Villa Park to Join 17 Cities on Proposed Fire Authority : Panel: The lone holdout agrees to membership on governing board, expected to be launched Jan. 1.

After months of threatening to go it alone, the City Council on Monday night voted 4 to 1 to join a new, countywide fire authority.

This little city thus became the last among those served by the Orange County Fire Department to accept the proposed Joint Powers Authority. The authority, which is expected to be launched Jan. 1, will be a new governing board for the county Fire Department.

Councilman Bob Patchin cast the lone opposing vote. He said he wanted some changes in the fire authority, including removing Irvine as the lead agency.

The other council members, including Mayor Barry L. Denes, said they were satisfied with changes Villa Park had been able to obtain in the fire authority document. Denes noted that Villa Park had especially worked hard to get a cost ceiling.

“I believe we have succeeded in our goal to limit our (cost) exposure,” Denes said.

Eighteen cities, including Villa Park, will be the charter members of the proposed new governing board for the county Fire Department. The cities include Buena Park, Cypress, Dana Point, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Placentia, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Seal Beach, Stanton, Tustin and Yorba Linda.

They had previously approved the Joint Powers Authority with virtually no controversy. But the issue became heated and contentious in Villa Park, mainly because most on the City Council contended that the authority’s rules were originally poorly drafted and could lead to cost increases within three years.

In August, the City Council proposed that Villa Park explore contracting with the city of Orange’s Fire Department rather than joining the new countywide authority. That proposal ignited a political controversy. Villa Park incorporated as a city 32 years ago to escape Orange’s jurisdiction, and many longtime residents of Villa Park have said they do not want any connection to their neighboring city.

In recent weeks, Denes has been negotiating with Irvine City Manager Paul O. Brady Jr., who is coordinating the cities’ efforts to form the new fire authority. Denes told the City Council on Monday that a cost cap is now being written into the authority’s agreement. Denes said the cap protects Villa Park and other cities, and he recommended that the council approve the pact.

Brady on Monday said he was pleased all the cities have now ratified the JPA. He said the proposed pact will come before the county Board of Supervisors on Nov. 11.