By Giuseppe Ricapito
The Marin Independent Journal
CORTE MADERA, Calif. — Corte Madera and Larkspur have committed to remaining in the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority while it evaluates its shared cost burden.
The authority’s board voted to affirm a series of motions on Nov. 21, the chief of which was to direct that no further research occur on separation from the joint powers authority. The authority provides emergency services to Corte Madera, Fairfax, Ross, San Anselmo, Larkspur, Kentfield, the Sleepy Hollow Fire Protection District and unincorporated pockets of the Ross Valley.
Previously, officials in Larkspur and Corte Madera asked for an assessment of the financial impact of the two municipalities leaving the authority and using Central Marin Fire Department medics instead. A consulting firm, Citygate Associates, said the joint powers authority would function best if none of the member agencies left.
“Larkspur is committed to working with the RVPA to continue the important service it provides and ensure that that the costs are fairly shared between all the jurisdictions,” said Larkspur Mayor Scot Candell, the city’s representative at the authority.
Corte Madera’s representative, Councilmember Fred Casissa, said, “While these issues are complex and will take time to work through, I am confident that once resolved and memorialized, this will ensure the longevity of RVPA.”
The board voted to pass six additional motions at the meeting. It established committees related to reevaluating the authority’s operations and financial stability and set timelines for updates on the process.
“I feel that keeping the JPA intact is the best thing for all of the communities. I’m not just the Ross Valley Fire Department fire chief. I have an interest in service for all of our neighboring agencies, fire agencies and for the JPA,” Dan Mahoney said.
The committees will provide updates every 90 days. There is a deadline of one year to develop new legal agreements that will rearrange financial obligations for each of the municipalities and the backup system for providing medical services when the two ambulances in the service are operating.
“I think it’s a good path forward,” said Marin County Fire Department Chief Jason Weber.
The Ross Valley Fire Department’s 2024-25 budget includes $3.3 million from Fairfax, $2.8 million from Ross, $5.7 million from San Anselmo, $1.8 million from Sleepy Hollow and outside revenues of $1.1 million. The paramedic authority works in connection with the fire department, which plans to update its operations to staff three firefighters per engine, close the old station in Ross and upgrade fire stations in San Anselmo and Fairfax.
The Ross Valley Paramedic Authority has operated one of its two ambulances out of fire Station 18 in Ross since the early 1980s. A master facilities plan adopted last year included a new ambulance base at an estimated cost of $2 million, but uncertainty about the departure of Larkspur and Corte Madera from the JPA prompted a request for a one-year delay in the closure of Station 18.
“We think you’ve become far too layered of a patchwork, just because you’ve been doing it for decades,” said Stewart Gary, a consultant with Citygate Associates. “This is what happens. But now is the time we feel as an inflection point to reassess, adjust and realign your business operations to better prepare for future challenges.”
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