As it did three years ago, the Twentynine Palms Water District Board of Directors voted to start a process for San Bernardino County Fire to take over the Twentynine Palms Fire Department. Reporter Dan Stork explains what’s different this time, in two parts. Yesterday, he gave the meat of the decision. Today, some highlights of the discussion that played a role in the decision process …
San Bernardino County Fire Division Chief John Chamberlin told the Water District Board that regionalization would benefit the area by making many more resources available locally. Twentynine Palms Fire Chief Jim Thompson said the district may not be able to hold onto its current favorable insurance rating without annexation. Director Carol Giannini, who cast the only vote against the annexation application, asked for time to consider other alternatives. Board President Sam Moore told her that other alternatives could be considered in parallel.
It was noted that Yucca Valley pays for the fire services provided by the County through 20 percent of property taxes. The Twentynine Palms Water District can’t do that, as a consequence of a little-known provision of Prop 13, which capped property taxes in 1978. The City of Twentynine Palms will have the option to take over fire services within its boundaries, but board members and Chief Thompson acknowledged it was unlikely to take on the financial obligation.
Morongo Valley Fire Chief Jock Johnson asked for 30 days to examine department finances and come up with a plan that would retain local control. Chief Thompson said that Johnson could make a public records request. Morongo Valley Community Services District General Manager Donna Munoz told us she had no idea what Johnson might have in mind. Morongo Valley CSD board member Gayle Swarat said that Johnson was representing himself, not the CSD.
Several speakers urged the use of volunteer firefighters to retain local control. Others said that regulations nowadays are too stringent to support reliance on volunteers. Twentynine Palms City Manager Frank Luckino, who formerly held that position in Blythe, was asked how Blythe could successfully run an all-volunteer fire department. He said that Blythe over the course of 100 years has developed a unique civic infrastructure and community-wide participation in a much smaller geographical service area.
TWENTYNINE PALMS WATER DISTRICT RESTARTS COUNTY TAKEOVER OF FIRE PROTECTION: PART 2
