City Council Meeting Round-Up: Fire Services, Budget Adjustments, and More

During last night's San Carlos City Council meeting, council members addressed a myriad of issues facing the city such as planning the next step toward selecting an organization to provide the city's fire services, as well as approving an additional $496,000 in spending, receiving a report showing that felony arrests are up 92% from last year and applying for a $70,000 grant to be used for resurfacing city streets with a recycled rubber asphalt.

FIRE SERVICES

Assistant City Manager Brian Moura said amidst the dissolution of a
joint fire department with Belmont, San Carlos has explored the
feasibility of forming either its own stand-alone fire department, or
a hybrid model that could outsource management to a neighboring city.

He said the city is also concurrently investigating the potential of
forming a regional department with other neighboring cities, as well
as talking with Redwood City Fire Department about its willingness to
provide fire services to San Carlos.

Moura said he would return to the council in March with full reports
about the pros and cons both the stand-alone and hybrid models, as
well as one detailing the services offered in a proposal from Redwood
City Fire Department.

Councilman Bob Grassilli advocated council members meeting with the
Belmont City Council members in an effort to work toward a regional
fire service model. Councilman Matt Grocott agreed with Grassilli’s
sentiments.

But Mayor Omar Ahmad and Vice Mayor Andy Klein showed reluctance to
meet with Belmont leadership. Instead, they said they would be willing
to send a letter to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors members
Carole Groom and Adrienne Tissier regarding the willingness of San
Carlos to enter mediation with Belmont.

A majority of Belmont’s City Council members have previously expressed
a disinterest in mediation.

Klein advocated the city pursuing the option that would allow it to
maintain the most control over pension and salaries. He said seven
members of the fire department made more than $200,000, while no other
city employee earned that much last year.

“I’m not going to sit here and take money from the rest of the city
and give it to others,” said Klein.

The proposal deadline for fire services is April 1.

BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS

The council voted 4-1 to approve spending $570,000 more than was
initially budgeted in order to cover $400,000 in police salaries and
benefits, as well as other expenses.

Councilman Grocott was the sole dissenting vote.

Administrative Services Director Rebecca Mendenhall said the money
could be drawn from the $1.87 million the city saved last year.

The  $400,000 in police costs included payments for equipment and
personnel as well as medical and leave payments.

The other expenses comprising the adjusted budget expenditures
included $57,000 for planning professional services, $45,000 for
public utilities and $23,000 for recruitment of a new city manager.

She recommended stowing away the remainder of last year’s savings, as
early projections show San Carlos could be on the hook for between
$500,000 to $1 million annually for the next nine years due to the
dissolution of its joint fire department with Belmont.

Assistant City Manager Moura attributed the potential cost to vacation
and sick-leave payments to the city’s top ranking fire officials who
are expected to retire in the near future, among other expected costs.

Moura admitted the future annual projections were high for safe
budgeting purposes.

He also said the city would need to fund an additional $800,000 once
the fire department divorce is finalized because it previously
received that amount from the Joint Powers Authority, which will
become defunct in October.


POLICE REPORT

In a report detailing the first three months of the San Mateo County
Sheriff’s Department handling police services in San Carlos, felony
arrests have risen 92% over the same period last year, according to a
report presented by Police Chief Greg Rothaus.

Police have made 50 felony arrests this year, compared to 26 over the
same 90 day stretch last year, according to the report.

Rothaus credited that increase to more drug related arrests and
finding more weapons on people during searches, as well as parolees
not complying with their parole terms.

When questioned by Councilman Grocott, Rothaus said the city is not
experiencing and increase in gang related crime incidents.

Meanwhile, misdemeanor arrests fell 16% and traffic citations have
dropped 38%  under the Sheriff department’s supervision, according to
the report.

Rothaus said nearly half of the traffic citations written were due to
cell phone or seat belt infractions.

According to Rothaus’ report, the city is experiencing nearly the same
average response time as it did before the service change.

Rothaus said the police department has transitioned well into the
Sheriff’s department, and that he has not heard any issues from police
or staff from either department resenting the change in loyalties.

“I haven’t heard anyone come and say they are unhappy,” said Rothaus.

Councilman Grassilli said he spoke with Sheriff Greg Munks, who
praised the officers from San Carlos on their work ethic and
willingness to merge into the county’s police department.

STREET REHABILITATION

Council members consented to submit an application to the State of
California for a $70,149 grant to be spent on using rubberized asphalt
concrete to resurface city streets.

If approved, the rubberized asphalt concrete would be used to pave
Holly Street from Industrial Road to Old County Road. It would be used
along stretches of Old County Road from north of Quarry Road to Bagato
Road, from Commercial Street to Brittan Avenue, from Washington Street
to southeast of Bing Street and from Bragato Road to Taylor Way.

As well Brittan Way from Alameda De Las Pulgas to St. Francis Way
would be paved. And on Cedar Street from Belmont Avenue to St. Francis
Way. And along Laurel Street from Central Avenue to Eaton Avenue, too,
according to a city report.

Rubberized asphalt concrete is ground up tire rubber mixed with
asphalt that can be used as an environmentally friendly alternative to
traditional asphalt.

It is proven to last longer up to two times longer than traditional
asphalt, which is expected to reduce the city’s maintenance costs. It
also enhances traction and is a darker color to reduce the appearance
of skid marks, according to a city report.

The grant was submitted before the Feb. 16 deadline.