Notes and action items from the April 23, 2016 meeting with LAFCO and County Fire

Everyone commented that they took a lot away from this final informational meeting on the Fire Issue. County Fire has recommended that the Board of Supervisors continue to subsidize Fire Station 45 in Wonder Valley for the fiscal year of 2016/17. We'll know more in May when they've voted.

In the meantime we'll be working on the following items listed below agreed to by the Volunteer Fire Committee. We'll begin having meetings after the Board of Supervisors votes to decide what we want to do as a community.

If you weren't able to attend all or any of the meetings, the agendas and notes, and the supplementary materials are all listed under the [Fire] tab. I suggest watching the first video and then work your way through the rest of the materials.

If you feel that you aren't getting the meeting notices, please sign up bit.ly/nextdoorwv, or call Teresa Sitz at 760-865-9550 to be added to a phone tree.

Thanks,

Teresa Sitz
MAC Volunteer

Download the notes from the April 23, 2016 meeting:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bg2a3pa960dxcys/04232016_wv_notes.pdf?dl=0

ACTION ITEMS
These actions came out of the Fire Committee meeting that met directly after the LAFCO Meeting, on April 23, 2016, about 12:15 p.m.

Present:
Division Chief John Chamberlin; Teresa Sitz, MAC Delegate; Karen Meyers; James Copeland; and James Brakebill

TERESA SITZ, MUNCIPCAL COUNTY ADVISORY COUNCIL VOLUNTEER

• Contact Mark Lundquist to find out how community mandates are determined for possible ballot measures or requests for actions.

DIVISION CHIEF JOHN CHAMBERLIN, COUNTY FIRE

• Take Darlene Parris’ suggestion for an incremental increase of $50 a year over 7 years back to County Fire for consideration.
• Provide the community of Wonder Valley with requirements for Paid Call Firefighters, including disqualifying criminal charges.
• Investigate forming a JPA - joint powers authority that would transfer the Water Tender to the Parks or Roads department. Will need to coordinate with Special Districts.
• Order a porta-tank so the water tender can draw from tanks and pools.

Posted April 25, 2016

2nd Fire Tax Meeting Notes Transcribed

Download the December 12 meeting notes from the Second Fire Tax Meeting here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/etmoxme3tgn0goc/12122015_special_meeting_notes.pdf?dl=0

Download the Power Point presentation here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/75d0e0g4n3hkio9/Wonder%20Valley%20Presentation.pptx?dl=0

Tom Marshall presents to the Wonder Valley Community

2nd Wonder Valley Fire Tax Meeting

Photo credit: Charlotte Williams, circa 1970

A G E N D A

This meeting is for all those who work during the week, the weekenders, and the snowbirds who missed the first meeting, and for those of you who have more questions.

Fire Chief John Chamberlain, District 5, South Desert

will present to the community in Wonder Valley

Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 10:00 a.m., at the

Wonder Valley Community Center

80526 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley CA 92277

Everyone is invited and welcome to attend and participate. 

A new fire tax of $302 or $453 per property per year is being proposed. You may watch the video of F.C. Chamberlain’s first presentation on YouTube at:
http://bit.ly/wvfiretaxmeeting/

The PowerPoint of the presentation is also online at:
http://bit.ly/firetaxppt

UPDATE:
Proposed Fire Tax Budgets Released

Fire Chief John Chamberlin sent me the proposed Fire Tax Budgets for Wonder Valley, posted online at the links below.

SUMMARIES
2-Person Station
http://bit.ly/wvfiretax2
     Salaries Total $1,226,905
     Station Expenses Total $380,153
     Total $1,607,058
     [ Divided by 4,636 parcels = $347 per parcel ]

3-Person Station
http://bit.ly/wvfiretax3
     Salaries Total $1,885,728
     Station Expenses Total $380,153
     Total $2,265,881
     [ Divided by 4,636 parcels = $489 per parcel ]

We will have a sound system at this meeting and the format will be less formal. Please share with your neighbors who might not see this invitation.

This meeting is being hosted by Teresa Sitz, the MAC Rep for Wonder Valley.

WV Citizens Fire Committee

Wonder Valley Volunteer Fire Department, some time back.

You are invited to attend a

Citizens Fire Committee Meeting

Sunday, November 22, from 1 – 2:30 p.m.

Wonder Valley Community Center

80256½ Amboy Road, Wonder Valley, CA 92277

Please submit agenda items to me by Thursday evening at teresa.sitz@gmail.com. At this meeting we'll review the budget submitted by John Chamberlin and formulate questions to send to him for the December 12 meeting.

This is a working meeting to prepare for the December 12 Community Meeting.
Membership on the committee is open to all residents of Wonder Valley. Current members include:

• Jim Brakebill, Master Fire Instructor, Copper Mountain College
• Ramon Lomeli, General Manager, Morongo Basin Ambulance
• Jim Copeland, former Assistant fire chief of Wonder Valley Fire Department
• Bob Tellefson, Wonder Valley
• Ed Vallerand, Wonder Valley
• Karen Meyers, Columnist, Desert Trail

Proposed budgets for a 2 and 3 person fire station are now online at:
bit.ly/wvfiretax2
bit.ly/wvfiretax3

Fire Tax printed materials now online

You can download the PowerPoint Fire Chief John Chamberlin shared with us at the October 12, 2015, at the community meeting on the proposed fire tax, along with information on the 2005 Special Tax.

Download the PowerPoint.
Download information on the 2005 Special Tax.

View the meeting at YouTube.

Hi Desert Star: Wonder Valley fills community center to debate fire rates, October 15, 2015
Desert Trail: Wonder Valley may see fire tax rise, October 1, 2015

Wonder Valley turns out to hear about proposed fire tax

About 80 folks from Wonder Valley crowded into the Wonder Valley Community Center to hear San Bernardino County Fire Department Division Chief, John Chamberlin, Division 5, South Desert, discuss a proposed increase in the local fire tax.

You're right, that's not 80 people. There were more people standing behind the photographer.

Mark Lundquist, the field rep for San Bernardino County Supervisor James Ramos, was present, as was Jim Brakebill, the instructor for Copper Mountain College's Fire Technology program, and a reporter from the Desert trail

Bob Stephenson, who videotapes the Municipal Advisory Council meeting  was hired to tape this meeting. You can watch the video of the meeting by following this link:
bit.ly/wvfiretaxmeeting.
DVDs of the meeting will also be available to check out in the Community Center. Links to the materials that Mr. Chamberlin passed out will also be posted here.

Thank you to everyone who turned out for this important meeting.

Desert Trail Column, October 8, 2015

Darlene’s Commentary: I ran across this list of suggested ways that can improve your chances of avoiding dementia, or at least put a lot of years between now and its onset!

• Take an art class, or try arts and crafts, or a greeting-card class. 
• Did you play a musical instrument as a child? Take lessons again. 
• READ! Dip into authors and topics you haven’t explored before. 
• Play games you enjoy, and learn new ones. 
• Try video games! 
• Do a crossword puzzle every day. 
• Try a Sudoku puzzle (my favorite)! 
• Sign up for classes at a Senior Center. There’s always a variety of interesting ones to choose from.

Karen’s Commentary:  There is a very big and scary issue looming for Wonder Valley property owners. San Bernardino County Fire Department Division Chief John Chamberlin approached our MAC Representative Teresa Sitz about the need for an increase on our taxes for fire and emergency services. We are currently paying approximately $33 per parcel per year for these services, and the proposed annual amounts are – are you ready for this? – from $302 to $453 per parcel per yearl! Oh, my.

We also have the option of turning our fire and emergency services over to Twentynine Palms, which is laughable since they are having a tremendous amount of trouble just covering their current area, let alone adding Wonder Valley to the mix. This is a BIG issue. Division Chief Chamberlin will be at our community meeting on October 12 at the Wonder Valley Community Center, 80526 ½ Amboy Road at 9 am. He will present the proposals and options and answer questions. Please
 do your very best to attend this important meeting, and bring your best behavior with you as this is going to be a high-stress topic for all of us. Keep in mind that Chief Chamberlin probably did not come up with these proposals on his own; he is only the messenger. Remember that you get more flies with honey than with vinegar.

Reach Out Morongo Basin will pick you up on Tuesdays and Thursdays at The Palms at 10 a.m. to take you to the 29 Palms Nutrition Site for lunch, then bring you back at 2 p.m., all at no charge. If you have a problem getting to The Palms, they will pick you up and drop you off at your residence. Call 760-361-1410.

Handy Hint: Preweighed produce is convenient, but you should reweigh it just in case. A 5-pound bag of carrots can actually weigh anywhere from 4.5 to 6 pounds!

Thought for Today: “Well done is better than well said.” – Benjamin Franklin

Until next time . . . remember to take time to enjoy the WONDERs all around us.

Agenda for Monday's Special Meeting

SPECIAL MEETING

October 12, 2015, 9:00 a.m.

Wonder Valley Community Center

80526 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley, CA 92277

Wonder Valley MAC Delegate and Meeting Chair: Teresa Sitz

Everyone is invited and welcome to attend and participate.

A G E N D A

1. Call to order, Teresa Sitz
    
2. Community comment on items not on the agenda
   
3. Meeting format and introduction, Teresa Sitz
   
4. San Bernardino County Fire Department
   a. Proposed FP-4 Wonder Valley Service Delivery Update,
   Division Chief John Chamberlin, Division 5, South Desert
   b. Questions and Comments from the Community
   
5. Announcements
   
6. Adjournment 

October 12, 2015, MAC Report: Wonder Valley
by Teresa Sitz, Wonder Valley Delegate

We had a special community meeting this morning with ___ in attendance. San Bernardino County Fire Department Division Chief Jon Chamberlin presented on a proposed FP-4 Wonder Valley Service Delivery Update. We taped the meeting and will post the video online for anyone who wants or needs to review it.

The County Fire proposal is to raise taxes in Wonder Valley between $302 and $453 to start. One hundred percent of our ad valorem taxes plus an additional assessment of $34 per year already go to County Fire.

We’ll be having a Saturday meeting in the near future to take another look at this issue, and invite people who were not present for our weekday meeting.

In November Stewart West, a VA Benefits Advisor, from the Marine Corps Base will attend to speak on veteran’s benefits and discuss eligibility issues.

In December the BLM is going to bring maps and we’ll look at what’s going on with the roads and OHV access in Wonder Valley.

I met recently with Lynda Bishop of Pacific Clinics and we’ll be having a community meeting to gauge interest in a monthly wellness meeting for our community.

Our NextDoor network has 55 members now and we continue to keep an eye out for each other.

Thank you.

Print an agenda and report to take with you.

Proposed increase in fire tax to be addressed on October 12

From your MAC Delegate, Teresa Sitz:
At the last MAC (Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council) meeting on September 14 in Joshua Tree, San Bernardino County Fire Department Division Chief John Chamberlin approached me about the need to increase taxes in Wonder Valley for fire and emergency services. He promised to give me more information in the coming weeks so that I could provide you with the facts about the proposed increase.

I invited Division Chief John Chamberlin to present his proposal at our October Monthly Monday Meeting. He will provide us with details about the increase, explain to us what our options are, and answer questions.

I want to provide you with as much information as I can, but I have received little information myself, so please come to the meeting in October to hear the details from Division Chief John Chamberlin, the man making the proposal. I hope that I am giving you enough information that you are able to ask informed questions at the October meeting.

Wonder Valley Special Community Meeting

October 12, 2015, 9:00 a.m.

Wonder Valley Community Center

80526 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley, CA 92277

Wonder Valley MAC Delegate and Meeting Chair: Teresa Sitz

Everyone is invited and welcome to attend and participate.

Download the AGENDA

We are planning a second meeting on a Saturday for those of you who cannot make the Monday meeting.

Our current situation:
"Service Zone FP-4 [Fire Protection Service Zone 4] Wonder Valley special tax was originally approved by the Board of Supervisors in August 1972 (originally under CSA 70 M Zone FP-4). Service Zone FP-4 provides fire protection services to the community of Wonder Valley and is funded by a voter approved special tax of $30 per parcel which was approved in June 2005 with an annual 1.5% cost of living increase and is currently set at $32.80. For 2013-14, the parcel count was 4,634 and the actual requirements and sources were $342,157 and 150,677, respectively. The 2014-15 parcel count is 4,634 with expected revenue at $150,677. Services are provided through Fire Station #45. "
Source: County of San Bernardino 2014/2015 Recommended Budget, Page 15 (576)

In other words, we are currently paying about $33 a year for fire service.

The preliminary figures for the proposed increase are:

1. A two person ALS (Advanced Life Support) company including a Captain and a Firefighter/Paramedic costs $1.4 million a year.
2. A three person Medic Engine costs around $2.1 million a year.

Divided by 4,636 parcels in Wonder Valley, the first option would increase fire and emergency services to $302 per parcel annually. Option two would increase fire and emergency services to $453 per parcel annually.

These numbers are preliminary. Division Chief Chamberlin will be given most of the October meeting to explain the increase and answer your questions.

We also have the option of turning our fire and/or emergency services over to Twentynine Palms. That would most likely result in an increase in our fire insurance.

There would need to be a vote to implement this increase in Wonder Valley.

Fire Statistics and Information for Wonder Valley

 Download this information.

If you want to prepare useful questions for Monday's meeting, I highly recommend that you familiarize yourself with the 10 pages of the LAFCO Service Reviews for the Twentynine Palms and Wonder Valley Communities, pertaining to Wonder Valley Fire Protection District FP-4, from May of 2012.
The entire report (p. 165-175): www.sbcounty.gov/lafco/items/201205/Item_8.pdf
Wonder Valley only: http://bit.ly/wvfp4

FIRE FACTS
Wonder Valley contracts with the San Bernardino County Fire Department for our fire and emergency services:
http://www.sbcfire.org/

Our Division Chief is John Chamberlin.

We are in SBCFD Division 5 (South Desert) 
http://bit.ly/southdesertregion
which includes Big River, Black Meadow Landing, Copper Mountain Mesa, Havasu Landing, Homestead Valley / Landers, Johnson Valley, Joshua Tree, Needles, Panorama Heights, Park Moabi, Parker Strip, Pioneertown, Wonder Valley, and Yucca Valley.

The following report was taken from the SBCFD Annual Report for 2014/2015

DIVISION 5 (South Desert)

LAFCO Service Reviews for the Twentynine Palms and Wonder Valley Communities
www.sbcounty.gov/lafco/items/201205/Item_8.pdf
(Wonder Valley only) http://bit.ly/wvfp4, pages 165-175, May 7, 2012

What we pay now for Fire & Emergency Services
“The reorganization of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (LAFCO 3000), effective July 1, 2008, included the transfer of responsibility for fire services from County Service Area 70 Zone M (serving the Wonder Valley area) to a new Service Zone FP-4 of the newly reorganized San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (‘County Fire’) along with the formation of the regional South Desert Service Zone.”

Included in the transfer was 
1. 100% of the ad valorem property tax from CSA 70 Zone M and
2. the special tax for the provision of fire protection service within the Wonder Valley Community from CSA 70 Zone M.

Our 1% property tax goes to the SBFD’s South Desert Service Zone, and the special tax goes to Service Zone FP-4.

     “Zone FP-4 has no direct employees; it pays for a proportional share of salaries and benefits costs necessary to serve it and pays a proportional cost of the administrative functions of County Fire and its South Desert Service Zone.” P. 173

OPTION, LAFCO
LAFCO Service Reviews for the Twentynine Palms and Wonder Valley Communities, p 174
“Twentynine Palms Water District as the fire provider in the Wonder Valley community. In this scenario, the Water District could expand its sphere of influence and annex the boundaries of Zone FP-4 of County Fire. The Water District would succeed to County Fire’s assets to include the assessment of Zone FP-4 and become responsible for fire protection services to all of the Wonder Valley community. Benefits could be achieved as the region would elect a single board of directors, have local control of financial resources and determine the level of service to be provided.”

Zone FP-4’s incident response categories and times 
July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010
www.sbcounty.gov/lafco/items/201205/Item_8.pdf
http://bit.ly/wvfp4, pages 169, May 7, 2012

WONDER VALLEY DEMOGRAPHICS
Population is difficult to determine as many people live in Wonder Valley on a seasonal basis.
City-Data: 528
LAFCO: 999
Registered Voters: ?
City-Data.com 2013
Median household income in 2011: $15,399
Median age - males: 62.5 years
Median age - females: 60.0 years
Average household size: 2 people
Percentage of population below poverty level: 16.9%
Percentage of units with a mortgage: 38.8%

2015 FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES