Local Fire and Paramedic Services 2020 Parcel Tax Measure Measure FD - March 2020 - Jon O'Brien, Deputy Fire Chief County of Los Angeles Fire ...

Local Fire and Paramedic Services

   2020 Parcel Tax Measure
   Measure FD – March 2020

                      Jon O’Brien, Deputy Fire Chief
              County of Los Angeles Fire Department

L.A. County Fire Overview

• L.A. County Fire is a special district.
• L.A. County Fire is legally known as the
  Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los
  Angeles County.
• The County Board of Supervisors acts as the
  Board of Directors.
• As a special district, the L.A. County Fire’s
  funding is separate and distinct from the
  County’s.
• The Fire District is principally funded through
  a 1) direct portion of the 1% property tax, 2)
  a special tax levied on real property adopted
  by the voters in 1997, and 3) service
  contracts .

L.A. County Fire Service Area

• 4 million residents

• 59 cities and all unincorporated
  areas of Los Angeles County

• 2,300 square miles

• 174 neighborhood fire stations

• 4,670 employees

• Over 400,000 calls for service

L.A. County Fire is an
                    All‐Risk Agency

• Fire suppression
   • House and other structure fires
• Hazardous materials and urban search and rescue
   • Rescue and mitigation operations in floods, earthquakes,
      hazardous material spills, ocean incidents
• 9‐1‐1 emergency medical service assistance

Longer Fire Seasons, More Fast‐Moving Fires

• The hottest and driest
  summers have all occurred
  in the last 20 years.
• 15 of the 20 largest fires in
  California history have
  occurred since 2000
• Impact on mutual aid system
• Impact on first responders

911 Medical Emergency Calls
     Are On the Rise

          • 50‐year anniversary of
            Paramedic program
          • Today most of our calls
            are medical emergencies
          • During a medical
            emergency every second
            is critical

Staffing Has Not Kept Pace with Demand

Staffing Has Not Kept Pace with Demand

Communications &
              Emergency Medical Response

• Emergency response, lifesaving protection and rescue
  require updated communications systems
• Communicate directly to Emergency Rooms

Outdated Communications Tools Need Upgrades

             • 30‐year‐old communications systems
             • Incompatible with digital and wireless
             • Expensive or near‐impossible to repair
               and service

Protecting and Rescuing Vulnerable Populations

• Need to upgrade emergency tools and medical response
  equipment
• Provide emergency medication
• Provide firefighters with equipment such as thermal image
  cameras and Jaws of Life to locate/rescue vulnerable citizens
  unable to escape

Fighting House Fires –
           Emergency Tools and Technology

• Need to upgrade safety equipment and tools
• Replace old breathing devices, protective clothing
  and equipment used by firefighters
• Aging fire engines and rescue vehicles are costly to
  repair and maintain

Battling Major Wildfires and Other Disasters

• Firefighters must communicate reliably to coordinate fast,
  effective emergency response when fighting fires
• Upgraded safety equipment and vehicles are also needed
  for fighting fast‐moving wildfires

Local Funding Measure FD to Support
           and Improve Emergency Response
20+ years since local voters approved local fire
and rescue funding – Firefighter/paramedics
need additional resources.

• 6¢ per s/f assessment of parcel improvements
  (capped at 100,000 s/f of improvements),
  excluding parking improvements

• Would raise $134M annually limited to
  2% annual adjustment

• Typical 1500 s/f single‐family home = $90

• Low‐income seniors would be exempt

• Voter approval by 2/3 required

How Would Funds Be Used to
            Protect and Improve Public Safety?

Locally controlled funding from
Measure FD would be used to:
    Increase the number of firefighter/paramedics
    on duty

    Upgrade outdated equipment and vehicles to
    effectively fight house fires and fast‐moving
    extreme wildfires

    Communicate directly with emergency rooms
    and trauma centers and provide critical
    information when transporting patients

    Communicate reliably to coordinate fast,
    effective emergency response – including
    when it is time to evacuate

How Would Funds Be Used to
     Protect and Improve Public Safety?

Provide emergency tools, medical response equipment and medication

Replace old breathing devices, protective clothing and equipment used by firefighters

Provide firefighters with thermal image cameras to locate and rescue vulnerable
citizens unable to escape on their own

Provide real‐time mapping software and other advanced technology and upgrade 911
dispatch center computer technology to improve response times

Locally Controlled Funding
                Independent Citizens’ Oversight

Measure FD would require fiscal accountability:
   •   By law, all funds used to support local fire protection and emergency medical
       response and subject to annual independent audit
   •   Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee
   •   Annual expenditure reports published online and made available at local libraries and
       neighborhood fire stations

Addressing Today’s Challenges
 and Planning for the Future

            Your input is important!
            Take our Survey: WeAreLACountyFire.org
            Election/Voting Info: LAVote.net