Video: Fire districts vote on contracting out services

Darin and Barry,

Thanks for making this clip available. i was not able to stay to the end and the final decision. I think the point made by the directors were good: yes, there is a lot of work to get done but it is time to stop studying it & start getting it done.

I think all the directors have put a lot of time, energy and thought into this decison. I thank them all for their dedication.

My evaluation of the bids left me thinking there was only one choice if the boards truly wanted to meet their existing obligations to retirees; if they truly wanted to maintain and possibly expand the volunteer program; keep all 3 stations fully staffed; not raise costs to taxpayers; & keep local control.

I am concerned over HMBFD President Donovans comments (on this video clip) about considering consolidation with larger agencies once the consolidation between HMBFD and PMFPD is completed. I hope he will clarify this to the PMFPD directors and community in the near future.

Kathryn

Kathryn,

I was not concerned by President Donovan's comments. It makes sense. PMFPD and HMBFPD have their own different weaknesses on their own, now. By combining they merge their different strenghts and weaknesses to become stronger, have an economy of scale and speak with one voice for the fire and emergency needs of the Coastside. Combining with some other San Mateo County agency before combining PMFPD and HMBFPD is going to leave a weak orphan as an adjacent district to the one that combined with the larger agency. With mutual aid, a district is only as strong as its neighboring districts and their willingness to cooperate. Despite all the past strife between the PMFPD and HMBFPD Boards, that mutual need probably is what sustained the concept of consolidation over the past ten years.

Most fire experts say in San Mateo County we are now in a period of regional consolidations and JPA's. The prediction over the next ten years or so is to evolve from regional departments to a County wide department. In the future, a combined stronger Coastside Fire can negotiate from a position of strength with the specific service needs of the Coastside in mind or choose to stay independant longer. The best strategey is to stay solvent, right sized and not to merge too soon or wait for the no options merger.

Things won't get really good until the eventual Consolidated Fire District of North America (CFDNorthAmerica) combines with CFDSouth America, CFDEurAsia, CFDAfrica, the grossly undersized CFDAustralia, and the microscopic CFDAntarctica.

Sure there will be cost savings through combination of continental administrations, but the underlying rationale and logic is to be found in the uplifting, cooperative record we humans have in the global areas of religion, peace, environment, and prosperous life support. This record only could have been compiled through the enlightened ability of bigger government to ignore petty local concerns and conditions for the benefit of all not in a given locale.

Carl May