New Five Cities Fire Authority board to determine future of fire service in Oceano
The first meeting of the reconstituted Five Cities Fire Authority will see the board consider an agreement to provide interim fire and emergency services to Oceano as the unincorporated town seeks a new emergency service provider.
While Oceano is a member of the FCFA through June 30, the Thursday meeting of the new FCFA board consisting of the cities of Grover Beach and Arroyo Grande will determine the terms of an interim emergency coverage agreement for Oceano through June 30, 2024.
During that time, Oceano will look to complete the San Luis Obispo Local Agency Formation Commission process for giving up its responsibility for fire and emergency services.
Previously, Oceano voters rejected two ballot measures to raise taxes to fund Oceano’s participation in the Five Cities Fire Authority in March 2020 and June 2022.
Without the funding from those tax increases, Oceano was unable to pay for wage increases requested by the fire agency amid rising costs and difficulty attracting workers — and so the unincorporated town has begun the difficult process of separating from the Five Cities Fire Authority.
Oceano previously paid the agency $1.15 million for fire and medical emergency services during a one-year “wind-down period” from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, the agreement between the OCSD and Five Cities Fire Authority stated.
“Without a contract for services, Oceano would have to start a fire department on July 1, and they don’t have the resources or wherewithal to do that,” FCFA fire chief Steve Lieberman told The Tribune. “They asked and the cities agreed to provide a contract for them starting July 1, so they’ll have fire and emergency services for up to 12 months, or maybe even less if the LAFCO process wraps up early.”
What are Oceano’s options for future fire coverage?
The LAFCO staff report from May 18 outlined three outcomes for fire service in the area.
In one scenario, the county could choose to provide coverage to Oceano through its closest county fire or Cal Fire station.
In the second option, the county would staff and use the existing Oceano fire station on Front Street to provide fire services without contracting with the FCFA.
According to a January 2023 Oceano CSD resolution included in the LAFCO staff report packet, the estimated cost of the county using its contract with Cal Fire to staff the Oceano station with two full-time firefighters, with support by reserves or paid call firefighters, plus station operating costs would be about $1.85 million.
Roughly $1.05 million of that would be covered by Oceano property taxes, while the rest would be up to the county.
The third option would see the county agree to a contract with the FCFA to provide fire service to the community.
The resolution noted that contracting with Five Cities Fire Authority could result in potential cost-savings, but did not specify an exact cost estimate.
