Monday, 05 April 2010 18:00

Plymouth to Consider First Amendment to AFPA

slide3-plymouth_to_consider_first_amendment_to_afpa.pngAmador County – The Plymouth City Council on Thursday will consider an amendment to the agreement that creates the Amador Fire Protection Authority. The amendment, unanimously recommended by the AFPA board of directors, includes shifting from a regional, consolidation-oriented organization, and into a “sub-regional” organization. Plymouth City Manager Dixon Flynn will present a staff report to the Plymouth City Council Thursday detailing the amendment. Flynn in the report recommends the Plymouth City Council approve the first amendment to the AFPA “Joint Powers Authority” agreement, and authorize Flynn to sign it. Flynn’s report was prepared by Kim Kerr, city manager of Ione, and one of the 7 member entities of the AFPA. AFPA’s membership includes the cities of Plymouth, Ione and Jackson, the Amador Fire Protection District, Jackson Valley Fire Protection District, Sutter Creek Fire Protection District, and Lockwood Fire District. Kerr in the report said that since Measure M was approved in 2008, the half-cent sales tax took effect and has been accumulating since April 1st, 2009. “Final distribution formula details recommended by AFPA were approved” by the Amador County Board of Supervisors last December. Kerr said “other revenues resulting from AFPA efforts” are community facilities district assessments on new development in most areas of the county, and re-allocation of Proposition 172, a state-wide ½-cent sales tax, which was switched from paying entirely toward law enforcement, to a 50-50 split with fire services, for the next 10 years. Kerr’s report said after Measure M was approved, AFPA recognized the need to amend its forming agreement. One change “is a slight de-emphasis on consolidation of fire services,” Kerr said: “The original agreement clearly stated that consolidation was one of the purposes of” AFPA, but “efforts among some agencies to focus on their own region, particularly the city of Ione and Jackson Valley Fire District, have moved this objective in a direction of sub-regionalization rather than a full consolidation of all departments within the county.” The amendment to the AFPA Joint Power Authority agreement must be approved by a majority of its 7 members. The amendment includes language to deemphasize full consolidation, though Kerr said “all agencies continue to state that full consolidation at a future time is still a worthy objective.” The amendments would also remove an “advisory team” that “does not need to be specified in the agreement.” Kerr said the AFPA board unanimously recommended the amendment for approval, and Jackson City Council was the first member entity to review the amendment. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.