The loss of redevelopment funding has prompted the city to revisit its earlier proposal to share fire services with Huntington Beach and to put off the process of hiring a new fire chief.

City officials said concerns about controlling costs and reducing promotion opportunities initially led them to decide against sharing services.

But news that the loss of redevelopment funding would reduce the city’s general fund by $800,000 to $1.3 million made them reconsider the idea.

Sharing services on a smaller scale than previously proposed could save Fountain Valley $80,000 to $100,000 a year, said City Manager Ray Kromer.

The city would consider sharing services for a fire chief, nurse and training officer, which could also be part time, as opposed to using Huntington Beach’s entire command staff, officials said.

“At one point, we were looking at sharing the entire command staff including the battalion chiefs, but that’s when issues came in with promotions,” Kromer said. “We want to look at it again and start smaller.”

The fire chief position in Fountain Valley has been vacant for about six weeks, and duties are being shared by the city’s three battalion chiefs, Mayor John Collins said.

The department also has a vacancy for a training officer and a nurse.

The city’s budget for the fire department is approximately $6 million, and a fire chief position would cost the city $185,000 a year in salary pay, Kromer said.

Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley are evaluating the logistics of sharing services, and officials expect to have an update in about two weeks.

Source: Orange County

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