Ukiah Development News

City Council Authorizes Negotiation of CAL FIRE Dispatch Services Agreement Amidst Cost and Equity Concerns

The City Council considered an urgency item to authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a three-year cooperative agreement for dispatch services with CAL FIRE. The current contract, established in 2012, has been a point of contention due to a lack of alignment with county contracts and perceived inequities in cost-sharing. While the proposed agreement is for three years, it includes language allowing for one-year notification of exit, providing strategic flexibility. The council expressed concerns about the cost, the duplication of services already paid for by the county, and the lack of a unified contract with CAL FIRE. Despite these concerns, the council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute the agreement, with the understanding that staff will continue to pursue better terms and potentially exit the contract if a more equitable agreement cannot be reached. The decision was driven by the July 1st contract expiration deadline.