N.1. 24-0303 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE COMPARATIVE DEPLOYMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS PREPARED BY CITYGATE ASSOCIATES, LLC. OF THE REDONDO BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT AS COMPARED TO THE CONSOLIDATED FIRE DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE REDONDO BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MASTER PLAN
DIRECTION ON NEXT STEPS (IF ANY) REGARDING THE REPORTS AND FIRE DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS
fI urge the City Council to not outsource our fire department. It is not in the best interests of the residents. We have gone down this road before and spent several hundreds of thousands of dollars when it was proven before it is not what the residents wants. We need to prioritize safety first
Keep the RBFD ! They do a great job . These politicians don’t tell you , it will jack up our property insurance too. Once they shut down station 2 , there wil be no station close to anyone on the north side and our property insurance will increase . They have gotten busier over the years and I want them close in case anything happens .
Control of emergency services should remain in the city. The idea of achieving a short term financial gain with an associated long term loss is not fiscally wise nor a decision a responsible person or group should support. Previous studies have been performed and determined that the fire department should remain with the city. The residents of Redondo Beach do not support the concept of outsourcing a key and very necessary element of our community.
I oppose the move to contract with LA County fire department. It would not benefit our community to make a decision that will result in longer response times, more expense, and less control at the local level. I hope the council will honor what clearly appears to be the will of the people of Redondo Beach.
Outsourcing key parts of an organization (in this case fire and emergency services) seldom benefits the organization or its clients. Often promoted as a cost saving measure, it rarely achieves projected savings, while usually reducing end-user services (in this case to citizens of Redondo Beach). It is hard to see why this is being considered (particularly given the report’s findings) when there are so many other issues more deserving of Council and city management attention.
This is yet another example of poor decision-making and bad managing of finances by our elected (and non elected - in the case of our never elected, only recently appointed with no input from the constituents - Mayor) leaders. They are so bad for the City and need to be held accountable.
I oppose LA County absorbing our fire department for emergency services. This is an issue that continues to come up every few years, but the community sentiment does not change- we want and need to keep our fire department local. Per the study paid for by the city, we currently have excellent response time to emergencies, in-fact better than the best practice measure used in the study. That will end. Less resources will inevitably mean longer wait times for all. Redondo Beach residents need to hold their local representatives accountable.
No savings and less service, the counsel minority predicted this 5 years ago… and yet Nils Nehrenheim, Todd Lowenstein and Zein Obagi insisted on wasting a hundred grand on this study. It’s truly absurd how much city resources they spent on something the overwhelming majority of the residents don’t want. They are clearly unfit for public service and should resign.
Redondo Beach Fire Department has played a critical part in our RB infrastructure since the beginning of Redondo Beach in 1892 - well over 100 years. They have helped countless individuals in our city over the years, including my family who has resided in Redondo since 1936. The speed of assistance and personal care of our local Fire Dept in coming to the aid of my parents and grandparents in their twilight years has quite literally meant the difference between life and death for them time and time again. RBFD are part of the fabric of our Redondo Beach community. Ceding local control by outsourcing to LA County will pose an incredible disservice to our community and it's residents. Redondo residents have opposed this proposal time and again and this time is no different. I urge our City Council to stand with the residents and vote No on this matter once and for all so we are not saddled with a poor decision that will negatively affect our community not only now, but for generations to come.
With the conclusion of Citygate Associates LLC’s analysis that examined the pros and cons of turning over to Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD), the Redondo Beach Fire Department’s (RBFD) responsibilities, services and equipment; there is no doubt that any short term benefit gained by cutting services to residents, is outweighed by expensive and without limit, long term costs. In every case in which cities have ‘gone County’, increasing costs for the services provided has occurred, even while service levels decreased.
Also beyond doubt is that RBFD would be of great benefit to LACFD, as it would be the proud owner of all equipment bought and paid for by RBFD, including the recently purchased $1MM Seagrave Capitol Fire Engine #62. LACFD would also benefit from the acquisition of fire personnel - all certified EMTs. Most of the calls RBFD receives and responds to are medical emergencies, and RBFD’s quick response times and immediate medical attention are often the difference between life and death. There is no guarantee that LACFD will have these personnel available whenever Redondo residents make the call.
Putting aside the cost/benefit factors, one thing stands out as a primary reason we must keep our fire department local: ISO ratings. ISO is an agency that “collects information on a community’s public fire protection”... . RBFD has a Class 1 rating, while LACFD has either a Class 2 or 3 rating, which varies based on the many communities in its’ service area.
As one resident says: “ Pay more to get less? Absolutely not. Keep RBFD local! NO to LA County Fire!
Has the idea of a South Bay area fire department been considered recently ? (RB, MB, HB and Hawthorne?) How have Hermosa Beach residents been impacted by their change to the County FD?
Please, please do not do this. We have been down this road too many times and spent too much of our money just to get the same results. Redondo residents DO NOT want this!! Keep our Fire Department local!
I urge council to oppose a merger with LA County Fire. Redondo prides itself on its independence. A merger is the antithesis of independent and bad for residents. Please keep our local fire department.
fI urge the City Council to not outsource our fire department. It is not in the best interests of the residents. We have gone down this road before and spent several hundreds of thousands of dollars when it was proven before it is not what the residents wants. We need to prioritize safety first
Keep the RBFD ! They do a great job . These politicians don’t tell you , it will jack up our property insurance too. Once they shut down station 2 , there wil be no station close to anyone on the north side and our property insurance will increase . They have gotten busier over the years and I want them close in case anything happens .
i oppose this action
I oppose.
Control of emergency services should remain in the city. The idea of achieving a short term financial gain with an associated long term loss is not fiscally wise nor a decision a responsible person or group should support. Previous studies have been performed and determined that the fire department should remain with the city. The residents of Redondo Beach do not support the concept of outsourcing a key and very necessary element of our community.
I oppose the move to contract with LA County fire department. It would not benefit our community to make a decision that will result in longer response times, more expense, and less control at the local level. I hope the council will honor what clearly appears to be the will of the people of Redondo Beach.
KEEP RBFD LOCAL
Please keep our fire department local. I don’t think our city should give up control.
Please KEEP RBFD Local!!!
I urge the city council to keep the Redondo Beach Fire Department local!
Keep RB Fire Department local. We have an excellent fire department with superb response times. Keep local control over public safety.
Outsourcing key parts of an organization (in this case fire and emergency services) seldom benefits the organization or its clients. Often promoted as a cost saving measure, it rarely achieves projected savings, while usually reducing end-user services (in this case to citizens of Redondo Beach). It is hard to see why this is being considered (particularly given the report’s findings) when there are so many other issues more deserving of Council and city management attention.
This is yet another example of poor decision-making and bad managing of finances by our elected (and non elected - in the case of our never elected, only recently appointed with no input from the constituents - Mayor) leaders. They are so bad for the City and need to be held accountable.
I oppose LA County absorbing our fire department for emergency services. This is an issue that continues to come up every few years, but the community sentiment does not change- we want and need to keep our fire department local. Per the study paid for by the city, we currently have excellent response time to emergencies, in-fact better than the best practice measure used in the study. That will end. Less resources will inevitably mean longer wait times for all. Redondo Beach residents need to hold their local representatives accountable.
No savings and less service, the counsel minority predicted this 5 years ago… and yet Nils Nehrenheim, Todd Lowenstein and Zein Obagi insisted on wasting a hundred grand on this study. It’s truly absurd how much city resources they spent on something the overwhelming majority of the residents don’t want. They are clearly unfit for public service and should resign.
Redondo Beach Fire Department has played a critical part in our RB infrastructure since the beginning of Redondo Beach in 1892 - well over 100 years. They have helped countless individuals in our city over the years, including my family who has resided in Redondo since 1936. The speed of assistance and personal care of our local Fire Dept in coming to the aid of my parents and grandparents in their twilight years has quite literally meant the difference between life and death for them time and time again. RBFD are part of the fabric of our Redondo Beach community. Ceding local control by outsourcing to LA County will pose an incredible disservice to our community and it's residents. Redondo residents have opposed this proposal time and again and this time is no different. I urge our City Council to stand with the residents and vote No on this matter once and for all so we are not saddled with a poor decision that will negatively affect our community not only now, but for generations to come.
With the conclusion of Citygate Associates LLC’s analysis that examined the pros and cons of turning over to Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD), the Redondo Beach Fire Department’s (RBFD) responsibilities, services and equipment; there is no doubt that any short term benefit gained by cutting services to residents, is outweighed by expensive and without limit, long term costs. In every case in which cities have ‘gone County’, increasing costs for the services provided has occurred, even while service levels decreased.
Also beyond doubt is that RBFD would be of great benefit to LACFD, as it would be the proud owner of all equipment bought and paid for by RBFD, including the recently purchased $1MM Seagrave Capitol Fire Engine #62. LACFD would also benefit from the acquisition of fire personnel - all certified EMTs. Most of the calls RBFD receives and responds to are medical emergencies, and RBFD’s quick response times and immediate medical attention are often the difference between life and death. There is no guarantee that LACFD will have these personnel available whenever Redondo residents make the call.
Putting aside the cost/benefit factors, one thing stands out as a primary reason we must keep our fire department local: ISO ratings. ISO is an agency that “collects information on a community’s public fire protection”... . RBFD has a Class 1 rating, while LACFD has either a Class 2 or 3 rating, which varies based on the many communities in its’ service area.
As one resident says: “ Pay more to get less? Absolutely not. Keep RBFD local! NO to LA County Fire!
Has the idea of a South Bay area fire department been considered recently ? (RB, MB, HB and Hawthorne?) How have Hermosa Beach residents been impacted by their change to the County FD?
Please, please do not do this. We have been down this road too many times and spent too much of our money just to get the same results. Redondo residents DO NOT want this!! Keep our Fire Department local!
I urge council to oppose a merger with LA County Fire. Redondo prides itself on its independence. A merger is the antithesis of independent and bad for residents. Please keep our local fire department.