Sept. 13 -- After studying the costs and benefits, Marinwood and San Rafael fire departments could soon be operating under the same chief -- if a new five-year agreement gets a thumbs-up.
The Marinwood Community Services District this week agreed that the fire department should expand its shared services with San Rafael in lieu of hiring a new fire chief. The district board voted 3-0, with directors Leah Green and William Shea absent, to go ahead with that plan.
Now the San Rafael City Council is poised to authorize the agreement, which would mean that San Rafael's fire chief officers would oversee administration and operations of the Marinwood department.
"From the options on the table, this made the most sense," said Eric Dreikosen, Marinwood district manager. "We've had a longstanding relationship with San Rafael, and I expect it to go seamlessly."
The Marinwood Fire Department is among a handful of other agencies that recently explored the benefits of expanding shared services, including plans between Southern Marin and Mill Valley, and a recent chief sharing agreement between Ross Valley and the county.
The move would amend a shared services agreement between the two departments that was first established in 2014. It would put the community services district on the hook for $96,320 annually to be paid to San Rafael to provide fire chief oversight for the Marinwood department.
At the end of each year, that service fee will increase by 3 percent. The five-year contract could be canceled with a 90-day notification.
The San Rafael City Council is expected to consider the amendment at either its Oct. 1 or 15 meeting, City Manager Jim Schutz said.
"San Rafael and Marinwood have a long history of working collaboratively to provide the best service possible, and this could be another great example of that," Schutz said.
The Marinwood Fire Department began exploring options for a new chief last year when fire Chief Tom Roach announced that he would be retiring. The department has 10 firefighters and a $2.6 million budget.
Roach, who is 50, has spent 27 years with the department, 15 years as chief. He earns $170,000 annually and is expected to retire Oct. 31.
"This community is near and dear to my heart," Roach said. "I wanted to be comfortable and confident that the department was in good hands when I left, and with San Rafael, I'm comfortable and confident that they will deliver the best service to the Marinwood community."
San Rafael Mayor Gary Phillips said he is happy to hear that Marinwood is on board with the shared services amendment.
"I do think shared services is a good first step," he said. "I think we can do an even better job under consolidation."
When asked if a full consolidation is in the future for the two departments, San Rafael fire Chief Chris Gray, who has worked closely on drafting the agreement, said "We want to be good stewards of the public money. We do want to make sure that we're doing the right thing for the community we serve. They're counting on us."
Of the shared services agreement, Gray said, "What we have here is an opportunity to truly provide a higher level of service to the community."
Dreikosen said a consolidation is "a consideration factor."
"We recognize there are efficiencies financially and operationally that could be better gained," he said. "But that is a much broader conversation."
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