City of Morgan Hill Public Safety Master Plan

allocation for the City was $4.9 million and the District amount was $5.8 million. Combined, both agencies are paying just under $10.8 million for their service contract to CAL FIRE. This provides 24/7 protection to a combined service population of 80,568 and a service area of over 332 square miles.

TABLE 3-6: Budget and Service Profile

FY 2015-16 Budget

Population

Service Area

Personnel

Alarm Activity

Morgan Hill

$5.35 million

42,068

12.8 Sq. Miles

25

3,066

SSCCFD

$5.98 million

38,500 320 Sq. Miles

31

1,929

Total

$11.33 million

80,568 332 Sq. Miles

56

4,995*

*Note: Excludes cancelled calls and calls handled by mutual aid partners.

Perhaps the most challenging question being faced by local elected officials and municipal administrators across the nation is how much fire and EMS protection is appropriate for their community. Though there are a whole host of guidelines, as well as historical and political influences that frame this issue, it ultimately comes down to local officials to determine what is right for their community. The level of protection currently being provided in Morgan Hill and SSCCFD is sufficiently meeting the service demand and the level of protection is very appropriate for the anticipated risk. The key efficiency involved in the current arrangement is the co-utilization of resources between the City and District, combined with the expertise in both command functions and financial oversight provided by the CAL FIRE leadership. In addition, CAL FIRE maintains tremendous depth in the amounts and types of resources that can be drawn upon during those more unique or larger incidents. CPSM believes that the cost of services provided by CAL FIRE is extremely cost effective and less expensive than if the City or District individually would attempt to replicate these services. When looking at the City of Gilroy, which CPSM believes would be comparable to either the City or the District if they chose to operate independently, it was found that Gilroy is expending in excess of $8 million dollars for its fire department operations. The Gilroy Fire Department employs 41 personnel and operates three fire stations in a city of approximately 50,000 and handles just over 5,200 calls annually. The expenditures in Gilroy are significantly higher than the current expenditures of either the City or District individually.

Recommendation: The City of Morgan Hill and the SSCCFD should continue the contractual relationship with CAL FIRE for protecting their respective communities.

USE OF VOLUNTEERS

CAL FIRE supports a volunteer corps in the District and is attempting to build a volunteer effort within the City service area. Currently, 12 volunteers are active in the District and they are used primarily in support roles, during special events, and during larger incidents. The ability to develop and maintain a volunteer contingent is extremely difficult in suburban areas in which residents commute to work in neighboring urban areas. CAL FIRE maintains the training and proficiency of its volunteers to bolster staffing during peak demand periods and during larger incidents. Volunteer efforts are typically more productive in rural areas in which members of the community work and reside within the jurisdiction. CAL FIRE does not pay for volunteer services. Typically those areas that support volunteers provide financial support either

17