Friday February 24th Weekend update
Updated On: Feb 24, 2017

Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014

Representing over 3200 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers,
Pilots, Wildland Firefighters, Forestry and Health Haz Mat personnel

Happy Friday!
February 24, 2017


Have a great weekend. Please keep Whittier Police Officer Keith Boyer, his family and his Law Enforcement family in your thoughts and prayers. For the latest news and information click on the links.


PALOS VERDES ESTATES FUNDING MEASURE D UPDATE
URGENT

On March 7, 2017, the Voters of Palos Verdes Estates will vote on the future of 100% of the Fire and Paramedic funding in their city. This measure needs a super-majority vote approval and while Local 1014 is engaged in a heavy print, radio and cable TV and social media campaign to try bring the votes home and secure the funding that provides 100% of the resources for our staffing and stations in PVE. KEEP UP WITH THE NEWS ON THIS MARCH 7 BALLOT MEASURE. WE WILL LIKELY BE CALLING FOR AN OLD SCHOOL PRECINCT WALK TO GET OUT THE VOTE MARCH 4, 5, 6, and 7. WE WILL NEED YOU TO HELP US GET THE MESSAGE OUT TO THE VOTERS OF PALOS VERDES ESTATES. MORE ON THIS SOON. Here is a little background and history on our PVE Funding and the Fire Tax that provides those revenues.

In the mid 1980’s, Proposition 13 property tax cuts became too severe to continue staffing and operating fire and paramedic services in Palos Verdes Estates. In May 1986, the city closed its Fire Department and entered into a contract with the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD) to provide fire protection, paramedic services, and the enforcement of the Fire Code inclusive of brush inspection, emergency response, rescue, building construction related services, all personnel and equipment.

Currently, these essential public safety services provided by LACFD cost the City approximately $4.7 million a year. The contract is evergreen; in other words, recognizing fire and paramedic services are an essential public safety need, the contract continues indefinitely unless, with 12-months advance notice to the LACFD, it is canceled.

Over the decades, following the recommendations of several independent Citizen Committees, each one assembled for evaluating funding alternatives. The city instituted a variety of mechanisms to pay the on-going cost for fire and paramedic services.

During the 1980’s, voter approved parcel taxes for police/fire/paramedic and park lands maintenance covered a portion of the costs of these municipal services. In 1991 and then again in 1996 (July), property owners voted their approval of a Fire Suppression Benefit Assessment District (FSBAD) that covered 100% of the cost of the contract with LACFD through 2001. With voter approval of Proposition 218 in November 1996, the FSBAD could only be used to fund fire protection, not paramedic services. Paramedic services represent 40% of the cost of the fire contract, and they are essential to our community. In 2001, after examining long-term financing options, the City placed before voters a ballot measure to fund fire and paramedic services through a parcel tax. Voters overwhelmingly approved the tax (by 87%) and renewed it again in 2007 for ten years (again by 87%), expiring in June 2017.

At the November 8, 2016 meeting, following the recommendation of the Citizen Committee comprised of Ronald Buss (Chair), Tom Connaghan, Kristin Curren, Robin DeBraal, Amy Friedman, Valerie Gorsuch, Helaine Lopes, Clark Margolf, Ellen Perkins, Lynn Solomita, William Um, and David Wagman, the City Council voted to again place a parcel tax on the ballot for funding our fire and paramedic services. The City Council included a 12-year sunset provision through 2029. Given a new state requirement to consolidate local and county elections in November of even years beginning in 2020, the measure will again be evaluated in November 2028. Let's get ready to walk the streets of PVE to get this done!

In Solidarity,

President Dave Gillotte and the Local 1014 Executive Board

Check iafflocal1014.org or local1014.org for details

  • IAFF Local 1014

    Copyright © 2024. All Rights Reserved.

    Powered By UnionActive



  • Top of Page image