Page 4 - The Friday Flyer • July 3, 2015

A-4 THE FRIDAY FLYER JULY 3, 2015 City gives history of fire services dispute . . .
ttFROM PAGE A3
In an effort to work with the County’s demands, on three occasions the City held an election for a special tax. The first two were specifically for the pur- poses of subsidizing fire services. Those taxes failed.
Recently the voters did pass a general temporary utility tax to close its general fund deficit, partially due to the increas- ing costs of fire services; however, that was not enough to meet the differential between SFF and the costs with the un- expectedly substantial increases for the upcoming year.
Additionally, that tax sunsets six years after passage, or December 31, 2020, which would leave the City in the same financial hardship that it was in prior to the tax being approved if it did not take some action now to prevent fur- ther increases to fire service costs.
In response to the rapidly increasing costs of fire services, City representa- tives approached Chief Hawkins and re- quested that the County provide a solu- tion which would provide fire services at a cost no greater than the SFF received. Chief Hawkins presented three possible approaches, all of which involved the closure of Station 60 and provision of ongoing services from stations in Lake Elsinore and Menifee.
At the direction of Chief Hawkins, on August 8, 2013, the City sent a let- ter to the County requesting that change, effective December 8, 2013, thereby complying with the 120-day notice pe- riod required by the Cooperative Agree- ment. However, on May 21, 2013, at a community meeting, Chief Hawkins reversed his position and indicated the Station had to stay open.
In November 2013, the City held the second special tax election in an at- tempt to develop an additional funding source for the service level dictated by the County. As noted above, this special tax also failed.
On November 18, 2013, after the special tax election, over three months after receiving the City’s notice of re- duction in services, without consulta- tion or discussion with the City, the Fire Chief notified the City that the County had decided to treat the request to re- duce services as a request to terminate the Cooperative Agreement pursuant to the County’s unilateral authority pursu- ant to the Cooperative Agreement, and therefore Station 60 would close on Au- gust 8, 2014.
At no point had the City requested termination; instead, the City requested a change in the exhibit to the Coopera- tive Agreement that explains the servic- es provided and the related costs.
Thereafter, the County took a vari- ety of conflicting positions: On May 27, 2014, Todd Williams, County Fire Division Chief, stated that Station 60 would close on July 21, 2014. On May 28, 2014, Chief Williams stated that Sta- tion 60 could stay open until August 4, 2014, a date convenient to County Fire payroll, if the City paid the cost.
On June 4, 2014, the County notified the City that Station 60 would close on August 8, 2014; and seven days later, on June 11, 2014, the County reversed its position again and notified the City that Station 60 would not be closed and that there would never be a cost reduction or reduction in services under the contract.
Because the City was concerned it did not have an ongoing source of revenue to pay for fire services in excess of the
SFF, as well as all other City needs such as police and city services, on June 26, 2014 the City gave another 120-day no- tice of reduction of services and a notice of termination.
The City did not assert that it want- ed out of the integrated system or that it no longer wanted to contract with the County for fire services. The County ac- knowledged receipt of the notices.
Beginning in May 2014, the City withheld payment to the County for fire services. This was for the period of ser- vice from January 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015. This was necessary because the County refused to honor the provisions in the agreement allowing the City to obtain a reduction in the level of service and related costs.
In an effort to develop an affordable alternative to the current level of ser- vice, the City retained a well-respect- ed fire services consultant, Ronny J. Coleman, to meet with the Fire Chief, County Fire and/or CalFire to develop an alternative that meets with the needs of the system.
Mr. Coleman contacted Chief Hawkins and attempted to meet with him to try to establish some level of communication. Chief Hawkins advised Coleman that he was not allowed to speak with Mr. Coleman based on his lawyer’s advice. In April, 2015, the City entered into a confidentiality/admissibil- ity agreement with the County to allow Chief Hawkins and other fire executives to be able to speak freely without con- cern that those comments would arise in the pending lawsuit between the City and County.
All of the key participants signed the confidentiality agreement (includ- ing Mr. Coleman and Chief Hawkins)
and Mr. Coleman again contacted Chief Hawkins on or about the second week of April. Mr. Coleman explained that the purpose of the communications was to evaluate potential options to a resolution of the fire service problem, not for the pending lawsuit.
Chief Hawkins again refused to pro- vide information, stating that the County lawyers would not let him provide any information to the City’s consultant.
The Chief’s refusal to provide infor- mation prohibited the City from devel- oping service alternatives and it was inconsistent with the agreement. Mr. Coleman made an additional phone call in or about the first week of May to see if word had reached the Chief that he was authorized to speak with the City’s consultant.
That call was also unsuccessful. Be- cause Mr. Coleman’s associate on this project, Ron Myers, also had a person- al relationship with Chief Hawkins, Mr. Myers attempted to make contact. That attempt was similarly unsuccess- ful.
Chief Hawkins, the City’s own top fire official, consistently refused to meet with the City’s consultant because he is also the County Fire Chief. The County has consistently refused to provide ac- cess to any fire officials, including of- ficials compensated with the City’s SFF, instead insisting that the level of service dictated by the County for the City was the only alternative the County would consider.
The County’s refusal to provide fire service information and obstruction of the City’s efforts to obtain alternative service have prevented the City from
uuCONTINUED PAGE A5
This is a paid advertisement purchased by the Canyon Lake Property Owners Association. Visit www.canyonlakepoa.com for official Association news.
Board of Directors Meeting Agenda Tuesday, July 7, 2015 - 7:00p.m. Lodge - Holiday Bay Room
1. Welcome and Call to Order
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Invocation
• Verification of Quorum
2. Approval of Minutes
• June 16, 2015 Regular Session Meeting
3. Public Official Comments (Comments are limited to
three minutes per person)
4. Board Comments (Comments to include committee
updates)
5. Report of Executive Session Action
6. Member Comments on Non-Agenda Issues and Non-
Personnel Issues
• AS A MEMBER OF THIS ASSOCIATION, YOU ARE WELCOME TO ADDRESS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT REGULAR OPEN SESSION BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE COMPLETE A SPEAKER REQUEST FORM LOCATED AT THE CHECK-IN DESK AND SUBMIT THE FULLY COMPLETED FORM TO THE CORPORATE ADMINISTRATOR PRIOR TO SPEAKING. THE PRESIDING OFFICER WILL CALL YOU TO THE MICROPHONE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND TRACT AND LOT. ALL COMMENTS SHALL BE LIMITED TO THREE (3) MINUTES AND TO RELEVANT MATTERS WITHIN THE CLPOA JURISDICTION. PLEASE NOTE: THE DAVIS STIRLING ACT PROHIBITS DIALOGUE ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA. THEREFORE, IF A RESPONSE IS GIVEN, IT WILL BE LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING: THE MATTER WILL BE REFERRED TO APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL OR A VERY LIMITED FACTUAL RESPONSE WILL BE PROVIDED.
7. Staff Reports
8.
7.1 GeneralManager,ChristopherMitchell
7.2 CommunityPatrol,JayCregeen
7.3 Corporate Counsel, Howard Silldorf / Scott Levine Consent Agenda (Items A-H)
A. Approval: Rules & Regulations – General Rules –
No Trailer Parking After Sunset – GR.5.5C
Proposed Resolution: That the Board of Directors
approve the revised rule for GR.5.5C, as attached
B. Approval: Rules & Regulations – General Rules – Designated Parking for Boat Trailer Parking at Launch Ramp Sites – GR.5.3V
Proposed Resolution: That the Board of Directors approve the new rule for GR.5.3V, as attached
C. Approval: Rules & Regulations – Lake & Marina – Lake & Marina Rules and Rules and Regulations – LM.2.10
Proposed Resolution: That the Board of Directors approve the revised rule for LM.2.10, as attached
D. Approval: Rules & Regulations – General Rules – Leash or Confinement for Dogs Required – GR.2.14a Proposed Resolution: That the Board of Directors approve the revised rule for GR.2.14a, as attached
E. Approval: Rules & Regulations – General Rules – No Other Illegal Parking Allowed – GR.5.3t Proposed Resolution: That the Board of Directors approve the revised rule for GR.5.3t, as attached
F. 1st Reading (30-day readings): Rules & Regulations – Lake & Marina – Lake & Marina Rules and Regulations for Registration – LM.2.8
G Authorization of Liens
Proposed Resolution: That the Board of Directors authorize Corporate Counsel, the General Manager, or the appropriate personnel to record the liens against the Assessor Parcel Numbers in accordance with Civil Code 5673 in order to secure the debt owed
the Association
H. Approval: Revised Board Meeting Policy
Proposed Resolution: That the Board of Directors approve the revised Board Meeting Policy, effective for meetings after July 7, 2015
9. Board Action Items
9.1 2014-15 Taxable Income
9.2 Funding Request: Outrigger Park Playground
Replacement – Reserve Item #405
9.3 Funding Request: Steel Head Park Playground
Replacement – Reserve Item #405
9.4 Funding Request: Holiday Harbor Playground
Replacement – Reserve Items #405 and #406
9.5 Approval: EVMWD Litigation Advisory Committee
Charter
9.6 Committee Member Appointment: EVMWD
Litigation Advisory Committee for Lake Lease
10. Next Meeting Date
Tuesday, July 21, 2015 – 5:00 P.M. – Board Regular Session Architectural Appeals Meeting (Lodge – Holiday Bay Room)
11. Adjournment 12. Open Forum
Board of Directors Executive Session Agenda Tuesday, July 7, 2015 - 1:00 p.m.
POA Conference Room
Call To Order: President Eilers Verification of Quorum: Denise Agostini Old Business
New Business
1. 2. 3.
4. 5. 6.
Approval of Minutes – 1:00 p.m.
Member Discipline (Civil Code 4935(a))
3rd Party Contract / Agreement Discussion (Civil Code 4935(a))
Legal Matters (Civil Code 4935(a))
Personnel Matters (Civil Code 4935(a))
Adjournment – 5:00 p.m.
CANYON LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION UPCOMING MEETINGS AND AGENDAS
WWW.CANYONLAKEPOA.COM