session included a closed session to confer with legal counsel regarding existing litigation, specifically the case involving Anthony Filippi as plaintiff against the District, and anticipated litigation. Upon returning to open session, the Board announced that they authorized the execution of a settlement agreement for the existing litigation by a 5-0 vote and provided direction to staff regarding the anticipated litigation matters.