Title
HEARING - Chief Administrative Office, Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Preparedness & Response Division, recommending the Board:
1) Conduct a public hearing to consider public comment on the annual written report of benefit assessments for the Zone of Benefit within County Service Area 3 for emergency medical services; and
2) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 125-2020 confirming the annual written report and authorizing the benefit assessments be collected in the same manner as the County’s ad valorem real property taxes for Fiscal Year 2020-2021, noting that the pre-existing benefit assessments have been in place and collected since prior to the effective date of Proposition 218, with no increases in the amounts and no change in the methodology for calculating said amounts.
FUNDING: 100% County Service Area 3 Benefit Assessments.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
Both County Service Area (CSA 3), and a zone of benefit within CSA 3, were established through various Board of Supervisors (BOS) resolutions and pursuant to Title 3, Division 2, Part 2, Chapter 2.2 of California Government Code. Under California Government Code Section 25210.2, the County’s BOS is to act as the governing authority of CSA 3.
Exercising this authority, the BOS, through a series of resolutions, established fixed benefit assessments on improved parcels within CSA 3 to support the provision of pre-hospital emergency medical services within CSA 3.
The BOS adopted Resolution No. 9-63 on January 21, 1963, establishing CSA 3 for the purpose of providing extended services, namely, mosquito abatement. On August 10, 1982, the BOS amended the authority of the service area to include extended ambulance services to be provided within the unincorporated area of CSA 3, through Resolution No. 210-82. On March 24, 1987, the BOS adopted Resolution No. 68-87, being a Resolution of Intention, to provide extended ambulance services (now referred to as “pre-hospital emergency medical services”) in the incorporated area of CSA 3. The hearing associated with the Resolution of Intention 68-87 was held, the BOS considered all protests and determined that a fee be charged to each improved parcel within the unincorporated area of CSA 3.
As the benefit assessment for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 is the same as the prior fiscal year, in compliance with Health and Safety Code Section 13916.1(b), and with the County’s Charter, this benefit assessment hearing is held for the continuance of fixed benefit assessment fees on improved parcels located within the CSA 3 Zone of Benefit (except for the “Tahoe West Shore Zone of Benefit”) to fund CSA 3, South Shore Area pre-hospital emergency medical services operations. Revenue from this assessment helps augment the cost of providing pre-hospital emergency medical services / advanced life support ambulance services in the South Shore Area of the County (see Attachment A to Resolution titled “Total Parcel Count and Dollar Amounts”).
This public hearing to consider the adoption of a Resolution maintaining the current fixed benefit assessments in CSA 3 was noticed in accordance with Government Code Section 6066 via a Notice of Public Hearing published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune on July 24, 2020, and July 31, 2020.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to adopt the Resolution and authorize collection of the benefit assessments charges for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 the Zone of Benefit within CSA 3 will have insufficient funding for pre-hospital emergency medical services / advanced life support ambulance services.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The revenue from the monies collected is approximately 62% of the operating budget for the North Tahoe Fire Protection District (NTFPD) (Agreement 017-S1711) for the provision of ambulance services and ambulance transportation services within CSA 3. The estimated revenue is included in the County’s Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Recommended Budget.
There is no impact to the General Fund. Ambulance services and ambulance transportation services within CSA 3 are paid by the special assessment benefit monies collected and by ambulance fees collected for services provided by NTFPD.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain the signature of the Chair on one Resolution and provide the required documents and charges to the Auditor-Controller, County Assessor, and to the Treasurer and Tax Collector in order that the direct charges be placed onto the County of El Dorado Tax (Fiscal) Year 2020-2021 Property Tax Roll.
2) Clerk of the Board to provide the required documents and charges to the Auditor-Controller, County Assessor, and to the Treasurer and Tax Collector to place the direct charges onto the County of El Dorado Tax (Fiscal) Year 2020-2021 Property Tax Roll.
3) Clerk of the Board to provide one certified Resolution to the EMS Agency, 2900 Fairlane Court, Placerville
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
N/A
CONTACT
Sue Hennike, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer