Please try to attend and have your voice heard BEFORE we get a possible tax increase.
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE GOVERNING BOARDS OF THE NORTHWEST FIRE DISTRICT AND THE GOLDER RANCH FIRE DISTRICT
Hilton El Conquistador Resort
10000 N. Oracle Road
Oro Valley, Arizona
Turquoise #1 Meeting Room
Friday, December 4, 2009
1800 Hours
AGENDA
The Northwest Fire District Governing Board and the Golder Ranch Fire District Governing Board will hold a joint meeting, in public session, on December 4, 2009, at 6:00 p.m., in the Turquoise # 1 Meeting Room of the Hilton El Conquistador Resort, located at 10000 N. Oracle Road in Oro Valley, Arizona. In the event the meeting room at the Hilton El Conquistador is changed, the public will be directed to the correct meeting room.
The following topics will be subject to consideration, discussion, approval, or other action by both Governing Boards.
I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
II. SALUTE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
III. CALL TO THE PUBLIC - Speakers are limited to a three-minute oral presentation and may submit written comments of any length for Governing Board files. Those wishing to address the Governing Board are required to complete a Citizen Information Card prior to the meeting being called to order. The Governing Board is required under law to accept any materials presented. At the conclusion of the public forum, individual Board Members may respond to criticism made by those individuals who have addressed the Governing Board and may ask staff to review a matter and place it on a future agenda. However, Board Members may not discuss or take action on a matter raised during a call to the public, that is not already on the agenda, and are not obligated to comment upon materials or presentations made by the public.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
A. Discussion and possible action regarding the possibilities for and ramifications of consolidation, merger, joint operations, and / or administrative and operational consolidation between the Golder Ranch Fire District and the Northwest Fire District. This discussion may include: the available statutory authorizations [A.R.S. sections: 48-820 and 48-821 (pertaining to fire district mergers and disposition of assets and liabilities); 48-822 (pertaining to fire district consolidations), 48-805 (pertaining to fire district powers and duties) and 48-805 (B) (17) (pertaining to intergovernmental agreements for technical and administrative services)]; the territorial boundaries of the two Districts; the services provided by the two Districts; the assessed valuations of the two Districts; the property tax rates and bond obligations of the two Districts and the potential impact on the tax rates if the two Districts consolidate or merge; the potential benefits and harms that could result from consolidation, merger and joint operations, as well as the impacts on the Districts’ administrative and operational personnel. Golder Ranch’s Certificate of Necessity to provide ambulance services may also be discussed.
B. Discussion and possible action to engage a consultant to assist the Districts with conducting an analysis of the opportunities for consolidation, merger, joint operations, and / or administrative and operational consolidation between the Golder Ranch Fire District and the Northwest Fire District. This item may also include discussion and action regarding which consultants might be available, the process for engaging the consultant, the costs, and dividing the costs between the two Districts.
C. Discussion and possible action to schedule future joint public meetings of the Governing Boards of Northwest and Golder Ranch Fire Districts to discuss, jointly, all of the matters in items (A) and (B), above. The venue and agendas for these joint meetings may also be discussed.
D. Either or both Boards may vote to go into executive [closed] sessions, pursuant to A.R.S. section 38-431.03 (A) (3) & (4), for discussion and consultation with their respective attorneys, and to instruct their attorneys on the Boards’ positions, with respect to any of the above agenda items. Pursuant to A.R.S. section 38-431.03(C), executive sessions are confidential.
V. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
A. Future Agenda Items [A Governing Board Member may bring forth general topics for a future meeting agenda. The Governing Boards may not discuss, deliberate or take any action on the topics presented, pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.02 (H).]
VI. CALL TO THE PUBLIC (see item III.)
VII. ADJOURNMENT
3 comments:
Why are we focusing on the negatives!
Why not attend to see what may be gained by having the two districts combine?
Look at all the facts before we make a decision. Is that not what this group is all about?
We are focusing on the possible negatives because many of us got burned badly from the GRFD merger/takeover of Rural Metro Customers.
My bill, for example, more than doubled to over $700!
Rural Metros cost was based on the square footage of homes, as it should be. GRFD bases theirs on assessed home values, which we all know is a bogus measure.
What does home value have to due with fighting a fire? The size of a building does impact the fire fighting effort.
In the end, as you will eventually realize, we have all been bamboozled into paying far more for fire coverage than is needed.
Although Fire Districts are mandated by law to charge per the assessed value of the property, and that is determined by the Pima County Assessor, it is important to note one thing.
The Fire District Board determines the rate , at least up to the maximum allowed by law. Without any bond obligations, that rate is presently $3.25/$100.
By far, the best rate is the recently formed Mt. Vista Fire District (MVFD) which is $1.25/$100.
Hopefully, they won't be "squeezed out" if any consolidation takes place with the other two districts.
If OV doesn't go into the fire service business, it might be worth looking at MVFD for more of our community beyond the boundary of Hardy road.
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