VILLA PARK : Fire District Plan Gets Council’s OK

Despite Councilman Bob Patchin’s concerns, the City Council this week unanimously approved a resolution to form a special fire district, a proposal that now has been endorsed by all 16 cities served by the Orange County Fire Department.

Under the proposal, the 16 cities would assume all financial and policy-making decisions for fire services provided by the Orange County Fire Department.

Patchin said he voted in favor of the resolution even though he doubts that the operation of the fire district would work smoothly.

“I could’ve voted no, but I just don’t feel there is any other viable option,” he said. The resolution “was approved just to push along the (formation of the district). How it ends up is anybody’s guess.”

Patchin expressed frustration over not knowing exactly how the district would operate.

“We’re voting on launching the boat, and there’s no crew on the bridge,” he said. “I am unhappy with the way this fire district thing has gone.”

A board of directors would oversee the operations of the district. It would be made up of seven members--a county supervisor and six city council members. The council members would serve on a rotation basis, thus allowing each of the 16 cities a voice on the board, which would oversee the County Fire Department’s budget and administration.

“No one knows who (the directors) will be,” Patchin said. “No one knows how long they will serve. No one knows how they will be rotated. . . . In fact, no one really knows what they will do.”

While fire and paramedic services in the 16 cities and unincorporated areas served by the County Fire Department would remain the same, the cities could impose property taxes, with voter approval, to expand services.

Councilman Joseph S. Barsa said the district would give Villa Park some say in services, which he said is better than not having any voice. “We got assurances that we’ll be adequately covered,” he said. That’s “a step in the right direction.”

Yorba Linda, Tustin, Stanton, Seal Beach, San Juan Capistrano, Placentia, Mission Viejo, Los Alamitos, La Palma, Lake Forest, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Irvine, Cypress and Dana Point all have adopted the resolution, according to officials.

The proposal now awaits approval by the Local Agency Formation Commission and the state Legislature, officials said.