Almanor Recreation and Park District - calafco

PLUMAS LAFCO
MUNICIPAL SERVICE REVIEW FOR LAKE ALMANOR REGION OF PLUMAS COUNTY
The County is responsible for ensuring that new developments meet all State and
County fire code requirements. It outlines policies in its General Plan for new
developments to follow to ensure adequate levels of fire service. The General Plan update
has several new requirements that are meant to enhance fire safety. Proposals for new
developments are sent for review to the appropriate fire provider if a development is
within the district’s boundaries. The County reported that as SOI maps had not been
digitized, it had been challenging to ensure that proposals go to the appropriate district if a
proposed development is within that district’s SOI but outside its boundaries. The County
Board of Supervisors has recently hired a fire marshal to allow for more efficient code
enforcement and building inspections. The Emergency Services Advisory Committee,
formed by the Board of Supervisors, is attempting to ensure uniform and comprehensive
emergency services provision to all of Plumas County by increasing funding for emergency
services.
A majority of the fire districts in the Lake Almanor area reported that financing was a
significant challenge to providing services. Each agency reported that their revenues had
declined, due to difficult economic conditions. There is less grant money available and
fewer people are willing to donate or to buy items from district‐run stores or auxiliaries.
People are moving out of the County in search of jobs and most planned or proposed
developments are on hold; therefore, property tax income or income from assessments is
either staying the same or declining. In an attempt to remedy the existing situation, some
districts, such as WACSD and PAFPD recently raised their assessments. Sharing
administrative expenses, equipment and facilities among fire providers also saves money
and promotes efficiency.
A potential governance alternative that could reduce costs through resource sharing,
and potentially enhance financing levels, is the consolidation of fire providers. There are
multiple consolidation options that are currently being discussed by the fire providers in
the Lake Almanor region, but no concrete steps had been taken as of the drafting of this
report. WACSD is considering consolidation with PAFPD. An absence of efficiency was
identified with respect to Prattville‐Almanor FPD, as it serves a very small permanent
population of about 33. Consolidation with another fire provider would remove the need
for a separate board of directors, management and resources for PAFPD. Additionally, PFD
is exploring the possibility of uniting with HBFPD. There are continuous discussions that
take place among fire providers regarding the issue and most likely future consolidation is
inevitable, but in the meantime, the agencies collaborate through contracts, and automatic
and mutual aid agreements.
WAT E R & WA S T E WAT E R
The Almanor area has only three wastewater providers—Chester PUD, Walker Ranch
CSD (WRCSD) and West Almanor CSD (WACSD). All other areas are served by individual
private septic systems. Historically, there have been limited requirements on these septic
systems and leach field systems with regard to set back distance from the Lake.
Additionally, in the past, wastewater planning for the region has been piecemeal for each
subdivision as they are proposed and developed, and as a result there has been a general
lack of preplanning with regard to wastewater collection and treatment.As the septic
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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