A citizens’ group is meeting Wednesday to discuss the future of the Point Montara Fire Protection Di

A citizens’ group is calling a meeting to discuss the future of the Moss Beach / Montara Fire District.  The "Moss Beach / Montara Fire District Citizens Committee" will meet Wednesday, July 7 at 6:30 pm at Mezza Luna Restaurant at Pillar Point Harbor.

The Point Montara Fire Board cancelled its contract with the Half Moon Bay Fire District effective September 2005, citing management issues with the Half Moon Bay Fire District.  This contract provides all emergency services in Montara and Moss Beach, including fire and paramedic service.

The committee questions whether the contract should have been cancelled and what the alternatives will cost residents of the district. The committee has identified four alternatives to contracting Half Moon Bay:

• contract with the California Department of Forestry
• contract with a private fire services company called Rural Metro
• go back to hiring its own personnel and running its own independent fire district
• consolidate with the Half Moon Bay Fire District

The committee also plans to discuss the costs of the alternatives and the Board’s proposal to increase its assessment. The Point Montara Board is considering increasing the real property benefit assessment from its current level of $177 per parcel.  The board can vote to increase the benefit assessment as high as $250 per parcel.

PMFPD board member Ginny McShane posted a message to the midcoast mailing list saying "Speaking just for myself, and being one of three directors, I feel that plans can work without raising the assessment tax." She invited the community to attend the next board meeting Tuesday, July 13th, at Seton in Moss Beach at 7:30 pm, where she would discuss her ideas on the assessment.