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Uploaded: Wednesday, December 12, 2012, 5:41 AM
Updated: Saturday, December 15, 2012, 7:53 AM
Contra Costa County to close 4 fire stations after voters reject parcel tax measure
Closures leave Walnut Creek with only three stations
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The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday evening to approve a plan to shutter four fire stations a month after voters rejected a parcel tax measure meant to prevent the closures.
The cost-saving service reduction plan drafted by Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Chief Daryl Louder comes a month after Measure Q, a $75 annual parcel tax designed to help close the district's $17 million budget deficit, failed to receive a two-thirds "super majority" vote.
Stations located at 700 Hawthorne Drive in Walnut Creek, at 6500 Center Ave. in Clayton, at 1240 Shell Ave. in Martinez and at 4007 Los Arabis Ave. in Lafayette are set to close in January. The Lafayette station has been temporarily closed since June.
Those stations were selected for closure based on their location, call volume and emergency risk factors in the surrounding communities, fire officials said.
The closures will leave Walnut Creek with only three stations, Martinez and Lafayette with just two each, and Clayton without any fire station.
"We know that with longer response times, we have increased safety concerns for the public and increased safety concerns for our firefighters,"
Louder said. "We will continue to monitor the impact, monitor response times and evaluate the situation."
Louder said the closures, while a drastic measure, are the only viable alternative available since the fire district has spent through its reserves after years of falling property tax revenue and soaring pension and health care costs.
The chief explained that the district's personnel have taken pay cuts and contributed more to their pension and health care costs in recent years, but have been unable to solve their fiscal dilemma.
The plan is expected to save the financially embattled district $3 million over the next six months, according to the chief. The district's
current annual budget is over $102 million.— Bay City News Service Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by Larry, a resident of Livermore, on Dec 12, 2012 at 9:20 am Sounds like the fire district was planning to spend money it didn't have yet by expecting money from a parcel tax. So the budget is $102 million, it would be interesting to see exactly what the budget is.
I'm just thinking, I have a friend, her husband and her just lost their house because they spent more money then what they had. That's how it works. You can't plan or budget for what you don't have.
I suspect the fire district has been out of control with it's spending, and should take an axe to the budget and figure out what it really needs, not what it wants.
The last thing, shutting down 4 stations is only saving the district 3 percent, not very much money, the details would show what the problem really is.
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Posted by Ripped Off Taxpayer, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Dec 12, 2012 at 10:13 am Isn't it interesting that there are only two choices. Either the taxpayers have to cough up more money or their fire protection is degraded. The third option is to cut the insane compensation packages that firemen receive, particular things like retiring age 50 with full salary and benefits for life. They also need to cut costs by having firemen to other tasks during the 90% of the time they are on duty and not firefighting. Firefighters in other parts of the country do things like auto maintenance and repair, computer repair/refurbishing, website development, furniture and cabinetry, light manufacturing, etc, etc.etc. That of course is different than today where they watch TV, play poker, lounge around the (luxury) health clubs, stroll leisurely through the grocery stores, and BS endlessly.
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Posted by Times, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Dec 12, 2012 at 11:05 am Ripped Off is so right. There are several 'adjustments' that must be
made to firemen retirements contributions, financial, timing, overtime. Hardheaded, ignorant, selfish, union greed prevents any sensible plan. Read Dan Borenstein's editorial in last SUN, Dec 9, Valley Time, @ BayAreaNewsGroup. He, rightfully, really hits the Contra Costa fire union hard. Closing staions and laying off 'brothers', is a childish and stupid non-solution. That is 'individual personal' Shaving a bit across all stations would be so much more sensible.
Union mentality is so destructive and non-prokductive. . .a tantrum
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Posted by Arnold, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Dec 12, 2012 at 11:28 am Fact is, or at least so I've heard, is that there are no more fires to fight. Fire science has long predicted that fires will no longer afflict citizens of Contra Costa or anywhere else. The imminent tsunami will take care of any random flare-ups, brought to you by your favorite people of color attracting union.
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Posted by Oy Vey!, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on Dec 12, 2012 at 1:16 pm Who needs firemen anymore...there are no fires! If there happens to be one, just get out your garden hose and handle it...as citizens, volunteers. Also, after a car wreck, stabbing, or other medical incident we should load those injured into our Lexus's, Range Rovers and Mercedes Benz' and drive them to the nearest hospital in order to receive care. If someone is having a heart attack in front of you, do CPR...but wait, if they need to be shocked just rip the wires out of your iPhone or Droid and jimmy them up so you can jolt the poor soul back to life.
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Posted by local, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Dec 12, 2012 at 1:37 pm Fire the Fire Chief and bring somebody in who stops threatening the public and instead finds real solutions.
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Posted by Oy Vey!, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on Dec 12, 2012 at 2:37 pm Fire them all!
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Posted by Times, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Dec 13, 2012 at 10:53 am Oy Vey and Arnold, Everybody understands that you do the job you're hired to do....Everybody in all jobs, should do the jobs they're hired to do.
We just wonder why you made the CHOICE to STOP being admired heroes, doing your job with pride, enjoying being very well paid, enjoying job security UNknown in all other fields, enjoying exceptionally early age retirements with unique COL increases, generous medical for retired self & family mostly paid by others, all unheard of in other fields. Instead of choosing conflict and grief for your unrealistic personal greed.
Killing the golden goose could have consequences for you.
Be careful what you ask for....it could be very short-lived.
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Posted by Mike, a resident of the Highland Oaks neighborhood, on Dec 13, 2012 at 4:03 pm Look to the Japanese system of highly localized volunteer fire departments to see how cities save beaucoup.
Mike
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Posted by Truth, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on Dec 26, 2012 at 8:18 pm Yea..we could cut out all LPFD services. Then we could let all of our local business bcome out of compliance with fire code standards which are enforced by the fire dudes. Then we could all learn to extricate ourselves out of crushed cars at accidents, then we could provide emergency medical cre to our neighbors...then we could grow a set of ball and run into burning buildings and suck down toxic smoke while saving your children....then you could shut your mouth ...losers.
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