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NEW FIRE DISTRICT LOGO
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2008
FIRE REORGANIZATION
WRAP-UP
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FONTANA: A CITY OF ACTION
The Mayor and City Council are committed to improving services and infrastructure within
the entire Fontana community. Critical to accomplishing this goal is to make sure that money generated in
Fontana is reinvested back into the community. An important tool to accomplish this objective is through
the planned formation of the “Fontana Fire Protection District.”
In July 2005, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors initiated the reorganization
of its fire operations. Following this action, the County filed an application with the San Bernardino Local
Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to review and consider the reorganization of the San Bernardino County
Fire Department. The purpose of the proposed fire reorganization was to achieve the most effective and efficient
delivery of services for fire protection, emergency response, paramedic, ambulance and disaster preparedness
to residents and landowners.
In response to the County Board’s plan to reorganize fire protection services, the Fontana
City Council initiated and subsequently filed with San Bernardino LAFCO an alternative proposal for the provision
of fire protection. The City proposed the creation of a subsidiary district and appointment of the City Council
as the governing body of the new district. The service boundary includes Fontana’s corporate limits and the
County areas within the City’s Sphere of Influence. It has been a goal of the City to obtain local control
for fire protection and to comprehensively serve the citizens and residents both within the City limits and
the City’s Sphere of Influence.
Residents will see no increase in their property taxes. The utility users’ tax on residential
property was eliminated in June 2004. The utility users’ tax on commercial property will end in June 2009.
One of the benefits of forming the Fontana Fire Protection District (FFPD) is that property tax revenues
will remain local, instead of being diverted to other areas of the county. The City will be able to utilize
that revenue to make needed improvements to fire stations and equipment. If recently annexed to the City,
residents will see no increase in their property tax rate.
As of July 1, 2008, the newly formed Fontana Fire Protection District becomes a reality.
The services that were once provided by the Central Valley Fire Protection District will be provided by the
FFPD. Residents will continue to call 911 for fire and paramedic service. The primary difference residents
will notice is the fire equipment will also display the fire district’s new logo.
Fire Station 71 is currently in the design phase and is scheduled for construction in Fiscal
Year 2009/2010. The fire station at 16980 Arrow Boulevard will be enlarged to accommodate additional staff
and equipment. As part of the expansion, the “historic” portion of the building that now exists on site will
be preserved.
Fire Station 80 is proposed at 13305 San Bernardino Avenue in the unincorporated County
area that is westerly of the City’s limits. This new fire station is tentatively scheduled to begin construction
in June 2008 and should be fully staffed by July 2009. Fire Station 80 is a joint project between the County
Redevelopment Agency (RDA) and the County Fire Department. The ownership of the station will be turned over
to the Fontana FPD upon completion.
In addition, as part of the formation of the Fontana FPD, the relocation of County Fire
plan check and inspection staff to the City’s Development Services Building will occur almost simultaneously.
The plan check and inspection staff will be housed on the first floor of the DSO Building at 8353 Sierra
Avenue in downtown Fontana. The additional staff will assist in streamlining the City’s plan check and inspection
process by creating a “one-stop shop”.
For additional information about the Fontana Fire Protection District, please contact Chief Terry Welsh at
(909) 829-4441.
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