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Reorganzing fire service needs study, council says
Mayor asks groups to submit 'position papers'
Task force wants support
By Oakley Brooks
The Saratoga City Attorney recently informed the city council on April 18, that the city does not have any regulatory authority over the Saratoga Fire District.
But his report to council presented several options on how the city could petition Santa Clara County to potentially reorganize fire service in the city, if the council wanted more control over it.
Fire service in the city is currently split between the independently run Saratoga Fire District and the Santa Clara County Fire District.
Most council members seemed hesitant about the idea of reorganizing the fire districts, and assuming control over a new Saratoga fire company, saying that they needed more information before they could reach a decision.
"It's an incredibly complex issue and we need to get all the (related) issues on the table," said Councilman Stan Bogosian.
But Bogosian and other council members reiterated what they expressed on April 4: They are intent on taking a formal stance on the subject.
Mayor John Mehaffey called for interested parties to submit "position papers" to inform the council on the future of fire service in the city. Mehaffey said he hoped to consider the different positions during the council's April 24 meeting with Saratoga Public Safety Commission.
Last week, Bogosian and Vice Mayor Nick Streit also met separately with members of the Firefighters and Citizen Taskforce to discuss potential changes in fire service.
The task force maintains that the Saratoga Fire District is undermanned and ill-equipped. The group wants the district to join the Santa Clara County Fire District, which serves parts of northern and eastern Saratoga and six surrounding towns.
Vice Mayor Streit said he is considering the task force's request to have the Saratoga Fire District join the county. Other possibilities, according to Streit, would be for the city to take over the Saratoga Fire District, or leave the district's management as it is, and expand the district's boundaries to encompass the whole city.
"I'm not leaning towards one option, but I'm trying to look at it from a public safety standpoint," said Streit. "I'm asking 'Would the city be better served under one fire district?' "
On April 18, the task force Chairman Dave Dolloff presented the rest of the city council with another extensive report, detailing supposed Saratoga Fire District deficiencies and outlining potential benefits of joining the district with the county.
The report drew the attention of Fire Chief Ernie Kraule, who, along with other Saratoga fire administrators, has remained relatively reserved in discussions of the district's future. Kraule said on April 19, that he would prepare a written response to the task force's claims.
"Now they have something on paper and it's time to sit down and take a look at it," said Kraule.
Fire Commission Chairman Bob Egan, who also met with Vice Mayor Streit last week, said that, while the city was entitled to explore Saratoga's fire service, the commission would remain removed from the dialogue about the district's future until the city formally requested district participation.
"Right now this has nothing to do with the district," said Egan.
Councilman Evan Baker apparently disagreed with the district's approach.
"I haven't seen anything clearly stating why the Saratoga Fire District should continue operating as is," Baker said at the April 18 city council meeting.
The debate over fire service could affect plans for the city's new fire station, which await approval in the next few months.
The debate over fire service could affect plans for the city's new fire station, which awaits approval in the next few months.
Last April, Saratoga Fire District residents approved a $6 million bond to fund the new building that's slated to replace the existing station on the corner of Saratoga Avenue and Saratoga-Los Gatos Road.
Plans for an interim station behind the existing station are expected to be presented to the planning commission next month.
Task force leadership called on the city council to stop progress on the new station until the future of Saratoga's fire service is resolved.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
