Rural Fire Protection District Municipal Service Review and Data Accuracy

Expressed serious concerns that the draft MSR for Eastside and Lincoln fire districts contained widespread inaccuracies, unverified CAD data, flawed financial deficit projections, and incorrect asset records, while noting that districts were given inadequate time to review the massive report.

Waterloo Morata Fire Chief Eric Walder thanked the commission for the review period but noted that districts had to spend hours extrapolating corrections because consultants did not provide a clear list of accepted or rejected comments from the courtesy review.

Montezuma Fire District representative Ed Martell stated that out of 31 corrections submitted on the courtesy draft, only 9 were addressed, and urged the commission to address the gaping hole in fire protection coverage on the west side Delta islands.

McCalmy Fire District Fire Chief Mark Weber noted that his agency submitted over 52 comments on data errors, wrong call volumes, and financial figures, but received no redlined follow-up, emphasizing the need for a clean, accurate report before any governance decisions are made.

French Camp Fire Chief Marty Cornelison emphasized that special districts provide unique services that municipalities cannot replicate, and underscored the importance of ensuring the MSR is accurate so it positively impacts the districts and the county over the next 15 years.

Special counsel Brett Jolly representing six fire districts outlined legal considerations, noting that LAFCo decisions require substantial evidence under an abuse of discretion standard, and requested that the comment period remain open so districts can submit accurate facts and data.