Controversial Calif. Fire Merger Gains Approval

Nov. 12--A merger that would fold Sausalito's fire department into the independent Southern Marin Fire Protection District is a step closer after unanimous approval by a government boundaries commission this week.

The merger, which was approved 3-2 by the Sausalito City Council in September amid heated debate, would hand off 45 percent of the city's annual property taxes -- roughly $2.7 million -- to the Southern Marin district to provide fire services.

On Thursday, the merger was approved by the seven-member Marin Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO, which oversees government boundaries and whose approval is needed for the deal to go forward.

"We all felt that the Sausalito council represents the people of Sausalito and even though it wasn't a unanimous decision they still voted as a majority," said Tiburon Mayor Jeff Slavitz, a LAFCO commissioner.

The Southern Marin district, which serves Strawberry, a small portion of Tiburon and parts of unincorporated Mill Valley, has already managed Sausalito's fire department under a contract for several years. The merger would eliminate Sausalito's role in budgeting and managing its fire service, a change that city officials estimate will save $184,000 per year.

The merger is widely supported among Southern Marin fire officials and firefighters.

"It's truly a win-win," said Southern Marin fire Capt. Josh McHugh, who leads the Southern Marin Firefighters Association.

However,

the deal is opposed by Sausalito councilwomen Linda Pfeifer and Carolyn Ford, who have argued it would remove local control and carries financial risk.

"The people of Sausalito should have been given a right to vote on what happens to nearly half of their property tax revenue," Pfeifer said.

Pfeifer also called for an independent analysis of cost savings, saying the city's figure could be inflated.

Sausalito Mayor Herb Weiner and councilmen Mike Kelly and Jonathan Leone, who voted for the measure in September, did not return calls seeking comment Friday on the LAFCO vote.

With LAFCO's approval, the merger will move forward unless a quarter of Sausalito's roughly 5,000 registered voters sign a petition in protest, said Peter Banning, administrative officer for the commission. If enough protest signatures were submitted the proposal would go to a vote of residents, Banning said.

The signatures must be submitted before the close of a required protest hearing, Banning said. The protest hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Contact Will Jason via email at [email protected]