P.V. Estates Explores Contract With County for Fire Protection

The City Council is exploring a proposal that the city contract with the county Fire Department for fire protection and paramedic services.

“We’d like to move on this as fast as possible,” said Mayor James Kinney, “but time is not of the essence.”

The council set a schedule for staff analysis and review and for public hearings on the proposal at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. If the city cannot reach a decision by Sept. 6 and terms of the county’s proposal expire, the city could request a new proposal from the county, City Manager Gordon Siebert said.

Kinney said the city asked the county for a proposal “to explore (obtaining) the same level of service at a reduced cost.”

The city has provided its own fire and paramedic protection for at least 20 years, city officials said. According to the proposal, the city would have saved an estimated $200,000 on fire protection last year had it been under contract with the county.

Fire protection and paramedic services cost the city $1.3 million last year, Siebert said.

Under the terms of the proposal, city firefighting equipment and firefighters would be absorbed by the county. The city’s fire station at 340 Palos Verdes Drive West would be rented by the county for $1 a year.

The staff analysis is to be completed by July 19 and the first council discussion of the proposal is set for the following week. A public hearing before the council is scheduled for Aug. 13.