DATE: November 5, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Fire Department
TITLE: APPROVAL OF THREE FIRE CAPTAINS TO STAFF NEW FIRE STATION 9 TO BE PARTIALLY FUNDED BY THE NORTH RIVER FARMS FIRE SERVICES COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT NO. 2023-2
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council approve the addition of three Fire Captain positions for Fire Station 9 and approve budget appropriations totaling $622,517 from the General Fund’s Unassigned Fund Balance to the North River Farms Fire Service Account.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The North River Farms Fire Services Community Facilities District 2023-2 (Service CFD), established on February 15, 2023, was created to partially fund fire service needs for the North River Farms development. Fire Station 9 is nearing completion and will serve this area. The CFD is designed to partially fund the salaries of three (3) Firefighter-Paramedics and three (3) Fire Captains to maintain operational readiness and ensure timely emergency response.
The Service CFD will levy special taxes annually in accordance with the Rate and Method of Apportionment (RMA) to partially fund the salaries of these positions, with additional operating costs supported by a share of the General Fund.
CFD funding will not be available until special taxes are collected through property tax bills. To bridge the gap between the opening of Fire Station 9 and the receipt of CFD revenues, the developer has agreed to provide $1,050,000 in gap funding under a reimbursement agreement. This payment is contingent on the issuance of bonds by the developer in conjunction with the North River Farms Infrastructure CFD, the timing of which remains uncertain but is likely to occur in 2026. An appropriation from the General Fund’s unassigned fund balance is therefore requested to fund operations in the interim. Once received, the developer’s $1,050,000 gap payment will reimburse the General Fund up to that gap payment amount.
The Fire Department is requesting funding authorization for three Fire Captain positions to align with a 24-hour shift schedule. This ensures one Fire Captain will be on duty each day once Fire Station 9 becomes operational. The three new Firefighter-Paramedic positions, with an estimated total annual cost of $715,335 (including salary, benefit, and overtime), will be requested during the FY2026-27 budget process. In the interim, the Department will reassign existing personnel to fulfill the daily Firefighter-Paramedic position at Fire Station 9 to ensure a staffing level of at least two per day.
Funding for the three Fire Captain positions is scheduled to commence on November 5, 2025, assuming this budget request is approved. The Fire Department intends to promote three personnel to Fire Captains as soon as possible. As a result, the appropriation for FY2025/26 will cover approximately eight months of salary and benefit costs rather than a full fiscal year.
In reference to Fire Station 9 furnishings and vehicle purchases, the Fire Station MOU between the City and developer (Sept. 27, 2022) provides up to $350,000 toward a fire apparatus. With two suppression personnel assigned daily, the appropriate unit is a Type 6 engine, and the existing Type 6 from Station 5 will be reassigned to Station 9 while specifications are developed for a replacement, currently estimated at $500,000-$600,000 with a 24-month build time. Developer funding will be applied to this purchase. For furnishings, Council previously approved an itemized FFE list under MOU Exhibit 3, and developer funds were received in September 2023. Orders for major items (appliances, furniture, lockers) cannot proceed until the City accepts property ownership, which is pending Legal review of the grant deed. Once finalized, staff will conduct a walkthrough and place orders with vendor quotes already secured.
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff recommends that the City Council approve budget appropriations of $622,517 from the General Fund’s Unassigned Fund 101.3100.0001, which has an available balance of $6.4M, to the North River Farms Fire Service Account. Therefore, sufficient funds are available for this appropriation.
The tables below reflect the estimated salary and benefit costs (Prorated 8 months) for three new positions, based on FY2025/26 salary, benefit, and overtime rates, assuming 420 overtime hours per position, along with the projected M&O costs. The estimated total annual cost for FY2026-27 is $868,392 (including salary, benefit, and overtime). Beginning in FY2026-27, ongoing operations for Fire Station 9 will be funded through the City’s General Fund.
Future tax revenue generated by the North River Farms development and deposited into the City’s General Fund could help offset future fiscal impacts associated with the addition of these positions, thereby providing some level of funding for the station’s annual operating costs in subsequent fiscal years. However, when considering future funding obligations for Fire Station 9, it is important to recognize that the station will provide service coverage beyond the boundaries of the North River Farms development.
|
Personnel Costing for More Than 33 Units Occupied - Full-Time Coverage (0700-0700 Hours) |
|
Position |
Prorated Salary (8-mo) |
Prorated Benefits (8-mo) |
Overtime (420-Hrs) |
Total per Position |
Total (3 Personnel) |
Account Number |
|
Fire Captain (56-h, Step C) |
$92,491 |
$74,111 |
$30,026 |
$196,628 |
$589,884 |
550582101.5105 550582101.5207 550582101.5120 |
|
M&O Requested Appropriations |
|
Account Description |
Costs (8-mo) |
Account Number |
|
Utilities (Electricity, Gas, Water, Solar) |
$14,533 |
550582101.5315 |
|
Infrastructure |
3,100 |
550582101.5325 |
|
Machinery & Equipment |
10,000 |
550582101.5330 |
|
Materials, Supplies, & Services |
5,000 |
550582101.5355 |
|
Total M&O Cost |
$32,633 |
|
COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE REPORT
The Police and Fire Commission will receive an update at its next regular meeting on December 9, 2025.
CITY ATTORNEY’S ANALYSIS
Not applicable.
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Prepared by: Alicia Mendoza, Senior Management Analyst
Reviewed by: David Parsons, Fire Chief
Submitted by: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Staff Report
2. NRF Fire Services CFD Resolution (6-4-25 Staff Report)
3. NRF Conditions of Approval