VILLA PARK : Approval Expected for Fire District Plan

The City Council on Tuesday is expected to approve a resolution to help form a special county fire district, a proposal that has already been endorsed by 11 of the 16 cities served by the County Fire Department.

Under the resolution, all financial and policy-making decisions would pass to the 16 cities from the county Board of Supervisors. Services provided by the Orange County Fire Department in Villa Park, 14 other cities and unincorporated areas would remain the same.

Villa Park is 2.1 square miles in size and has a population of 6,300; one fire station serves the city.

“I have every reason to think that it will get passed here,” Mayor Bob Bell said. “It will give us more say in the operation of our fire service.”

After three years, cities in the new fire district could impose property taxes to expand fire services with voter approval. But Villa Park officials said they do not expect it will be necessary in their city.

Yorba Linda, Tustin, Stanton, San Juan Capistrano, Placentia, Mission Viejo, Los Alamitos, La Palma, Lake Forest, Laguna Niguel and Laguna Hills have already adopted the resolution.

Cities that must still take action on the plan include Dana Point, Cypress, Irvine and Seal Beach.

“We really have no other choice and we’re not looking for alternatives,” Bell said. “We’re too small to form our own department, and (passing the resolution) will be a cost-saving thing in the long run.”