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Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board order the Auditor-Controller to disburse $12,308.90 to the El Dorado County Fire Protection District from its Development Impact Mitigation Fee Account for the Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus adapters required for the District’s new ladder truck at Station 28.
FUNDING: Development Impact Mitigation Fees.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The California Mitigation Fee Act (Cal. Gov. §66000 et seq.) provides for the establishment of fees to mitigate the impacts of new development on public facilities in order to maintain the established level of service. Individual Special Districts do not have the authority to establish these fees; as a result, the County establishes fees on behalf of the districts. In accordance with the Mitigation Fee Act, these revenues are segregated and deposited into a separate account for each district.
Development impact mitigation fees were first collected on the District's behalf in 1985. The District's fee was last updated in 2021 via Resolution 062-2021 (Legistar file 21-0958). In accordance with the Mitigation Fee Act, these revenues are segregated and deposited into a separate account for each district. As outlined in the District’s 2021 nexus study, revenue from fees collected on new residential and commercial development can be used to fund the development of new equipment and facilities that expand service capacity, resulting from growth caused by new development.
In 2022, the Board approved using development mitigation impact fees to fund approximately 50% of the cost of a new 105-foot ladder truck at Station 28, located at 3860 Ponderosa Road, Shingle Springs, CA. The district had experienced commercial growth, including the development of several hotel and apartment complexes. The ladder truck added new service capabilities due to ongoing commercial development within the business park in Shingle Springs, south of Highway 50, as well as the significant development at Red Hawk Casino. Previously, responses with a ladder truck to this area came from Placerville Station or mutual aid from Diamond Springs or El Dorado Hills.
On June 11, 2024, the Board approved a request for $260,417.60 from development impact mitigation fees to equip the new ladder truck at Station 28 in Shingle Springs (Legistar file 24-0920). During the process of deploying the units, a compatibility issue was identified between the newly purchased Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and the District’s existing Rapid Intervention Team packs and Rescue Airbags. The following additional equipment is required:
SCOTT Tool Adapter for Cylinders - $1,275.85
SCOTT RIT III Packs & Carbon Cylinders - $11,033.05
The District's request is attached and totals $12,308.90 for the adapters, packs, and carbon cylinders needed to use the newly purchased SCBA equipment with the existing Rapid Intervention Team packs and Rescue Airbags.
The County has entered into an agreement with the District, whereby the District agrees to "hold County harmless and defend County and its employees, officers, and agents from any claim, liability, or action" resulting from the County’s calculation, imposition, and collection of impact fees on the District’s behalf.
The Chief Administrative Office recommends disbursing funds for the specified purposes because they align with the reason the fee was collected, the District and County are currently in compliance with the Mitigation Fee Act, and the indemnity agreement between the District and the County adequately protects the County from potential liability related to the disbursement.
ALTERNATIVES
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PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Legistar file 21-0958 - June 29, 2021 - The District's fee was last updated via Resolution 062-2021.
Legistar file 22-1687 - September 20, 2022 - The Board approved $119,836.13 from development impact mitigation fees for the District to cover the increased costs of the ladder truck caused by inflation and supply chain delays.
Legistar file 22-1249 - July 19, 2022 - The Board approved $600,000 from development impact mitigation fees for the District's new ladder truck for Station 28. This amount covered approximately 50% of the total cost of the fleet addition, due to increased demand resulting from District growth.
Legistar file 24-0920 - June 11, 2024 - The Board approved a request for $260,417.60 from development impact mitigation fees to equip the new ladder truck at Station 28 in Shingle Springs.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
El Dorado County Fire Protection District
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the County. Impact mitigation fees are collected by the County on behalf of the districts and held in separate accounts. As of June 26, 2025, the account balance was $632,738.64.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
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STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
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CONTACT
Tara Stout, Principal Management Analyst