Orange County Fire Authority

The Legislative and Public Affairs Committee meeting addressed several key areas. The consent calendar included approvals for minutes from the July 20, 2022, Regular Meeting, and the July 28 and August 25, 2022, Concurrent Joint Special Meetings. Discussion items included a Quarterly Legislative Update and the 2023-2024 Draft Legislative Platform for review, with final adoption planned for a future meeting. Additionally, the committee reviewed options regarding teleconferencing during public meetings (Options 1 through 4), with a recommendation to be forwarded to the Board of Directors. The Quarterly Public Affairs Update detailed recent communication strategies, including a social media campaign and interactive bulletins.

The agenda covered concurrent joint special meetings of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Budget & Finance Committee, and the Human Resources Committee. A primary discussion item involved the findings required by AB 361 for the continued use of teleconferencing for meetings due to the ongoing COVID-19 state of emergency, presenting options for either continuing or discontinuing teleconferencing. The agenda also included a planned recess to a closed session to discuss labor negotiations with the Orange County Professional Firefighters Association, IAFF - Local 3631. Future agenda items noted for the three-month outlook included labor negotiations, Fire Prevention Proclamation, funding acceptances, Conflict of Interest Code review, purchasing reports, aircraft replacement review, and response to a Grand Jury Report.

The Budget and Finance Committee meeting agenda included several key items. Under the Consent Calendar, the committee addressed the approval of the February 14, 2024, Minutes and the review of Monthly Investment Reports, with a recommendation to forward them to the Executive Committee. The Discussion Calendar featured two primary items: the designation and appointment of an Interim Treasurer for the Orange County Fire Authority, which was recommended for adoption by the Board of Directors, and the review of the FY 2023/24 Mid-Year Budget Adjustment, also recommended for Board authorization.

The Budget and Finance Committee meeting included several key items under the Consent Calendar for review, such as Monthly Investment Reports and a Monthly Status Update concerning the Orange County Employees' Retirement System (OCERS). The Discussion Calendar featured significant items including a Request from the City of Santa Ana for the Release of Escrow funds, communication updates regarding the Fiscal Year 2013/14 Financial Audit, review of Updated Cost Reimbursement Rates, and approval considerations for Updated OCFA Advanced Life Support (ALS) Paramedic and Basic Life Support (BLS) Medical Supplies Reimbursement Rates, which necessitated a Public Hearing. The meeting also reviewed actuarial reports detailing changes in Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability (UAAL) and employer contribution rates for various member rate groups for Fiscal Years 2014/15 and 2015/16.

The Budget and Finance Committee meeting covered several agenda items. The committee reviewed minutes from the February 5, 2014, meeting and discussed monthly investment reports, recommending they be placed on the Executive Committee agenda for March 27, 2014. Updates regarding the Orange County Employees' Retirement System (OCERS) were also reviewed, including direct lending programs and changes to cashout assumptions that impact member contribution rates. A key discussion involved the Request for Proposal for Bond, Tax and Disclosure Counsel, with a recommendation to approve an agreement with Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP. The committee also reviewed implementation of audit recommendations for Purchasing, proposed FY 2013/14 Mid-year Budget Adjustments, and the disposition of the remaining Hazardous Materials Disclosure Fund Balance, which included directing staff to remit funds to the Orange County Health Care Agency.