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Local Agency Formation Commissions · calaveras-msr-2014-adopted-8-fire-prot-dists-calaveras-soi · Soi · 2014-04-21

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CALAVERAS LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION SPHERE OF INFLUENCE UPDATES FOR ALTAVILLE-MELONES FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT CENTRAL CALAVERAS FIRE AND RESCUE PROTECTION DISTRICT COPPEROPOLIS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT EBBETTS PASS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT MOKELUMNE HILL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT MURPHYS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SAN ANDREAS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT WEST POINT FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT Adopted April 21, 2014 Resolution 2014-0001 CALAVERAS LAFCO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS SOI Update TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 ALTAVILLE-MELONES FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT (AMFPD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 3 CENTRAL CALAVERAS FIRE AND RESCUE PROTECTION DISTRICT (CCFRPD) . . . . . . 14 4 COPPEROPOLIS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT (CFPD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 5 EBBETTS PASS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT (EPFPD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 6 MOKELUMNE HILL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 7 MURPHYS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT (MFPD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 8 SAN ANDREAS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT (SAFPD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 9 WEST POINT FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT (WPFPD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 ABBREVIATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 PREPARERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 1 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update INTRODUCTION 1.1 Sphere of Influence Description The Calaveras Local Agency Formation Commission is charged with developing and updating the Sphere of Influence (SOI) for each city and special district within the county. Calaveras LAFCO needs to determine the Sphere of Influence for the seven Fire Protection Districts based on the Calaveras LAFCO Countywide Fire Municipal Service Review adopted on June 17, 2013 and for Mokelumne Hill FPD on January 27, 2014. The Sphere of Influence for the Calaveras Consolidated FPD was adopted on January 27, 2014 and therefore is not included in this report. An SOI is a LAFCO-approved plan that designates an agency’s probable future boundary and service area. The definition for a Sphere of Influence in Government Code Section 56076 is “a ‘Sphere of Influence’ means a plan for the probable physical boundaries and service area of a local agency, as determined by the Commission.” Spheres are planning tools used to provide guidance for individual boundary change proposals and are intended to encourage efficient provision of organized community services and prevent duplication of service delivery. Territory cannot be annexed by LAFCO to a city or district unless it is within that agency's sphere. The purposes of the SOI include the following: • To ensure the efficient provision of services • To discourage urban sprawl and premature conversion of agricultural and open space lands • To prevent overlapping jurisdictions and duplication of services 1.2 Sphere of Influence Requirements In determining the Sphere of Influence for each local agency, LAFCO must consider and prepare a statement of determinations with respect to each of the following: 1. The present and planned land uses in the area, including agricultural and open space lands 2. The present and probable need for public facilities and services in the area 3. The present capacity of public facilities and adequacy of public services which the agency provides, or is authorized to provide 4. The existence of any social or economic communities of interest in the area if the commission determines that they are relevant to the agency 5. For an update of a sphere of influence of a city or special district that provides public facilities or services related to sewers, municipal and industrial water, or structural fire protection, the present and probable need for those public facilities and services of any disadvantaged unincorporated communities within the existing Sphere of Influence. 1 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update Additionally, the CKH Act stipulates several procedural requirements in updating SOIs. It requires that special districts file written statements on the class of services provided and that LAFCO clearly establish the location, nature and extent of services provided by special districts. By statute, LAFCO must publish a notice and notify affected agencies 21 days before holding the public hearing to consider the SOI and may not update the SOI until after that hearing. The LAFCO Executive Officer must issue a report including recommendations on the SOI amendments and updates under consideration at least five days before the public hearing. 1.3 Calaveras LAFCO Sphere of Influence Policies In addition to State requirements for SOIs, Calaveras LAFCO has adopted policies regarding Spheres of Influence in the County and minimum requirements necessary in order to update or adopt an agency’s SOI. Six highlighted requirements are summarized as follows: 1. The Sphere of Influence Plan must be consistent with LAFCO’s policies, State law, other agencies’ SOI plans, the municipal service review, and long range planning goals of the area. 2. LAFCO will not include lands that are unlikely to require the services of the agency or which cannot be feasibly served within a time frame consistent with the sphere plan. 3. Agencies are encouraged to keep the supporting documentation for their SOI plans up to date. 4. Sphere of Influence Plans have to be updated every five years or more frequently. 5. If an agency is unable to provide an adequate level of service within a portion of its service area boundaries within the time frame provided for that boundary, the Sphere of Influence Plan has to be updated so that the probable service boundaries are consistent with the determinations in the Municipal Service Review. 6. A District Sphere of Influence Plan shall contain the following: Proof that the territory within the District’s SOI is likely to require the district’s services and that the district has or will have the capacity to serve the area at the appropriate level. In the case of multi-service districts, LAFCO has to adopt an SOI plan for each distinct function or class of service provided by a district. These sphere plans may or may not be coterminous. Each sphere shall establish the nature, location, and extent of the functions or classes of services provided by the district. LAFCO adopts a sphere of influence plan for a newly formed district within two years of the completion of formation proceedings. Amendment proposals involving sphere expansion to include open space or prime agricultural land will not be approved by LAFCO if there is sufficient alternative land available for annexation within the existing sphere of influence. 2 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 1.4 Possible Approaches to the Sphere of Influence LAFCO may recommend government reorganizations to particular agencies in the county, using the SOIs as the basis for those recommendations. Based on review of the guidelines of Calaveras LAFCO as well as other LAFCOs in the State, various conceptual approaches have been identified from which to choose in designating an SOI. These seven approaches are explained below: 1) Coterminous Sphere: A Coterminous Sphere means that the sphere for a city or special district that is the same as its existing boundaries. This is the recommendation for all of the Spheres in this report with the exception of the Altaville-Melones FPD sphere whereby there is a small reduction in the Sphere area to avoid a conflict with the City of Angels Camp and the Central Calaveras FPD Sphere to include areas protected by the Central Calaveras FPD. 2) Annexable Sphere: A sphere larger than the agency’s boundaries identifies areas the agency is expected to annex. The annexable area is outside its boundaries and inside the sphere. 3) Detachable Sphere: A sphere that is smaller than the agency’s boundaries identifies areas the agency is expected to detach. The detachable area is the area within the agency bounds but not within its sphere. 4) Zero Sphere: A zero sphere indicates the affected agency’s public service functions should be reassigned to another agency and the agency should be dissolved or combined with one or more other agencies. 5) Consolidated Sphere: A consolidated sphere includes two or more local agencies and indicates the agencies should be consolidated into one agency. 6) Limited Service Sphere: A limited service sphere is the territory included within the SOI of a multi-service provider agency that is also within the boundary of a limited purpose district which provides the same service (e.g., fire protection), but not all needed services. Territory designated as a limited service SOI may be considered for annexation to the limited purpose agency without detachment from the multi-service provider. This type of SOI is generally adopted when the following four conditions exist: a) The limited service provider is providing adequate, cost effective and efficient services b) The multi-service agency is the most logical provider of the other services c) There is no feasible or logical SOI alternative, and d) Inclusion of the territory is in the best interests of local government organization and structure in the area Government Code §56001 specifically recognizes that in rural areas it may be appropriate to establish limited purpose agencies to serve an area rather than a single service provider, if multiple limited purpose agencies are better able to provide efficient services to an area rather than one service district. 3 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update Moreover, Government Code Section §56425(i), governing sphere determinations, also authorizes a sphere for less than all of the services provided by a district by requiring a district affected by a sphere action to “establish the nature, location, and extent of any functions of classes of services provided by existing districts” recognizing that more than one district may serve an area and that a given district may provide less than its full range of services in an area. 7) Sphere Planning Area: LAFCO may choose to designate a sphere planning area to signal that it anticipates expanding an agency’s SOI in the future to include territory not yet within its official SOI. 1.5 SOI Amendments and CEQA LAFCO has the discretion to limit SOI updates to those that it may process without unnecessarily delaying the SOI update process or without requiring its funding agencies to bear the costs of environmental studies associated with SOI expansions. Any local agency or individual may file a request for an SOI amendment. The request must state the nature of and reasons for the proposed amendment, and provide a map depicting the proposal. LAFCO may require the requester to pay a fee to cover LAFCO costs, including the costs of appropriate environmental review under CEQA. LAFCO may elect to serve as lead agency for such a review, may designate the proposing agency as lead agency, or both the local agency and LAFCO may serve as co-lead agencies for purposes of an SOI amendment. Local agencies are encouraged to consult with LAFCO staff early in the process regarding the most appropriate approach for the particular SOI amendment under consideration. Certain types of SOI amendments are usually exempt from CEQA review. Examples are SOI expansions that include territory already within the bounds or service area of an agency, SOI reductions, and zero SOIs. SOI expansions for limited purpose agencies that provide services (e.g., fire protection, levee protection, cemetery, and resource conservation) needed by both rural and urban areas are typically not considered growth-inducing and are likely exempt from CEQA. Similarly, SOI expansions for districts serving rural areas (e.g., irrigation water) are typically not considered growth-inducing. Remy et al. write In City of Agoura Hills v. Local Agency Formation Commission (2d Dist.1988) 198 Cal.App.3d480, 493-496 [243 Cal.Rptr.740] (City of Agoura Hills), the court held that a LAFCO’s decision to approve a city’s sphere of influence that in most respects was coterminous with the city’s existing municipal boundaries was not a “project” because such action did not entail any potential effects on the physical environment.1 The spheres of influence recommended in this report are coterminous with the district boundaries or areas of existing fire protection services and will be exempt from further environmental review. 1.6 Map showing Calaveras County Fire Protection Agencies and City of Angels Camp Fire Service Area 1 Remy, Michael H., Tina A. Thomas, James G. Moose, Whitman F. Manley, Guide to CEQA, Solano Press Books, Point Arena, CA, February 2007, page 111. 4 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update The following maps show the locations of all fire agencies in Calaveras County and the City of Angels Camp Fire Service area (incorporated area) Calaveras LAFCo Caliveras Fire Protection Providers Bear Valley ^` Tamarack^` ^`West Point West Point FPD ^`Wilseyville ^` ·|}þ Glencoe ^`Rail Road Flat Ebbetts Pass FPD ·|}þ 26 4 Camp Connell^` ·|}þ 49 ^`Mokelumne Hill Central FPD Dorrington ^` ·|}þMokelumne Hill FPD R P es a e rd rv e o e ir Palom ^`a 26 White ^` Pin^`es Arnold C R a e m se a r n v c o h ir e ^`Campo Seco ·|}þ Mounta^`in Ranch 49 ^`Wallace ·|}þ Burson^` Valley Spring ^` s ·|}þ 12 Sa S n ^` a A n n A dr n e d as reas FPD P C r e o n te tr c a t l e F d P b D y ^`Sheep Ran H c a h P th in a e w s ay ^` ^` Avery 12 ^`Calaveritas New Hogan Reservoir ^`Murphys Calaveras Consolidated FPD ·|}þ A ·|}þ ltaville Melones FPD M^`urphys FPD 26 ^`Jenny Lind 49 ^`Altaville ^` Douglas Flat Fire Protection Districts ^`Angels Camp Vallecito and Fire Service Area Angels Camp FSA Altaville Melones FPD ^`Milton Val S le a y lt R S e p s r e in r g vior ·|}þ ^`Carson Hill City of Angels Camp FSA 4 Copperopolis FPD Central FPD ^` Protected by Central FPD Copperopolis Calaveras Consolidated FPD Copperopolis FPD Ebbetts Pass FPD Mokelumne Hill FPD Murphys FPD San Andreas FPD West Point FPD E L Sphere of Influence Boundaries ^` Towns Highways 4 G District/City Fire Facilities Waterbodies E Parcels N ²¨ Non-District Fire Facilities 0 2 4 8 12 D Miles 5 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update Calaveras LAFCo City of Angels Cam D p OGTO W N F RD ire Service S A A NCT r UA e RY a LN FRENCH GULCH RD LAKESIDE DR REDUAM HCS DR ENIM RANCH RD Altaville Melones FPD ·|þ} 49 HILL B D R R UNNER DOGTOW N RD MURPHYS GRADE RD ·|þ} COPELLO DR LIV M E A O I A N K S D T R N ^` S A TO lt C a K v TO il N le RD TUOL M U G A A M R I D N N N E R S E L T N A S V STANISLAUS AV DADS RD PURDY RD BYP R A O SS LL R E D RI ·|þ} 4 B 4 M INE RD BLAIR S S P E R L R A K N IR I C N K H G RD HOU F S i E r A R e n D S g e e r ls v i C c GR e EE a NHORN CR E m EK R A D p rea GOLD CLI E F CHO F ST RD A PAR n ^` K A g V el D s E C P a O m T R p D COW KICK RD CUNEO RD Calaveras County BIG BONANZA LN MAIN ST GUNCLUB R F D ROGTO WN RD R E D H ·|þ} 49 WHITTLE RD RAINBOW WY Location Map (Not to Scale) 0 0.25 0.5 1 Miles ^` L City of Angels Camp Towns Parcels 4 E G Fire Service Area Boundary Fire Facilities Roads E N City ofAngels Camp Calaveras Fire Protection Highways D Fire Service Area District Boundaries Sphere of Influence Boundary Waterbodies 6 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 2 ALTAVILLE-MELONES FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 2.1 Altaville-Melones Area Background 2.1.1 Altaville Background Altaville (formerly, Cherokee Flat, Forks-of-the Road, Low Divide, and Winterton)2 is a community located close to and within the City of Angles Camp. It sits at an elevation of 1,542 feet above sea level and is located at the intersections of State Highways 49 and 4. The town was established in 1852 on Cherokee Creek. Notorious bandit, Joaquin Murrieta, supposedly spent so much time here that a mountain northwest of the creek was named Joaquin Mountain. Although gold was discovered here in 1854, it didn't last long, but the town survived due to its position as an important point for supplies and machinery. D.D. Demerest established a foundry here in 1854, and others soon followed. Most of the stamp mills and a large part of the mining machinery erected in Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties were built at the Altaville Foundry. A brick schoolhouse was built at Altaville in 1858 and the town-site was established in 1873. A post office was established in 1904, closed it in 1943, and re-established it in 1944.3 The town today is registered as California Historical Landmark #288.4 2.1.2 New Melones Dam Area Background New Melones Lake offers year-round camping at two locations: Glory Hole Recreation Area, located approximately 6 miles south of Angels Camp, California, and Tuttletown Recreation Area, located approximately 8 miles north of Sonora, California. Both campgrounds offer camping for tents and recreational vehicles. Walk-in campsites are also available in both recreation areas. At Tuttletown Recreation Area, there are three campground areas: Acorn, Manzanita and Chamise. Tuttletown also has two group campgrounds: Fiddleneck and Oak Knoll. At Glory Hole Recreation Area, there are two campground areas: Big Oak and Ironhorse.5 The Altaville-Melones FPD is responsible for boating accidents at New Melones Lake. New Melones Lake Marina features houseboat and small boat rentals, marine fuel, a marina store, marine services, nearby boat launching and campground.6 2 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 740. ISBN 9781884995149 3 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 740. ISBN 9781884995149 4 Altaville, Office of Historical Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-06. 5 US Bureau of Reclamation: http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/camping.html, October 19, 2013. 6 http://houseboats.com/new-melones-lake/, October 19, 2013. 7 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 7 2.1.3 Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District (AMFPD) Background Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District (AMFPD) is located in the southeastern portion of Calaveras County. The District surrounds the City of Angels Camp. AMFPD borders Copperopolis FPD in the south, San Andreas FPD in the northwest, Central Calaveras FRPD in the north, Murphys FPD in the northeast, and Tuolumne County in the southeast. Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District (AMFPD) provides structure fire, wildland fire, and vehicle fire suppression, and emergency medical services. In addition, the Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District responds to boating accidents on New Melones Lake. AMFPD was formed in 1941 for the purpose of providing fire protection to the residents of the Altaville area. The present bounds encompass approximately 77.5 square miles and include New Melones Lake and the communities of Altaville, Fricot City and New Melones Camp Ground. Since its formation, the Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District has undergone eight annexations. The latest annexation took place in 2000 and included territory that previously belonged to County Fire. The AMFPD operates Station 1, built in 1951 and located at 122 South Main Street, Angels Camp. The Station is in excellent condition and houses the following equipment: 3 fire engines, 3 administration vehicles, 1 rescue engine, and 1 water tender. The AMFPD keeps its Type 3 engine at the Murphys FPD Vallecito fire station. The Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District has mutual and automatic aid agreements with neighboring fire service providers, such as Murphys FPD, Angles Camp FD, and San Andreas FPD, and as such, occasionally responds outside its boundaries in these areas. AMFPD also occasionally responds to wildland fires throughout the State. The Altaville-Melones FPD did not identify any short-term infrastructure needs. Long-term needs outlined in the strategic plan include constructing onsite living quarters at Station 1, purchasing an emergency stand-by generator for Station 1, buying exhaust extractors (or alternatives), purchasing a washer/extractor for personal protection equipment, and continuing to upgrade/replace communications equipment. The AMFPD Fire Fighter 1 certification rate is 75 percent and the EMT 1 certification rate is percent. According to the California State Fire Marshal, all volunteer and call firefighters must acquire Firefighter I certification; however, there is no time limit as to how long they may work before attaining certification. Firefighter I certification requires completion of the 259–hour Firefighter I course, which includes training on various fireground tasks, rescue operations, fire prevention and investigation techniques, and inspection and maintenance of equipment. In addition to the course, Firefighter I certification also requires that the applicant have a minimum of six months of volunteer or call experience in a California fire department as a firefighter performing suppression duties.8 7 Calaveras LAFCO, Countywide Fire Municipal Service Review, April 8, 2013, Pages 59-73. 8 California State Fire Marshall, Course Information and Required Materials, 2007, p. 44. 8 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update AMFPD has 20 sworn personnel— one chief, one assistant chief, and 18 volunteers. The fire chief receives a stipend, and the assistant chief is a part-time paid employee. Volunteers do not get compensated. The median age of the firefighters is approximately 25 according to the District, with a range from 18 to 70. To recruit more volunteers, the Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District is relying on funding from the recently awarded countywide SAFER Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters grant. 2.1.4 Sphere of Influence Considerations for AMFPD Altaville-Melones FPD service area encompasses the City of Angels Camp, the two agencies play close supporting roles within each other’s service areas, and AMFPD’s station is located inside the city limits, so there may be an opportunity for consolidation of some portions or all of the two agencies’ fire-related services. It may also be appropriate to include the Murphys FPD in a potential consolidation; however, it is more appropriate for the AMFPD to work with the City of Angels Camp to decrease duplication of effort and enhance economies of scale in the Angels Camp area. The recommendation for the Sphere of Influence for AMFPD is to be a coterminous sphere, that is, the SOI would be the same as the District boundary. 2.2 Present and Planned Land Uses in the Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District Area, Including Agricultural and Open Space Lands 2.2.1 Calaveras County General Plan and Zoning for Altaville-Melones FPD Area Land uses within the Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District consist of general agriculture, agricultural preserve, residential agriculture, and residential. The District’s bounds encompass approximately 77.5 square miles. There are approximately 2,759 residents within the District, based on census block group population in the 2010 Census.9 The State Department of Finance (DOF) projects that the population of Calaveras County will grow by eight percent in the next 10 years. Thus, the average annual population growth in the County is anticipated to be approximately 0.8 percent. Based on these projections, the Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District’s population would increase from 2,759 in 2010 to approximately 2,980 in 2020. It is anticipated that demand for service within this District will increase minimally, based on the DOF population growth projections through 2020. 9 Census Block Groups 1 and 2 in Census Tract 1.21 and Census Block Groups 1 and 2 in Census Tract 1.22, minus population of the City of Angels Camp in Calaveras County. 9 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 2.2.2 SOI Determinations on Present and Planned Land Use for Altaville-Melones FPD 1-1] AMFPD anticipates moderate growth in population and similarly in service demand within the Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District in the next few years. 1-2] The Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District reported that it forecasts growth and service demand through its strategic plan; however, no formal population projections have been made by AMFPD. 1-3] There are currently 120 acres for sale to a developer near the Vallecito area, by the Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District’s border with Murphys FPD. In addition, a five- acre parcel is anticipated to be developed in Carson Hill. 2.3 Municipal Services—Present and Probable Capacity and Need 2.3.1 Present and Probable Capacity and Need Background The Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District reports that current financing levels are adequate to deliver services. Although the recent recession had a negative effect on AMFPD revenues, the Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District reported that income received from service charges collected from non-residents has been an additional income source ensuring adequate financing. The Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District’s general operations are funded primarily by property taxes. AMFPD does not have long-term debt. The Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District maintains two financial reserve funds—one for apparatus replacement and another for contingencies. 2.3.2 SOI Determinations on Present and Probable Capacity and Need for Altaville- Melones FPD 2-1] The Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District’s existing facilities have the capacity to adequately serve current demand and possible future growth. The existing station is in excellent condition. The Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District’s response times meet Mountain Valley Emergency Medical Services Agency response time standards. 2-2] AMFPD did not identify any short-term infrastructure needs. Long-term needs outlined in the strategic plan include constructing onsite living quarters at Station 1, purchasing an emergency stand-by generator for Station 1, purchasing exhaust extractors, purchasing a washer/extractor for personal protection equipment, and continuing the upgrade/replacement of the communications equipment. 2-3] The Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District should consider adopting a capital improvement plan to identify long-term financing needs and sources for these needs. 10 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 2.4 The Present Capacity of Public Facilities and Adequacy of Public Services Provided by Altaville-Melones FPD 2.4.1 Adequacy of Services Provided by Altaville-Melones FPD AMFPD provides comprehensive fire protection services to residents of the Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District. Compared to the fire protection districts in Calaveras County the one with the lowest EMT I certification rate of 20 percent is AMFPD. The Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District's emergency dispatch and communication needs are served through a Calaveras County contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's (CALFIRE) Emergency Command Center (ECC) in San Andreas. There is currently no fee charged to local government fire protection agencies by Calaveras County for this service. 2.4.2 SOI Determinations on Adequacy of Services Provided by Altaville-Melones FPD 3-1] AMFPD services appear to be adequate. The Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District has adequate response times and an ISO rating which is comparable to other providers in the County. 3-2] For water supply, the Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District uses its own 3,200-gallon water tender, as well as water tenders that belong to neighboring fire districts and are accessible through mutual aid, and three private water tenders available to AMFPD. Subdivisions within the Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District have fire hydrants. 2.5 Social or Economic Communities of Interest 2.5.1 Community Background Even though the community of Altaville is located close to the City of Angels Camp, the community has been able to retain a separate identity due to the Post Office and the Fire Protection District and Fire Station. 2.5.2 SOI Determinations on Social or Economic Communities of Interest for Altaville- Melones FPD 4-1] AMFPD practices public outreach efforts; however, the Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District lacks a website where district information is made available to public. It is recommended for every public service provider to maintain a website in order to keep their constituents aware of the agency’s activities. 4-2] A portion of the AMFPD boundary is within the City of Angels Camp adopted Sphere of Influence. Unless a Joint Powers Agency or consolidation with the City Fire Service Functions and the AMFPD occurs, a reduction of the Sphere removing the City’s sphere territory from the AMFPD will be necessary. 11 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 2.6 Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Status 2.6.1 Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities SB 244 defines disadvantaged unincorporated community as any area with 12 or more registered voters, or as determined by commission policy, where the median household income is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median. SB 244 also requires LAFCOs to consider disadvantaged unincorporated communities when developing spheres of influence. Upon the next update of a sphere of influence on or after July 1, 2012, SB 244 requires LAFCO to include in an MSR (in preparation of a sphere of influence update): 1) The location and characteristics of any disadvantaged unincorporated communities within or contiguous to the sphere; and 2) The present and planned capacity of public facilities, adequacy of public services and infrastructure needs or deficiencies including needs or deficiencies related to sewers, municipal and industrial water, and structural fire protection in any disadvantaged unincorporated community within or contiguous to the sphere of influence. In determining spheres of influence, SB 244 authorizes LAFCO to assess the feasibility of and recommend reorganization and consolidation of local agencies to further orderly development and improve the efficiency and affordability of infrastructure and service delivery. 2.6.2 Altaville-Melones FPD Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Status 5-1] Based on 2010 Census income information for Census Designated Places in Calaveras County, there are no communities that meet the definition of a disadvantaged unincorporated community within or adjacent to AMFPD’s bounds and sphere of influence. 12 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update Protected by Central FPD Protected by Central FPD Calaveras LAFCo Central FPD Sa F n A i n r d e A re a l P s t F a r P o v D t il e le c t M io e n C l E o M D EN n T i P e s LAN s t T r R i D c ^` t Calaveritas PONDERO S S A A N W A Y F N RI T CO O T N C E ITY R R D D ESMERELDA RD HIGH MOUNTAIN RD ESMERELDA RD FOURTH CROSSING RD DOGTOWN RD DOGTOWN RD SAN DOMINGO RD Murphys FPD Murphys^` ·|þ} 49 COSGRAVE RD Altaville Melone DO s GTO W F N R P D ^` D S A A l N ta C v M T i A U l I l N A e R S Y T LN BYPA R S O S L R L M E D U RI RPHYS G F R R R A E A D N N E C C H R H G D U R L D CH B O RD R SIX B MI E LE R R D AN · C |þ} H 4 OLD M UR R PHYS D RD DR SSECCA LLIH DER ^` Do V u a g l l l a e s c it F o lat^` Angels Camp FSA ·|þ} 4 ^`Angels Camp GS RD COP H P UN E T R R D OPOLIS B U F C P KS D KIN RD APPALOOSA RD PINTO DR R G O EL A DI N NG R R D D COW KICK RD GUNCLUB RD RED HILL RD RUNNING SPRIN AIR P O AR L RO A T T R S F D ERRY RD ^`Carson Hill ·|þ} 49 HUNTER ST PAINT RD WHITTLE RD Calaveras County Copperopolis^`MAIN ST Location Map (Not to Scale) 0 0.5 1 2 3 4 Miles 4 L E Altaville Melones FPD Boundary Fire Facilities Parcels G E Altaville Melones FPD Waterbodies ^` Towns N Sphere of Influence Boundary D Calaveras Fire Protection Highways Sphere of Influence Update Adopted on April 21, 2014 District Boundaries Roads LAFCo Resolution 2014-0001 13 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 3 CENTRAL CALAVERAS FIRE AND RESCUE PROTECTION DISTRICT 3.1 Community and District Background 3.1.1 Community History Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District (CCFRPD) was formed in 1999 through the consolidation of Glencoe Rail Road Flat Fire Protection District and Mountain Ranch Fire Protection District. The two districts consolidated to provide more efficient fire protection and emergency medical services to the communities of Glencoe, Rail Road Flat, Mountain Ranch and Sheep Ranch. The four communities have maintained their identities to varying degrees as described below: Glencoe Glencoe (formerly, Mosquito and Mosquito Gulch) lies at an elevation of 2,749 feet above sea level. The business portion of the town was on the north side of Mosquito Gulch, but not one of the old buildings remains. The mines were first worked by Mexicans in the early 1850s. Quartz mining predominated but there was some placer mining as well. The town today is registered as California Historical Landmark #280.10 The first post office was opened at Mosquito in 1858 but closed in 1869; it was re-established as Mosquito Gulch in 1873. The name was changed to Glencoe in 1912; the post office closed again in 1916, but was re-established in 1947.11 Rail Road Flat Rail Road Flat (formerly, Independence Flat and Railroad Flat) is a census-designated place (CDP). The population was 475 at the 2010 census, down from 549 at the 2000 census. This historic mining town, elevation 2,600 feet, was named after primitive mule-drawn ore cars. There was never actually a railroad at this location. The town of Rail Road Flat was established in 1849. It was the site of an Indian council as well as the center of rich placer and quartz mining. Its largest producer was the Petticoat Mine. The post office was established in 1857, closed in 1858, and re-established in 186912 and the Edwin Taylor store built in 1867. The town's population was decimated in 1880 by black fever. The Clark Reservoir was created when an engineer named W.V. Clark constructed a ditch from the Mokelumne River, as there was not much water to work the placers. The reservoir, located on his property, supplied water to the mines and to the town. This town is registered as California Historical Landmark #286.13 10 Glencoe, Office of Historical Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-06. 11 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 777. ISBN 9781884995149. 12 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 818. ISBN 9781884995149. 13 Rail Road Flat, Office of Historical Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-06. 14 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update Rail Road Flat Population Data The 2010 US Census reported that in Rail Road Flat, 475 people lived in 220 households, out of which 41 (18.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 101 (45.9%) were opposite- sex married couples living together, 15 (6.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 7 (3.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 72 households (32.7%) made up of individuals and 38 (17.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16. There were 123 families (55.9% of all households); the average family size was 2.79. The Rail Road Flat population was spread out in age as follows: Rail Road Flat Age Distribution Under the age of 18 77 people 16.2% Aged 18 to 24 20 people 4.2% Aged 25 to 44 70 people 14.7% Aged 45 to 64 186 people 39.2% 65 years of age or older 122 people 25.7% The median age was 53.7 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males. There were 340 housing units of which 169 (76.8%) were owner-occupied, and 51 (23.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 10.5%. There were 363 people (76.4% of the population) living in owner-occupied housing units and 112 people (23.6%) living in rental housing units. Mountain Ranch Mountain Ranch (formerly, El Dorado and El Dorado Town) is a census designated place (CDP). The population was 1,628 at the 2010 census, up from 1,557 at the 2000 census. The town is registered as California Historical Landmark #282.14 The town center is quite small with fewer than 50 people living in it, the 5 mile square area surround the town accounts for the balance of the population. Mountain Ranch's post office was established in 1858.15 In 1868, the post office was moved to another town called El Dorado Camp 1.5 miles south, because there was already an El Dorado post office in CA, El Dorado Camp became known as Mountain Ranch. Currently, there are 3 post office buildings in the town. The present one, a small post office which was built in 1956, and a post office built in 1923 which was once billed as the world’s smallest post office. The original location of the town of Mountain Ranch also has a historical landmark. The bell on the historical marker was used in the local school from 1885 to 1953. Established as Cave City School District in 1855, this school joined with the Banner District in 1946 to become the El Dorado Union Elementary School District. 14 "El Dorado". Office of Historical Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-06 15 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 806. ISBN 9781884995149. 15 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update Mountain Ranch Population Data The 2010 Census reported that in Mountain Ranch there were 748 households, out of which 113 (15.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 410 (54.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 53 (7.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 23 (3.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 211 households (28.2%) made up of individuals and 89 (11.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18. There were 486 families (65.0% of all households); the average family size was 2.60. The Mountain Ranch population was spread out in age as follows: Mountain Ranch Age Group Distribution Under the age of 18 213 people 13.1% Aged 18 to 24 86 people 5.3% Aged 25 to 44 201 people 12.3% Aged 45 to 64 712 people 43.7% 65 years of age or older 416 people 25.6% The median age was 55.3 years. For every 100 females there were 105.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.3 males. There were 960 housing units of which 620 (82.9%) were owner-occupied, and 128 (17.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.8%. There were 1,352 people (83.0% of the population) living in owner-occupied housing units and 276 people (17.0%) living in rental housing units. Sheep Ranch East of the Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District is the community of Sheep Ranch, which is located in the CCFRPD’s service area but outside of the district boundaries. (This is the only territory within Calaveras County that is outside of a fire protection district’s boundaries). Sheep Ranch (formerly, Sheepranch) lies at an elevation of 2,359 feet. Sheep Ranch was named after a sheep ranch. Officially listed as "Sheep Ranch", the official post office stamp did at one time read "Sheepranch" (Zip: 95250). One of the very few "free-range" areas in California, Sheep Ranch is located approximately half-way between O'Neal Creek and San Antonio Creek on Sheep Ranch Road in the center of Calaveras County. The town was once surrounded by sheep corrals, and in 1860 gold ore was discovered in the corrals where the sheep were kept at night. Soon Sheepranch was a bustling gold mining town. Before the turn of the century there were five flourishing gold mines and one had a ten-stamp mill. The town also supported 15 saloons. The town was patented on August 4, 1880 by Judge Ira Hill Read. The main mine in town was known as the Hearst mine. George Hearst, who with partners bought the mine in 1897, was the father of William Randolph Hearst. The mine operated under various company names until shut down by the government in 1942. At one time the town of Sheepranch held two churches, one Catholic and the other Protestant. The local red school 16 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update house, which still stands as a private home, employed two teachers until 1907 when the enrollment dwindled to 30 pupils taught by one teacher. The Eagle Hotel and the Pioneer Hotel were the two prominent local establishments, but only the Pioneer Hotel still stands. The first Post Office opened in 1877, and was renamed Sheepranch in 1895. 16 The present population of Sheep Ranch is fewer than one hundred people. There are currently no active businesses in Sheep Ranch, with the nearest facilities being located in Mountain Ranch to the west, and in Avery to the east. In January 2008, the postal service contractor in town relocated, resulting in the town having its ZIP code archived (i.e., made "not usable") by the U.S. Postal Service. Locals can still use the town name, but must use the ZIP code for nearby Mountain Ranch (95246). 17 3.1.2 Central Calaveras FRPD Background Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District (CCFRPD) provides structure, wildland and vehicle fire suppression, and EMS. The Central Calaveras FRPD reported that it did not have any imminent apparatus needs, given that a lot of updates had taken place in the last two years. The Central Calaveras FRPD purchased two fire engines and replaced three others. Last year, the Central Calaveras FRPD put up a new modular building at the Jesus Maria Station that now contains administrative and sleeping quarters. No other major improvements are planned at this time. However, according to the Central Calaveras FRPD, all stations have unmet maintenance needs. Daily operations of the District are managed by the chief with the support of the administrative assistant. Staff includes three full-time paid firefighters, one full-time administrative assistant, one part-time paid fire chief, and 17 volunteer firefighters. Three of the 17 volunteers are volunteer residents, which means they work the same schedule as paid firefighters and receive a monthly stipend. The remaining volunteers get an annual stipend based on a point system. 3.1.3 Central Calaveras FRPD Sphere of Influence Considerations The Sphere of Influence for the Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District was first adopted in 1999, at the time of CCFRPD’s formation, as coterminous with the District’s boundaries.18 It was further revised in 2005, after the completion of the MSR for the District. The SOI was expanded from being coterminous with the district boundaries to include Sheep Ranch, Swiss Ranch and Freccero Road, which CCFRPD had been already serving through a contract with the County. The current SOI is 154 square miles compared to about 115.5 square miles of boundary area. CCFRPD’s service area extends beyond the district boundaries. Services to the Sheep Ranch area are provided under an agreement with the County of Calaveras, which dates back to 2002. It would be possible to combine three fire protection districts along the SR 26 Corridor. Given the geographical proximity and close working relationship of Mokelumne Hill FPD, Central Calaveras FRPD and West Point FPD, these districts may be suitable for consolidation. These providers generally served small rural areas with limited resources to provide adequate financing for services. The districts conduct extensive joint training exercises, and appear generally compatible, based on similarity of service levels and service areas. The districts have 16 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 827. ISBN 9781884995149. 17 Calaveras LAFCO, Countywide Fire Municipal Service Review, April 8, 2013, Pages 74-91. 18 Calaveras LAFCO Resolution number 99-02. 17 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update had informal discussions; all parties are reportedly interested in enhancing sharing and collaboration through shared resources and joint training. The districts are looking into a shared services agreement; however, there has been no outcome to these negotiations to date. While land use is in the San Andreas area is somewhat denser than the rural communities served by Mokelumne Hill FPD, Central Calaveras FRPD and West Point FPD, it may be appropriate for San Andreas FPD to be considered for inclusion in this regional consolidation, given that SAFPD responds regularly within MHFPD’s and CCFRPD’s bounds through mutual aid. The recommendation at this time is to keep the Central Calaveras FRPD Sphere of Influence the same as it is now, that is including the Sheep Ranch area, as it was adopted in 2005. 3.2 Present and Planned Land Uses in the Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District Area, Including Agricultural and Open Space Lands 3.2.1 Calaveras County General Plan and Zoning for Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District Area Land uses within the Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District consist of general agriculture, agricultural preserve, residential agriculture, timber production, and residential. The Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District’s bounds encompass approximately 115.5 square miles. There are no planned developments within the Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District. According to CCFRPD, there are no areas where development may occur in the future within the District boundaries. The only anticipated growth may come from annexations; however, the area in question (Sheep Ranch) is already being served through an agreement with the County. There are approximately 2,743 residents within the Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District, based on census place and block group population in the 2010 Census.19 CCFRPD anticipates minimal growth in population and similarly in service demand within the District in the next few years. However, no formal population projections have been made by CCFRPD. The State Department of Finance (DOF) projects that the population of Calaveras County will grow by eight percent in the next 10 years. Thus, the average annual population growth in the County is anticipated to be approximately 0.8 percent. Based on these projections, the Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District’s population would increase from 2,743 in 2010 to approximately 2,962 in 2020. It is anticipated that demand for service within this District will increase minimally based on the DOF population growth projections through 2020. 19 US Census Bureau, Census Block Group 6 in Census Tract 4 and Census Places Rail Road Flat and Mountain Ranch in Calaveras County. 18 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 3.2.2 SOI Determinations on Present and Planned Land Use for Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District 1-1] There are approximately 2,743 residents within the Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District and minimal growth is expected. 1-2] There are no planned developments within the Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District. 1-3] The only anticipated growth may come from annexations; however, the area in question (Sheep Ranch) is already being served through an agreement with the County. 3.3 Municipal Services—Present and Probable Capacity and Need 3.3.1 Present and Probable Capacity and Need Background The Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District reports that current financing levels are inadequate and unsustainable to deliver services. The economic recession caused revenue levels to decrease, due to declining property tax revenue. According to CCFRPD, unless there is an improvement in property tax revenue, the Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District will be struggling to maintain three paid firefighters. The Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District has already cut some personnel and training hours, postponed replacement of equipment, and switched utility providers. 3.3.2 SOI Determinations on Present and Probable Capacity and Need for Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District 2-1] CCFRPD provides structure, wildland and vehicle fire suppression functions along with emergency medical response. The District also responds to vehicle accidents, special rescues, hazardous materials incidents, public service assists, and provides fire prevention education. 2-2] CCFRPD owns and operates five fire stations. The main station, Station 1, is located on Jesus Maria Road. Apparatus Bay in Station 1 was built in 1999 and reported to be in good condition. Crew quarters were constructed in 2011 and similarly reported to be in good condition. For the rest of the stations acquisition and construction dates were reported to be unknown. Station 2 located on Swiss Ranch Road and Station 5 on Sheep Ranch Road in Sheep Ranch are in fair condition. Station 3 on Washington Street in Mountain Ranch and Station 4 on SR 26 in Glencoe were said to be in poor condition. Number and types of vehicles housed in each fire station were not provided by CCFRPD. All stations, except for Station 1, are staffed exclusively by volunteers. 2-3] CCFRPD has some of the lowest certification rates for both Firefighter I and EMT I. 2-4] The Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District’s water reserves are represented by fire hydrants throughout the District maintained by CCWD, CPUD and private water sources. 19 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 2-5] The Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District facilities appear to have a marginally sufficient capacity to provide adequate services within its boundary area and service area. Although all stations within the District are in working state, four out of five stations are in poor or fair condition. 2-6] The Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District’s 90th percentile response time does not meet Mountain Valley Emergency Medical Services Agency standards for response to medical emergencies. 3.4 The Present Capacity of Public Facilities and Adequacy of Public Services Provided by Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District 3.4.1 Adequacy of Services Provided by Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District The adequacy of services provided by Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District is described above. The services are considered to be less than adequate but considering the rural nature of the Central Calaveras FRPD and the high costs of paid fire fighters the Central Calaveras FRPD has limited options to improve the situation. 3.4.2 SOI Determinations on Adequacy of Services Provided by Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District 3-1] The Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District does not have a capital improvement plan, but has an apparatus improvement plan. The plan was last reviewed by the apparatus committee at the beginning of 2012. There are currently no apparatus improvement needs, since a lot of updates have been completed in the last two years. 3.5 Social or Economic Communities of Interest 3.5.1 Central Calaveras FRPD Community Background The Central Calaveras FRPD has a difficult job, to create a unified community out of a vast rural area with a history of numerous smaller communities. In addition to the required agendas and minutes, the Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District tries to reach its constituents through its website and the firefighter association. CCFRPD teaches first aid and CPR classes, participates in community events, and enters one of its pieces of equipment into the local car show every year. If a customer is dissatisfied with the Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District’s services, complaints may be submitted to the Board of Directors at board meetings. The Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District’s fire chief is responsible for handling complaints and giving a complainant contact information for the Board of Directors. The Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District reported that there were no complaints in 2011. 20 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update The Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District may annex the Sheep Ranch territory which it presently provides services; however, the Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District expressed concerns that if it were to annex the area, the Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District’s revenue may change. On the other hand, currently, residents of Sheep Ranch, Swiss Ranch and Freccero Road areas pay for fire services, but do not participate in any decision making related to those services. 3.5.2 SOI Determinations on Social or Economic Communities of Interest for Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District 4-1] CCFRPD practices extensive outreach efforts, including a website where district information is made available. 4-2] Although the rural nature of the CCFRPD may make community identification and feeling difficult, the Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District is doing as much as possible to promote community among the far-flung residents. 3.6 Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Status 3.6.1 Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities On October 7, 2011, Governor Brown signed SB 244, which makes two principal changes to the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000. SB 244 requires LAFCOs to: (1) deny any application to annex to a city territory that is contiguous to a disadvantaged unincorporated community (DUC) unless a second application is submitted to annex the disadvantaged community as well; and (2) evaluate disadvantaged unincorporated communities in a municipal service review (MSR) upon the next update of a sphere of influence after June 30, 2012. The intent of the statute is to encourage investment in disadvantaged unincorporated communities that often lack basic infrastructure by mandating cities and LAFCOs to include them in land use planning. SB 244 defines disadvantaged unincorporated community as any area with 12 or more registered voters, or as determined by commission policy, where the median household income is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median. 3.6.2 Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Status 5-1] Based on 2010 Census income information for Census Designated Places in Calaveras County, the Rail Road Flat Census Designated Place meets the income definition of a disadvantaged unincorporated community. The community is located within and adjacent to CCFRPD’s bounds, and is entirely within the District’s sphere of influence. The area is receiving fire and EMS services at the same level as all other areas in the County by CCFRPD through a contract with the County. 21 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update Calaveras LAFCo Cal 4 avLeILYr GaAP s FO L C SOM o R u D n07tNy10 07N06Y Central Fire Protection Distri ·|þ} c 26 t SKULL FLAT RD 07N09Y OLD R 0 D 7N08Y 07N02Y 07N46Y 07N32 07N30 HIGDON R SP D INK RD MAIN ST ^` We W st e P s oi t n P t oint FPD 07N48Y BAILEY RIDGE RD STANLEY RD ^`Wilseyville BLUE MOUNTAIN RD Location Map (Not to Scale) SILVER MOUNTAIN RD ^`Glencoe INDEPENDENCE RD ·|þ} 26 PONDEROSA WAY PRU R S ID S G IA E N R H D ILL RD RAILROAD FLAT RD N ^`Rail Ro S a U d M M F I l T a A t L IR E S V T E R L I R P D BOSSE RD REGRINERD Moke JE lu SU m S n M e AR H IA i R ll D FPD PONDEROSA W Y W ORDEN RD Cent J r E a S l U F S P M D A D R OE IA R D RD JOHN DEAR RD MASON R B D ANNER RD SWISS RANCH RD HUBBARD DR RETSOD WET GU W LC ES H T R M D U W R H R ISK A E Y Y S C LID R E E RD EK RD STR AV U EN ^` C UE K A M M AN o u R n D tain RAIL ROA R D FLAT RD a S nch SHEEP O RA L N T CH S R D RD P C r e o n te tr c a t l e F d W P A b D L y DEARS A PA R K T M H IR ST K R R O D NG RD LAKE MONT DR ANTLER DR San Andreas FPD MOUNTAIN RANCH RD MICHEL RD CAVE CITY RD ^`Sheep Ranch Avery^` WY TATION RD ·|þ} 49 CALAVERITAS RD R ^` OCKY C R a D laveritas P C r e o n te tr c a t l e F d P b D y FRICOT E CI S T P Y ON M DEROSA R E D RELDA RD MO H U IG N H TAIN RD Murphys FPD FOLENDOR F F U R LL D EN RD Ebbetts Pas BU s C F KT P H H D O a R th N a ·|þ D } w 4 R ay Pines ^` Altaville Melones FPD COSTA RD 0 0.5 1 2 3 4 Murphys^` Miles 4 L Central FPD Boundary Fire Facilities Parcels E G Central FPD Waterbodies ^` Towns E N Sphere of Influence Boundary Highways D Calaveras Fire Protection Sphere of Influence Update Adopted on April 21, 2014 District Boundaries Roads LAFCo Resolution 2014-0001 22 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 4 COPPEROPOLIS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 4.1 Community and District Background 4.1.1 Copperopolis Copperopolis History Copperopolis is a census designated place (CDP). The population was 3,671 at the 2010 census, up from 2,363 at the 2000 census. The town is located along State Route 4 and is registered as California Historical Landmark #296.20 Unlike most of the other mining towns in the County, Copperopolis' claim to fame is not gold, but copper. It was founded in 1860 by William K. Reed, Dr. Allen Blatchly, and Thomas McCarty, at the site of the second big discovery of copper ore in the region. (The first was nearby Telegraph City). William K Reed & Thomas McCarty founded the Union Copper Mine (and later the Keystone & Empire mines). In 1862, Reed sold out his interest in the mines and built a toll road from Copperopolis through Telegraph City. It connected with a road running westerly into Stockton. This road was called "Reeds Turnpike" and remained a toll road until 1865. Copperopolis was on the main stage road from Sonora to Sacramento. Copperopolis grew rapidly, as the need for copper during the Civil War to make bullets was great. The copper was sent to Stockton and then on to San Francisco, where it was loaded onto ships and taken around Cape Horn before finally arriving in smelters on the East Coast. After the war ended, the expense of mining and shipping copper proved to be too high and the population dwindled as the mines closed. However, a Boston company purchased the mines in the 1880s and mining operations resumed. Copperopolis went through boom periods during the two World Wars, when demand for copper went up again. By the time the mines closed in 1946, according to the US Bureau of Mines, they had produced 72,598,883 pounds of copper worth over $12 million. No copper mining has been done since. The first post office was established in 1861.21 Copperopolis has four buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Copperopolis Population Data The 2010 US Census reported that Copperopolis had a population of 3,671 living in 1,466 households, out of which 413 (28.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 898 (61.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 114 (7.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 58 (4.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 291 households (19.8%) which were made up of individuals and 115 (7.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50. There were 1,070 families (73.0% of all households); the average family size was 2.86. 20 Copperopolis", Office of Historical Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-06. 21 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 761. ISBN 9781884995149. 23 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update The Copperopolis population was spread out in age as follows: Copperopolis Age Distribution Under the age of 18 783 people 21.3% Aged 18 to 24 253 people 6.9% Aged 25 to 44 710 people 19.3% Aged 45 to 64 1,270 people 34.6% 65 years of age or older 655 people 17.8% The median age was 46.9 years. For every 100 females there were 102.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.0 males. There were 2,336 housing units of which 1,089 (74.3%) were owner-occupied, and 377 (25.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 6.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.7%. There were 2,549 people (69.4% of the population) living in owner-occupied housing units and 1,122 people (30.6%) living in rental housing units. 22 4.1.2 Copperopolis Fire Protection District (CFPD) CFPD was originally formed as an independent special district in 1937 by the decision of local citizens. Copperopolis Fire Protection District (CFPD) provides structure fire protection, wildland fire protection, and emergency medical response. CFPD is located in the southwestern portion of Calaveras County and is adjacent to Jenny Lind FPD in the west, Foothill FPD in the northwest, San Andreas FPD in the north, and Altaville-Melones FPD in the east. The present CFPD bounds encompass approximately 187 square miles and include the town of Copperopolis and several large subdivisions such as Copper Cove, Poker Flat, and Saddle Creek. Since the formation of the District, there has been one boundary change. In 2000, an area previously protected by County Fire was annexed into CFPD as part of Calaveras County Fire Reorganization #2. CFPD was planning a minor remodel of Station 1 in FY 12-13; however, the project has been postponed, due to financial constraints. This project is expected to cost approximately $120,000 and will be funded from reserve funds. The Copperopolis Fire Protection District also needs to upgrade certain fire apparatus; however, financial constraints have been an obstacle. 4.1.3 Sphere of Influence Considerations for Copperopolis FPD There is the potential of consolidation for Murphys FPD, Altaville-Melones FPD and Copperopolis FPD. Both MFPD and AMFPD expressed the desire to include each other’s boundary areas in their SOIs as a first step towards consolidation. In addition, Murphys FPD is looking into a cooperative fire services agreement with Copperopolis FPD, with which it already has a common chief. However, because Copperopolis FPD is a member of CALPERS, while Murphys FPD is not, the two districts may have to reconcile this difference first before proceeding with consolidation. Additionally, given than Altaville-Melones FPD service area encompasses the City of Angels Camp, the two agencies play close supporting roles within each other’s service areas, and 22 Calaveras LAFCO, Countywide Fire Municipal Service Review, April 8, 2013, Pages 92-107. 24 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update AMFPD’s station is located inside the city limits, there may be an opportunity for consolidation of some portions or all of the two agencies’ fire-related services. It may also be appropriate to include Ebbetts Pass FPD in this potential consolidation; however, the District serves an isolated area along the eastern border of the County with low residential density and different service challenges than the other districts considered here. In 2005, during the SOI updates, LAFCO elected to keep the CFPD sphere of influence coterminous with its boundaries. That is also the recommendation at this time. 4.2 Present and Planned Land Uses in the Copperopolis Fire Protection District Area, Including Agricultural and Open Space Lands 4.2.1 Calaveras County General Plan and Zoning for Copperopolis FPD Area Land uses within the Copperopolis Fire Protection District consist of general agriculture, residential agriculture, agriculture preserve, rural residential, residential, commercial, open space, and recreational. The District’s bounds encompass approximately 187 square miles. There are approximately 4,627 residents within the Copperopolis Fire Protection District, based on census block group and census block population in the 2010 Census.23 The population density within the District is 25 people per square mile. CFPD anticipates moderate growth in population and similarly in service demand within the District in the next few years. However, no formal population projections have been made by the Copperopolis Fire Protection District. CFPD does not currently forecast its service needs, but is planning to do so in the future by the means of a master plan. The State Department of Finance (DOF) projects that the population of Calaveras County will grow by eight percent in the next 10 years. Thus, the average annual population growth in the County is anticipated to be approximately 0.8 percent. Based on these projections, the Copperopolis Fire Protection District’s population would increase from 4,627 in 2010 to approximately 4,997 in 2020. It is anticipated that demand for service within the District will increase minimally based on the DOF population growth projections through 2020. A Copperopolis Community Plan is in the midst of being developed. A Community Plan Advisory Committee has been established and they have begun brainstorming sessions. At present, there are over 4,300 planned or proposed units in the Copperopolis area, of which, about 1,800 permits are in pre-existing subdivisions. The larger potential development projects in and near the Copper Cove service area are Copper Valley Ranch (2,400 units), Sawmill Lake (800 units approved) and Oak Canyon Ranch (676 units). Should these developments come to fruition, significant population growth and increased demand for services would be anticipated. The District reported that it hardly had sufficient capacity to serve current demand. Should growth occur, CFPD would need a higher staffing level and additional equipment to address the resulting increase in demand. The District will need to look at additional funding sources to ensure sustainable financing. 23 US Census Bureau, Census Block Group 1 in Census Tract 1.20 and Census Blocks 2032, 2016, 2000, and 2020 in Census Tract 2.20 in Calaveras County. 25 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 4.2.2 SOI Determinations on Present and Planned Land Use for Copperopolis FPD 1-1] The District reported that it had observed little change in service demand in the last few years. There was an increase in calls over the last three to four years of approximately five percent. 1-2] CFPD anticipates moderate growth in population and similarly in service demand within the District in the next few years, due to a significant number of planned and proposed developments. 1-3] A Copperopolis Community Plan is being developed as part of the County General Plan update. 4.3 Municipal Services—Present and Probable Capacity and Need 4.3.1 Present and Probable Capacity and Need Background The District reported that its financing levels were not adequate to deliver services. Revenues have declined by about 35 percent in the last three to four years. CFPD has been forced to eliminate four firefighter and one office manager positions. It is likely that one more position will be cut within the next year. The District has applied for a grant to fund five additional positions. Because CFPD’s revenues consist primarily of property taxes, the decline in property values has had a negative effect on the District’s finances. CFPD owns and operates three fire stations: • Station 1 was built in 1974 and is used as a fire station, training center and a shop. It is staffed 24/7 by four paid staff and eight volunteer firefighters. The station, which was reported to be in fair condition, houses one ICS Type 1 engine, one ICS Type 2 engine, one ICS Type 3 engine, one 3,000-gallon water tender, and three utility vehicles. • Station 2, built in 1992, is also staffed 24/7 by two paid personnel and 10 volunteers. The station is in good condition and contains one ICS Type 1 engine, one ICS Type 3 engine, and one medic unit. • Station 3, built in 1976, is staffed by two volunteers. It is considered to be in fair condition. The station houses one ICS Type 4 engine. 4.3.2 SOI Determinations on Present and Probable Capacity and Need for Copperopolis FPD 2-1] The buildings and equipment are adequate to meet the present needs but should be upgraded in the future. 2-2] The financing levels are not adequate for the District now and in the future. 26 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 4.4 The Present Capacity of Public Facilities and Adequacy of Public Services Provided by Copperopolis FPD 4.4.1 Adequacy of Services Provided by Copperopolis FPD CFPD has six full-time paid employees—one chief, one fire captain, two engineers, and two paramedics. The District’s chief also serves as the fire chief for Murphy’s FPD. There are 22 volunteers who do not receive any compensation. In addition, the District has two interns who receive a daily stipend in exchange for 72 hours a week. CFPD has 21 Firefighter I and 20 EMT I certified personnel. Volunteers are offered monthly training with the goal of achieving 48 hours of training per volunteer. Volunteers must complete a fire academy or have a Firefighter I certificate before becoming an active member. 4.4.2 SOI Determinations on Adequacy of Services Provided by Copperopolis FPD 3-1] The challenge lies not in facilities, but in outdated equipment and a lack of paid personnel. Current response times meet Mountain Valley Emergency Medical Services Agency standards for response to medical emergencies. 3-2] CFPD would require additional staffing level and equipment to address future growth. The District will need to look at additional funding sources to ensure sustainable financing. 3-3] Infrastructure needs include Station 1 renovations and apparatus replacements. 3-4] The District does not have a capital improvement plan. Capital improvement needs are reviewed annually at board meetings. It is a recommended practice for all districts to adopt a capital improvement plan to allow for more effective infrastructure improvement and related financing planning. 3-5] An area that CFPD could improve upon is tracking its response times for each incident, calculating its median and 90th percentile response times and collaborating with CALFIRE on information exchange. 27 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 4.5 Social or Economic Communities of Interest 4.5.1 Community Background Copperopolis is a distinctive community and the Fire Protection District serves as a focus for the community. Copperopolis has more young people than some of the other in the County. 4.5.2 SOI Determinations on Social or Economic Communities of Interest for Copperopolis FPD 4-1] In addition to the required agendas and minutes, the District tries to reach its constituents through fire prevention education activities, community events such as a chili cook off and monthly bingo, and a local online blog. 4-2] CFPD practices extensive outreach efforts; however, the District lacks a website where district information is made available to the public. It is recommended that every public service provider have a website to keep constituents aware of the agency’s activities. 4.6 Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Status 4.6.1 Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities SB 244 defines disadvantaged unincorporated community as any area with 12 or more registered voters, or as determined by commission policy, where the median household income is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median. 4.6.2 Copperopolis FPD Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Status 5-1] Based on 2010 Census income information for Census Designated Places in Calaveras County, there are no communities that meet the definition of a disadvantaged unincorporated community within or adjacent to CFPD’s bounds and sphere of influence. 28 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update ^` Ca M m RD po Seco ·|þ} 26 Calaveras LAF^`Co ·|þ} Calaveras Consolidated FPD 49 Copperopolis Fire Protection District ·|þ} 12 ^` Valley Springs ^` San Andreas MOUNTAIN RANCH RD Central FPD R BURSON RD D ^` JENNY LIND RD CRE B S A B L D T D ·|þ} E W 2 ^` V Q R I A N I E K 6 S U L T E W E A S D E E I J Y R L e L R O N n D A n K y S L RD in R d AP S I I D L L V S V D A I E S R A G H R T D M O O A G H R D D A O D R E N G L L A I N M N e E D w A C M R H R E o D E g K a n R D R GAN e N RD serv HO o GA i N r DAM RD San Andreas F JAQ P T U A IM D P A A P D O D R R O E L IA R S T O T A A T W S IO T Y N RD CALAVER C I E TA M S E R N D T PL C ·|þ} 4 A O 9 N S T G R R D A ^` G V O U E L L D C C R H D a R A l D a l v t P a e C r v r i e o t i a l n t l s e e t F r c R M a I t C l D e e O O F d l T G o P C T ^` B A n O I D T l W e y t Y a N s R v R D i F D ll P e M D U G R R P A H D Y E S RD FR G E U N M L C C H P H C u R S r IX D r M e o ILE p RD n t h e tr y c ·|þ a } s t 4 l e F F d P P B D D y ^` LANDFORD PACHEO RD S MILT O ON R U D T ^` H G RO U M C L i K C l t C H o R R n E D EK RD Salt S H p U ri N n T g R V D alley Reserv H i E o I r SER C S A A N LT Y O SP N R R IN D G VALLEY RD VAL O LE A S Y K ORR E R L W Y D APPALOOSA RD PI S NT T O A DR LLI R O P O A N I A N W N T Y R R D D COW K C IC a K A m R n D g p e F ls SA^` W HITTLE RD Ang ·|þ} e 4 l 9 s Ca ^` m C RED HILL RD p arson Hill Copperopolis FPD ·|þ} 4 CHUCKW AGO BUCKBOARD DR STAGECOACH RD ^`Cop M p O e R r G o A p N o R li D s FILLY LN DUNN LN TELEGRAPH RD N DR POMMEL WY LITTLE JOHN RD CHEYENNE RD O BYRNES FERRY RD Calaveras County POKER FLAT RD 0 1 2 4 6 Miles Location Map (Not to Scale) 4 L E Copperopolis FPD Boundary Fire Facilities Parcels G ^` E Copperopolis FPD Waterbodies Towns N Sphere of Influence Boundary D Highways Calaveras Fire Protection Sphere of Influence Update Adopted on April 21, 2014 District Boundaries Roads LAFCo Resolution 2014-0001 29 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 5 EBBETTS PASS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT (EPFPD) 5.1 Ebbetts Pass Area and Ebbetts Pass FPD Background 24 5.1.1 Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District Area Description The west end of EPFPD lies at an elevation of about 2,000 feet; travelling eastward the Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District rises to an elevation of approximately 7,000 feet. The emergency medical response area extends eastward to the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. To the south lie the Stanislaus River Canyon system and the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness Area. To the north is the Mokelumne River system and Mokelumne Wilderness Area. These remote areas offer challenges to prompt medical and fire response. The challenges EPFPD faces include limited access, poor roads, limited visibility, and long travel times. Other service challenges include the inclement weather within the Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District boundaries. 5.1.2 Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District Organization25 Ebbetts Pass FPD service area is separated into four smaller areas called battalions, each with its own fire station: Ebbetts Pass FPD Battalion 1 Ebbetts Pass FPD Battalion 1 area covers the greater Arnold area from east of Tanwood Mobile Home Park, east to Calaveras Big Trees State Park, and the adjoining subdivisions in between. It is served by Ebbetts Pass Station 1 located at 1037 Blagen Road in Arnold, CA. The station is a new facility in excellent condition acquired in 2007 and staffed 24/7. Six employees staff the station continuously (a battalion chief, captain, engineer, and two firefighters) and two administrative employees (the fire chief and secretary) staff the office during business hours. Two firefighter interns are on duty during each shift. There are currently six volunteers available to staff the station. Station 1 houses truck 431, medic engine 435, medic engine 436, water tender 431, and engine 431. Both ALS engines carry a full set of paramedic level advanced life support medical response equipment. Fire suppression, and technical and medical response equipment at Station 1 includes one medic 435, medic 433, and medic 432. Arnold Community The community of Arnold is a census designated place (CDP). The population was 3,843 at the 2010 census, down from 4,218 at the 2000 census. Arnold is located on State Route 4. Arnold is named after Bob and Bernice Arnold, who, in 1927 opened the Ebbetts Pass Inn. Prior to that, the community consisted of two large ranches where logging was the main industry. The Ebbetts Pass Inn served as a stop for people traveling along the Ebbetts Pass route as well as lodging for those visiting nearby Calaveras Big Trees State Park. In 1928, Camp Wolfboro 24 Calaveras LAFCO, Countywide Fire Municipal Service Review, April 8, 2013, Pages 108-129. 25 Calaveras LAFCO, Countywide Fire Municipal Service Review, April 8, 2013, Pages 108-129. 30 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update was established nearby as a Boy Scout camp and continues to be in operation today. The first post office was opened in 1934.26 Bernice Arnold was its postmistress at one time. Arnold Population Data The 2010 US Census reported that 100% of the Arnold population lived in 1,761 households, out of which 340 (19.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,024 (58.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 113 (6.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 50 (2.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 472 households (26.8%) made up of individuals and 201 (11.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18. There were 1,187 families (67.4% of all households); the average family size was 2.60. The Arnold population was spread in age as follows: ARNOLD CALIFORNIA AGE DISTRIBUTION Under the age of 18 613 people 16.0% Aged 18 to 24 184 people 4.8% Aged 25 to 44 563 people 14.7% Aged 45 to 64 1,436 people 37.4% 65 years of age or older 1,047 people 27.2% The Arnold median age was 54.1 years. For every 100 females there were 104.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.8 males. There were 4,897 housing units at an average density of 329.8 per square mile (127.3/km²), of which 1,422 (80.7%) were owner-occupied, and 339 (19.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 16.8%. 2,978 people (77.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 864 people (22.5%) lived in rental housing units. Ebbetts Pass FPD Battalion 2 The Ebbetts Pass FPD Battalion 2 area covers the Dorrington/Camp Connell areas from Calaveras Big Trees State Park east along SR 4 to the Alpine County line by Sky High Ranch subdivision and the adjoining subdivisions in between. Ebbetts Pass FPD Station 2 is located at 5510 Meko Drive in Dorrington, CA. The station, acquired in 1996, was reported to be in very good condition. It is staffed on a volunteer basis. There are currently two volunteers available to staff the station. Station 2 can be used to house a response crew with a fully stocked paramedic rescue transport unit and engine already on site, if the area is isolated by a downed tree or mudslide. The station is accessible to the public to power portable home medical devices during extended power outages. There is a 911 phone at the front door, if the station is vacant. Station 2 houses medic 26 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 741. ISBN 9781884995149. 31 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 432 and engine 432, both of which have fire suppression, EMS, ice, water and technical rescue equipment and advanced life saving equipment. Dorrington Community Dorrington is a census designated place (CDP). The population was 609 at the 2010 census, down from 727 at the 2000 census. Originally known as Cold Spring Ranch until 1902 (because of an icy spring), the town sits on State Route 4 and historically was a stopping point along the toll road between Murphys and Ebbetts Pass, often serving as a resort for visitors to what is now Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Dorrington is also home to the second largest Sugar Pine tree in the world, measuring 32 feet in circumference and 220 feet tall. Originally known as Cold Springs Ranch, the town's name changed upon establishment of the post office in 1902. The name Dorrington was the original name of the first postmaster's wife. The post office was discontinued in 1919, but re-established in 1921 and closed for good in 1934.27 Dorrington Population Data The 2010 Census reported that Dorrington had a population of 609 living in 294 households, out of which 44 (15.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 174 (59.2%) were opposite- sex married couples living together, 14 (4.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 3 (1.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 86 households (29.3%) made up of individuals and 30 (10.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07. There were 191 families (65.0% of all households); the average family size was 2.50. The Dorrington population was spread out in age as follows: DORRINGTON AGE DISTRIBUTION Under the age of 18 76 people 12.5% Aged 18 to 24 19 people 3.1% Aged 25 to 44 58 people 9.5% Aged 45 to 64 277 people 45.5% 65 years of age or older 179 people 29.4% The median age was 57.6 years. For every 100 females there were 112.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.9 males. There were 1,689 housing units of which 269 (91.5%) were owner-occupied, and 25 (8.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 6.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 17.1%. 553 people (90.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 56 people (9.2%) lived in rental housing units. 27 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 767. ISBN 9781884995149. 32 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update Camp Connell is an unincorporated community. It lies at an elevation of 4760 feet. The first post office was established in 1934 and landowner John F. Connell was appointed first postmaster; the place is named after him.28 Ebbetts Pass FPD Battalion 3 Battalion 3 covers the Avery/Hathaway and Pines/Forest Meadows areas from Tanwood Mobile Home Park west SR 4 to the upper end of Utica Powerhouse Road and the subdivisions in between. Station 3, acquired in 1971, is located at 40 Canyon View Drive, Arnold CA and was reported to be in good condition. The station is staffed 24/7 continuously with two employees (an engineer and firefighter, minimally an EMT and FFP). The Station is accessible to the public to power portable home medical devices during extended power outages. It also serves as safe surrender site and has a 911 phone at the front door in case the station is vacant. There are currently six volunteers available to staff the station. Fire suppression equipment and full set of paramedic level ALS medical equipment are carried on medic engine 437. Avery Community Avery is a census designated place (CDP). The population was 646 at the 2010 census, down from 672 at the 2000 census. Avery is located on State Route 4 and is home to the oldest continually operating hotel in the county, the Avery Hotel Restaurant & Saloon. Built in 1853, it was known as the "Half Way House," being located between Murphys, Arnold, and Calaveras Big Trees State Park. The place is named after George J. Avery, its first postmaster. The first post office was established in 1885, closed in 1943, and re-established in 1949.29 Avery Population Data The 2010 US Census reported that 646 people lived in 281 households, out of which 68 (24.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 149 (53.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 22 (7.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 7 (2.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 80 households (28.5%) made up of individuals and 30 (10.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30. There were 178 families (63.3% of all households); the average family size was 2.80. The Avery population was spread out in age as follows: AVERY AGE DISTRIBUTION Under the age of 18, 129 people 20.0% Aged 18 to 24, 40 people 6.2% Aged 25 to 44, 126 people 19.5% Aged 45 to 64, and 210 people 32.5% 65 years of age or older 141 people 21.8% The median age was 48.1 years. For every 100 females there were 105.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.0 males. 28 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 753. ISBN 9781884995149. 29 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 741. ISBN 9781884995149. 33 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update There were 388 housing units of which 218 (77.6%) were owner-occupied, and 63 (22.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 7.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 11.3%. 495 people (76.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 151 people (23.4%) lived in rental housing units. Hathaway Pines is an unincorporated community south of Arnold and 12.5 miles northeast of Angels Camp. It lies at an elevation of 3323 feet. Hathaway Pines' post office was established in 1943. The place's name honors Robert B. Hathaway, a vacation resort promoter who became the first postmaster.30 Ebbetts Pass FPD Battalion 4 Battalion 4 covers the Blue Lake Springs/Pinebrook/Meadowmont area on the south side of SR 4. EPFPD Station 4 was acquired in 1972 and was reported to be in very good condition. It is located at 2038 Moran Road Arnold CA. The station is staffed on a volunteer basis. It also has a 911 phone at the front door if the station is vacant. Currently, there are three volunteers available to staff the station. Fire suppression equipment at Station 4 includes engine 434. 5.1.3 Additional Fire Protection Service Providers There are three geographic areas within the Ebbetts Pass FPD served by other agencies. EPFPD works jointly with these agencies on a first response and mutual-aid basis for wildland fire incidents within the District and has no compensation arrangements with these agencies for routine response. 1. CALFIRE has two fire stations (Arnold and Hermit Springs) within the District boundaries and an additional fire station within the EMS response area (Skull Creek), and is responsible for the SRA areas within the District. 2. Calaveras Big Trees State Park has fire response equipment located at the Park Headquarters and is responsible for wildland fire response within the park. Calaveras became a State Park in 1931 to preserve the North Grove of giant sequoias. This grove includes the "Discovery Tree", also known as the "Big Stump", the first Sierra redwood noted by Augustus T. Dowd in 1852. This area has been a major tourist attraction ever since, and is considered the longest continuously operated tourist facility in California. Over the years, other parcels of mixed conifer forests have been added to the park. Camping is allowed March through November. The Visitor Center is open year-round. 3. The United State Forest Service (USFS) Stanislaus National Forest has two fire stations and the Calaveras District ranger station at Hathaway Pines within the EPFPD and is responsible for wildland fire response within the Federal Response Areas in the District. 30 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 780. ISBN 9781884995149. 34 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 5.1.4 Approaches to the Sphere of Influence for Ebbetts Pass FPD With regard to possible governance structure alternatives, the Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District reported that there were some past inquiries about consolidation with Murphys FPD or Bear Valley FPD of Alpine County, but as of now there are no specific plans and there have been no formal discussions between the agencies. Therefore the recommendation for the Ebbetts Pass FPD SOI is for it to be coterminous with the District Boundary. 5.2 Present and Planned Land Uses in the Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District Area, Including Agricultural and Open Space Lands 5.2.1 Calaveras County General Plan and Zoning for Ebbetts Pass FPD Area An area of significance for EPFPD is Bear Valley Ski Resort in Alpine County. Considering the fact that the Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District responds in that area as part of its automatic aid agreement with Bear Valley FPD, growth and resort expansion are expected to affect EPFPD demand for services, which could potentially result in a need to expand the Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District’s capacity. Land uses within the Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District are recreational, agricultural preserve, timber production, residential, rural residential, general forest, public service, commercial, professional offices, residential agriculture, and light industrial. The Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District’s bounds encompass approximately 195 square miles. Privately owned lands within the District are designated as State Responsibility Areas (SRA) and are classified as a "High Fire Severity Hazard Zone." The California Department of Forestry provides primary jurisdictional responsibility for wildland fire protection except in those areas of the Stanislaus National Forest protected by the United States Forest Service. Privately owned lands are predominately made up of lots and parcels within established residential subdivisions. From west to east, major residential subdivisions include: Forest Meadows, Sunrise Point, Canyon View, Ebbetts Pass Highlands, Lakemont Pines, Meadowmont, Pinebrook, Fly-In Acres, Lilac Park, Blue Lake Springs, Big Trees Village, Cottage Springs, Gann's Meadow, Big Meadow, Tamarack, Sky High Ranch and Sherman Acres. Depending on means of determining population, the estimated residential population of the District ranges from 10,636 to 18,840. However, there are many vacation homes and vacation rentals in the areas. Additionally, there is one State Park and multiple camping areas operated by the U.S. Forest Service. During peak vacation periods, the population of the District can reportedly reach levels of over 40,000 people. The District reported that there had been a recent increase in the transient vacationing population. The State Department of Finance (DOF) projects that the population of Calaveras County will grow by eight percent in the next 10 years. Thus, the average annual population growth in the County is anticipated to be approximately 0.8 percent. Based on these projections, the Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District’s population would increase from 10,636 in 2010 to approximately 11,487 in 2020. It is anticipated that demand for service within this District will increase minimally, based on the DOF population growth projections through 2020. 35 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 5.2.2 SOI Determinations on Present and Planned Land Use for Ebbetts Pass FPD Area 1-1] EPFPD anticipates significant growth in population and similarly in service demand within the District in the next decade. However, no formal population projections have been made by the District. 1-2] EPFPD reported that current active growth was limited to one or two permits, but high growth is anticipated within the next decade, due to multiple housing projects, condominium developments, and expansion of the ski resort in Alpine County where the District responds through automatic aid. 1-3] The Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District identified two planned developments within its boundaries. Forest Meadows consists of 300 to 500 planned units; plans have been submitted to the Calaveras County Planning Department for review. Cedar Ridge consists of about 100 planned lots, but the development is moving slowly as contractors are only selling one to two lots at a time. 5.3 Municipal Services—Present and Probable Capacity and Need 5.3.1 Present and Probable Capacity and Need Background EPFPD employs 54 personnel—one full-time fire chief, one full-time executive secretary, one part-time fire prevention officer, three full-time battalion chiefs, three fulltime captains, six full- time engineers, nine firefighters, six intern firefighters, two cadets, four per-diem paramedics, and 18 volunteer firefighters. Thirteen of the full-time employees are licensed and accredited paramedics, 12 of the full-time employees and interns are Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), 12 of the volunteer firefighters and interns are EMTs and three are paramedics. 5.3.2 SOI Determinations on Present and Probable Capacity and Need for Ebbetts Pass FPD 2-1] Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District facilities have sufficient capacity to provide adequate services within EBFPD’s current service area. Current response times meet Mountain Valley Emergency Medical Services Agency standards for response to medical emergencies. 2-2] The Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District maintains a fleet of three snow plows which aid during incidents in the winter months. 2-3] All of the Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District’s engines and ALS paramedic transport unit are four-wheel drive and custom made for difficult road conditions. 2-4] The Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District reports that current financing levels are adequate to deliver services. 36 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 2-5] The Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District’s main financing sources are property taxes, two voter-approved special tax measures and ambulance transport fees (from nonresidents). 2-6] Ebbetts Pass FPD is a member of an extensive number of collaborative organizations. 5.4 The Present Capacity of Public Facilities and Adequacy of Public Services Provided by Ebbetts Pass FPD 5.4.1 Adequacy of Services Provided by Ebbetts Pass FPD The MSR determined that the EPFPD services appear to be adequate based on response times, staffing level and ISO rating. 5.4.2 SOI Determinations on Adequacy of Services Provided by Ebbetts Pass FPD 3-1] The Ebbetts Pass FPD currently does not need any new facilities or facility upgrades. 3-2] In the near future the Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District will be looking at the possibility of upgrading Station 2 in order to accommodate 24-hour staffing and performing septic and bedroom upgrades at Station 3. EPFPD will also be looking into plumbing, septic and bathroom upgrades at Station 4. 3-3] The ability to maintain and enhance the delivery of emergency services will be increasingly dependent upon career firefighters. 5.5 Social or Economic Communities of Interest 5.5.1 Community Background The Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District is a rural mountainous area. The main community in the District is Arnold but the communities of Dorrington and Avery also qualify as Census Designated Places. Each of these communities has a fire station. It is a difficult job for the Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District to maintain a community feeling for the whole Ebbetts Pass FPD. The demands of work, increasing call volume, and significant training mandates have made it increasingly difficult for citizens to balance family, work, and be an active volunteer firefighter. In addition, the demographics and working environment within the various communities cannot be relied upon to provide a sufficient pool of citizens from which adequate numbers of volunteer firefighters might be recruited. 37 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update The number of volunteers available to respond to incidents, especially during working hours is minimal. While the overall number of volunteers needed for incident support remains minimally adequate, the turnover and availability of volunteers assigned to certain outlying stations varies and the guarantee of a response from outlying stations at any given time is uncertain. Ongoing efforts to recruit citizens living near outlying stations having a shortage of volunteers have met with little success. 5.5.2 SOI Determinations on Social or Economic Communities of Interest for Ebbetts Pass FPD 4-1] In addition to the required agendas and minutes, the Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District tries to reach its constituents through collaboration with community groups, monthly Ebbetts Pass (EPPOC) Homeowners’ Association meetings, fire drills at local schools, children’s fire awareness week, fire safety talks at the library, and news articles in various newspapers. 4-2] Ebbetts Pass Firefighters’ Association is a separate 501(c) (4) corporation that promotes fire safety awareness and training, and provides cash and equipment to the Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District. 4-3] EPFPD personnel provide first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training sessions for the community. All aspects of the American Heart Association’s Chain of Survival are provided by EPFPD. 4-4] The Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District has a website through which it keeps its constituents up to date on EPFPD activities. 5.6 Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Status 5.6.1 Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities SB 244 defines disadvantaged unincorporated community as any area with 12 or more registered voters, or as determined by commission policy, where the median household income is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median. 5.6.2 Ebbetts Pass FPD Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Status 5-1] Based on 2010 Census income information for Census Designated Places in Calaveras County, the Avery and Dorrington Census Designated Places meet the income definition of disadvantaged unincorporated communities. Both communities are located within EPFPD’s bounds and sphere of influence. 38 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update Calaveras LAFCo Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District Bear Valley ^` Tamarack WINTON RD ^` SPICER MEADOW RD West Point FPD SCHADD RD BAILEY RIDGE RD BLUE MOUNTAIN RD MITCHELL MILL RD RAMSEY RD Ebbetts Pass FPD ·|}þ 4 Central FPD SUMMIT LEVEL RD Cam D p or C rin o g n to n n ell ^` ^` OTTAW A DR SWISS RANCH RD White Pines ^` WATERLIN O E L R D D MORAN RD Arnold ^` ^` S R h A P C N e S C r e H e H o p E R n E t D P R e tr c a a n t l e c F h d P b D y Hathaway A P v in e e ry s ^` M ^` ORAN R R D OC C K A R N D DY LOVE CREEK RD Calaveras County FULLEN RD ·|}þ 4 FOLENDORF RD ^` Murphys Pennsylvania Gulch RD MAIN ST ^` Dou M g u la r s p F h l y at s FPD Location Map (Not to Scale) CAMP NINE RD 0 1 2 4 6 Miles 4 L E Ebbetts Pass FPD Boundary Fire Facilities Parcels G E Ebbetts Pass FPD Waterbodies ^` Towns N Sphere of Influence Boundary Highways D Calaveras Fire Protection Sphere of Influence Update Adopted on April 21, 2014 District Boundaries Roads LAFCo Resolution 2014-0001 39 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 6 MOKELUMNE HILL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 6.1 Mokelumne Hill Area and Mokelumne Hill FPD Background Mokelumne Hill FPD (MHFPD) is located in the northwestern portion of Calaveras County. The District is adjacent to Foothill FPD in the southwest, San Andreas FPD in the south, and Central Calaveras FRPD in the east. MHFPD borders Amador County in the north. MHFPD is located along SR 49 and SR 26 in the town of Mokelumne Hill. MHFPD is surrounded on three sides by hills, and a canyon on the north side. 6.1.1 Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District Area Description Mokelumne Hill History Mokelumne Hill (also, Big Bar, Mok Hill, and The Hill) is a census-designated place (CDP). The population was 646 at the 2010 census, down from 774 at the 2000 census. It is commonly referred to as "Moke Hill" by locals. The town takes its name from the neighboring Mokelumne River, which in turn is Miwok for the "people of Mokel," the likely name of an Indian village in the area. According to the District the entire MHFPD area has a population of 1368 full-time residents. Mokelumne Hill was one of the richest gold mining towns in California. Founded in 1848 by a group of Oregonians, the placers were so rich that the miners risked starvation rather than head to Stockton to replenish their supplies (one finally did and made it rich by becoming a merchant). Soon after, gold was discovered in the nearby hills, so much so that miners were restricted to claims of 16 square feet (1.5 m2), and yet many of those claims were reported to have paid up to $20,000. By 1850 the town was one of the largest in the area, with its population reaching as high as 15,000 with people of all nationalities: Americans, French, German, Spanish, Chileans, Mexican Chinese, and others. Besides racial tensions, the easy gold attracted criminal elements, and the town gained a reputation as one of the bawdiest in the area. Notorious bandit Joaquin Murietta is said to have been a frequent visitor to the gambling venues. Violence was a major problem as well. In 1851, there was at least one homicide a week for seventeen consecutive weeks. A "vigilance committee" was formed and by 1852, the worst of the crime was eliminated. That year, the town became the county seat. By the 1860s the gold started to run out and the town's population and importance diminished. When San Andreas became the new county seat in 1866, Mokelumne Hill's status declined even further. The town today is a quiet place, with lots of tourism due to its historic status. From 1959-1977 Mokelumne Hill was home to Lucile S. Davidson. She was known as "The shoe lady of Mokelumne Hill" She was in The Stockton 'Record' and later in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the largest privately owned glass shoe collection in the world. The first post office was established in 1851.31 Mokelumne Hill is registered as California Historical Landmark #269.32 31 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 804. ISBN 9781884995149 32 Office of Historical Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-06. 40 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update Mokelumne Hill Landmarks Landmarks in Mokelumne Hill are as follows: • The I.O.O.F. Hall (CHL #256) is said to be California's first three-story building to be erected outside the coastal towns. • The Congregational Church building (CHL #261) is the oldest such in the state. • The Hotel Leger (CHL #663) is one of the oldest continuously-operating hotels in California. One of its buildings was the county courthouse when the town was the county seat. • The original elementary school in Mokelumne Hill, which is still standing but has been converted to a private residence, was built in 1852 and was used until 1964. Unconfirmed legend has it that a bond issue to build the school failed, but citizens of the town built it anyway. • The basement of the Hotel Léger was the first meeting place of E Clampus Vitus. Mokelumne Hill Population Data The 2010 US Census reported that the Mokelumne Hill community had a population of 646 living in 299 households, out of which 63 (21.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them. There were 99 households (33.1%) made up of individuals and 38 (12.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16. There were 174 families (58.2% of all households); the average family size was 2.71. The Community of Mokelumne Hill population was spread out in age as follows: Under the age of 18 102 people 15.8% 18 to 24 39 people 6.0% 25 to 44 119 people 18.4% 45 to 64 245 people 37.9% 65 years of age or older 141 people 21.8% The median age was 51.4 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males. There were 354 housing units of which 205 (68.6%) were owner-occupied, and 94 (31.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 18.3%. There were 447 people (69.2% of the population) living in owner-occupied housing units and 199 people (30.8%) living in rental housing units. 41 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 6.1.2 Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District Organization33 MHFPD began its existence in 1851 as the Mokelumne Hill Ladder and Engine Company. In 1947, Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District was established for the purpose of providing fire protection for the residents of the Mokelumne Hill community.34 Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District (MHFPD) provides structure fire protection, wildland fire protection and emergency medical response. Prior to 2000, MHFPD served a 1.5-square mile area and provided contract services to Calaveras County for an additional 40 square miles. In 2000, Calaveras County Fire Department underwent reorganization and the Mokelumne Hill FPD boundary area grew by an additional 35 square miles. The District has undertaken seven annexations since its formation. The latest annexation took place in 2000 and included territory previously protected by County Fire. MHFPD is governed by a five-member board of directors elected at large to staggered four-year terms. While board members are generally elected, one board member was appointed to fill a vacant position after the former elected member was removed from office by the District’s other directors. The jurisdiction of the Board to remove an elected member is presently under litigation. The Board meets on the third Thursday of every month at seven in the evening at the District’s Station 1. Board meeting agendas are posted at Station 1 and the post office. Minutes are available upon request. MHFPD’s mission statement says: The Fire District provides a professional level of fire service to our community that includes emergency and public services to the people within the District to prevent or minimize the loss of life and property damage. We will accomplish our mission through prevention, education fire suppression, medical services and other related emergency and non-emergency activities. We will actively participate in our community, and strive to efficiently utilize all of the necessary resources at our disposal to provide this service to our citizens, visitors and neighbors. 6.1.3 Approaches to the Sphere of Influence for Mokelumne Hill FPD In 2005, during the SOI updates, Calaveras LAFCO elected to retain MHFPD’s coterminous sphere of influence. The Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District reported that its responses were not limited to the territory within its boundaries; MHFPD responds throughout the State of California with its strike team. Additionally, according to mutual aid agreements MHFPD frequently responds to territory within Central Calaveras FRPD and San Andreas FPD along SR 26, Jesus Maria Road, River Ranch Road, SR 49, and occasionally across the county line in Amador County. 33 Calaveras LAFCO, Countywide Fire Municipal Service Review, April 8, 2013, Pages 162-179. 34 California State Board of Equalization Index Sheet. 42 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update Of particular significance for the District is the community of Paloma within its boundaries, the district desires to reduce response times whenever practical. The MHFPD has purchased land in Paloma and is in the process of planning a new station to improve response times in Paloma and the western portion of the district. The community of Paloma is the District’s furthest location, situated seven miles away from the MHFPD station. Response times to this area are typically 15 minutes or more. Paloma has had several serious fires in the past, and as the population increases, the call volume is expected to increase. Medical aid emergencies also prove to be a challenge, due to the current drive time. With regard to possible governance structure alternatives, a governance option could be the consolidation with West Point FPD and Central Calaveras FRPD. However, these communities have a different community of interest than that of Mokelumne Hill. These districts conduct extensive joint training exercises, and appear generally compatible based on service levels and similarity of service areas. The districts have had informal discussions; all parties are reportedly interested in enhancing sharing and collaboration through shared resources and joint training. The districts are looking into a shared services agreement; however, there has been no outcome to these negotiations to date. Therefore, the recommendation is that the Sphere of Influence for Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District will remain the same as the District boundary. 6.2 Present and Planned Land Uses in the Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District Area, Including Agricultural and Open Space Lands 6.2.1 Calaveras County General Plan and Zoning for Mokelumne Hill FPD Area Land uses within the Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District are general agriculture, agriculture preserve, rural residential, residential, and industrial. The District’s bounds encompass approximately 76.5 square miles. Based on GIS analysis of Census 2010 census block data, there are approximately 1,323 full- time residents within the District. The State Department of Finance (DOF) projects that the population of Calaveras County will grow by eight percent in the next 10 years. Thus, the average annual population growth in the County is anticipated to be approximately 0.8 percent. Based on these projections, the District’s population would increase from 1,323 in 2010 to approximately 1,428 in 2020. It is anticipated that demand for service within the District will increase minimally, based on the DOF population growth projections through 2020. 43 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 6.2.2 SOI Determinations on Present and Planned Land Use for Mokelumne Hill FPD Area 1-1] The Mokelumne Hill FPD served a population of 1,368 in 2013. 1-2] MHFPD anticipates moderate growth in population and similarly in service demand within the District in the next few years. An increase in demand is anticipated, due to several potential developments and an influx of tourists. 6.3 Municipal Services—Present and Probable Capacity and Need 6.3.1 Present and Probable Capacity and Need Background MHFPD reported that it had mutual and automatic aid agreements with all fire providers in Calaveras County, including CALFIRE. The District frequently responds in Central Calaveras FRPD and San Andreas FPD along SR 26, Jesus Maria Road, River Ranch Road, Harwver Road, and SR 49. Sometimes MHFPD responds across the county line in the Amador FPD area. The District is currently looking into doing closest unit response with Central Calaveras FRPD and San Andreas FPD, which would provide more efficient services to customers and faster response times. 6.3.2 SOI Determinations on Present and Probable Capacity and Need for Mokelumne Hill FPD 2-1] The Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District reported that its current financing levels were not adequate to deliver services, as there are capital and equipment needs that are unfunded. 2-2] The Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District observed an increase in service demand in the last few years. MHFPD has two major highways passing through it, which may have experienced an increase in the transient population. The increase in demand may also be attributable to improved reporting of service calls. 2-3] The need for the Mokelumne Hill FPD will continue into the future due to population and tourism growth. 44 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 6.4 The Present Capacity of Public Facilities and Adequacy of Public Services Provided by Mokelumne Hill FPD 6.4.1 Adequacy of Services Provided by Mokelumne Hill FPD MHFPD has one fire chief, two battalion chiefs, one fire captain one paid part-time firefighter, and eleven volunteer firefighters. The Fire Chief is a half-time paid position; the rest are volunteers. Firefighters are reimbursed $8 per call and officers are reimbursed $10 per call. Firefighters are also reimbursed for two training sessions totaling 4 hours per month. MHFPD currently owns two properties and operates one fire station, built in 1999. The condition of the facility was reported to be excellent. A second station is in the planning stage. During winter months the current station is staffed for 20 hours per week by a maintenance person. During the summer fire season the station is staffed six days per week by a maintenance person. The District’s station houses one type VI rapid response engine, one type I structure engine, one type II/III urban interface engine, one type III wildland engine, one light rescue unit, one type I water tender, and one command vehicle. The District's water supply consists of a 1.5 million gallon storage tank and 1.0 million gallons of water in the supply pipeline. The communities of Paloma, Golden Hills, Boston- Yale, and Mokelumne Hill are hydranted, with most hydrants supplying 500 gpm or more. Hydrants in commercial areas supply 1000 gpm or more. Other areas in the District are supplied by the District's 3000 gallon water tender, as well as water tenders available by mutual aid from neighboring districts. Although, the District’s station is in excellent working condition, MHFPD needs an additional fire station to improve its response times, especially in the community of Paloma. The challenge also lies in narrow mountain roads. Current response times meet Mountain Valley Emergency Medical Services Agency standards for response to medical emergencies and National Fire Protection Association response standards for volunteer fire departments. 6.4.2 SOI Determinations on Adequacy of Services Provided by Mokelumne Hill FPD 3-1] The services provided by Mokelumne Hill FPD are adequate at the present time and until a new station is on-line, it will be a challenge to serve the Paloma area due to slow response times caused by narrow mountain roads. In 2013 he district purchased a new electrical generator 3-2] The Mokelumne Hill FPD has worked to do to stabilize the District finances and the voters have approved a special tax for improved parcels. 3-3] The District has had an ISO evaluation in 2013 and currently has an ISO rating of 5 in the Community of Mokelumne Hill and a 9 in the rural areas consistent with similar districts in rural areas. 45 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 6.5 Social or Economic Communities of Interest 6.5.1 Mokelumne Hill Community Background The Mokelumne Hill area has a unique historical background to provide a sense of community for the area. The area also benefits from tourism. 6.5.2 SOI Determinations on Social or Economic Communities of Interest for Mokelumne Hill FPD 4-1] In addition to the required agendas and minutes, the District attempts to reach its constituents through its website maintained by the volunteer firefighter association. 4-2] It is recommended that the District post its agendas and minutes on the website for enhanced transparency. 4-3] The District is working on a fire safety clearing program, smoke and carbon monoxide program, improving home identification, participating in fundraising events, and conducting educational activities in local schools. 4-4] The Mokelumne Hill FPD provides a focus for the community. 4-5] The Mokelumne Hill FPD should develop ways for the tourists to support the District through sales of memorabilia and/or donations to the District. 6.6 Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Status 6.6.1 Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities SB 244 defines disadvantaged unincorporated community as any area with 12 or more registered voters, or as determined by commission policy, where the median household income is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median. 6.6.2 Mokelumne Hill FPD Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Status 5-14] Based on 2010 Census income information for Census Designated Places in Calaveras County, there are no communities that meet the definition of a disadvantaged unincorporated community within or adjacent to MHFPD’s bounds and sphere of influence. 46 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update Calaveras LAFCo Calaveras County Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District West Point FPD Location Map (Not to Scale) WAY ·|}þ PONDEROSA PONDEROSA WAY 26 Central FPD GW Mokelumne Hill B F IG P B D AR C R EN D TER M ST okelumne Hi DR YELLAV YPPAH ll PEREGRINE RD GILL HAVEN DR JESUS MARIA RD MUSIC GULCH RD GOODELL RD G WIN ST LA WSON RD PAL IN M O INE RD MA RD ·|}þ 26 NEILSON RD ·|}þ 49 HAW VER RD SADIE LN MARANATHA LN SUGAR PINE RD Con C so a l l i a d v a e te ra d s FPD LOMBARDI DR RIVER RIDGE DR DOSTER RD GILLAM RD DOUBLE SPRINGS RD BEAL RANCH ·|}þ 1 R 2 D CENTRAL HILL RD GOLDEN GATE DR GOLD STRIKE RD LEONARD R S D an Andrea HA WV s ER RD FPD 0 0.5 1 2 3 4 Miles 4 L E Mokelumne Hill FPD Boundary Fire Facilities Parcels G E Mokelumne Hill FPD Waterbodies ^` Towns N Sphere of Influence Boundary Highways D Calaveras Fire Protection Sphere of Influence Update Adopted on April 21, 2014 District Boundaries Roads LAFCo Resolution 2014-0001 47 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 7 MURPHYS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT (MFPD) 7.1 Murphys Community and Murphys FPD Background 7.1.1 Murphys Community Murphys History John and Daniel Murphy were part of the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party, the first immigrant party to bring wagons across the Sierra Nevada to Sutter’s Fort in 1844. They earned a living as merchants, but like many others, began prospecting when the California Gold Rush began. They first started in Vallecito, which was known as "Murphys Old Diggings," before moving to another location in 1848 which became "Murphys New Diggings," "Murphy's Camp," and eventually just "Murphys." The placer mining in this location was wildly successful. Miners were limited to claims of 8 square feet and yet many were still able to become rich. The Murphy brothers themselves, however, made far more money as merchants than as miners. In fact, John was so successful that he left town at the end of 1849 and never returned, having a personal fortune of nearly $2 million. Roughly $20 million in gold was discovered in Murphys and the surrounding area. Two of the richest diggings were named Owlsburg and Owlburrow Flat.35 Like many other mining towns, fire was its bane and Murphys was destroyed three times by flames, in 1859, 1874, and 1893. After the second major fire, there was little gold left to mine, and so the town was never rebuilt to its boomtown condition. However, Murphys continued to thrive as a merchant center, supplying many of the silver mines in Nevada with provisions via Ebbetts Pass. Murphys is registered as California Historical Landmark #275.36 A "Hall of Comparative Ovations" built by a chapter of the Clampers still stands in Murphys. The first post office was established as Murphy's in 1851. The name was changed to Murphy in 1894, and finally to Murphys in 1935.37 Murphys Population Data The 2010 US Census reported that Murphys had a population of 2,213 living 1,053 households, out of which 219 (20.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 505 (48.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 81 (7.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 37 (3.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 378 households (35.9%) made up of individuals and 226 (21.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10. There were 623 families (59.2% of all households); the average family size was 2.70. 35 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 808. ISBN 9781884995149. 36 Murphys, Office of Historical Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-06. 37 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 808. ISBN 9781884995149. 48 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update The Murphys population was spread out in age as follows: MURPHYS AGE DISTRIBUTION Under the age of 18 401 people 18.1% Aged 18 to 24 109 people 4.9% Aged 25 to 44 327 people 14.8% Aged 45 to 64 726 people 32.8% 65 years of age or older 650 people 29.4% The median age was 54.1 years. For every 100 females there were 83.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males. There were 1,256 housing units of which 726 (68.9%) were owner-occupied, and 327 (31.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.5%. 1,491 people (67.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 722 people (32.6%) lived in rental housing units. Murphys Points of Interest and Events Murphys Hotel (CHL #267), one of the oldest continually operating hotels in California. Its historic register contains such names as Ulysses S. Grant and Mark Twain. The Old Mining Camp of Brownsville (CHL #465) sits just to southwest of the town. A thriving mining camp on rich Pennsylvania Gulch in the 1850s and 1860s, the camp was named for Alfred Brown, former owner of Table Mountain Ranch. Laws of the Brownsville mining district provided that each miner could own one wet and one dry claim, not to exceed 150 square feet each. The Peter L. Traver Building (CHL #466) is the oldest stone building in Murphys. Its iron shutters and sand on the roof protected it from the fires of 1859, 1874, and 1893. It served as a general store, a Wells Fargo office, and later a garage. Today, it houses a nonprofit museum documenting Murphys' gold-rush history. Murphys is well known for its beautiful vineyards and award winning wines. Visitors can enjoy the unique experience of having 25 tasting rooms along the Murphys Main Street, all within walking distance. Calaveras Wine Alliance members host Presidents Weekend (February) Open House; Passport Weekend (June); Vineyard Tour (July). All member tasting rooms are open to the public. In October, a Grape Stomp takes place at Murphys Park. March brings Irish Days. The Calaveras County Fair in May features the Frog Jumping Contest made famous in the 1865 short by Mark Twain, "The Jumping Frog of Calaveras County". Quyle Kilns and Brice Station Vineyards are located at the Quyle/Mast Ranch 4 miles east of Murphys, at an elevation that is 1000 feet higher than the town of Murphys. Brice Station offers a tasting room on site. Quyle Kilns has a pottery showroom as well as clay production factory and pottery studio. Brice Station Vineyards hosts Brice Station New Vintage Release Party in June and Annual Barrel Blending Party in August. Periodically through spring, summer and early fall, Brice Station offers open air concerts on the meadow. In September, Brice Station Vineyards hosts “Healing the Healers,” an annual multidisciplinary, multicultural international 49 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update conference. Clay Sculpting Workshops occur the second Weekend of each month at Quyle Kilns. Blacksmithing Classes occur the first Saturday of every month at Brice Station. The Ironstone car show is held annually in Murphys at the Ironstone Vineyard. Proceeds from the event benefit the 4-H Club and Future Farmers of America. Also, Ironstone hosts concerts every year. 7.1.2 Murphys FPD Background38 MFPD was formed in 1935, after several severe fires occurred during the early 1930s and the community lost two sawmills and a lumber drying yard. Murphys FPD (MFPD) provides structural, wildland and all other categories of fire protection, including response to medical emergencies, vehicle accidents and public service assists. MFPD is located in the southeastern portion of Calaveras County. The Murphys Fire Protection District is adjacent to Altaville-Melones FPD in the west, Ebbetts Pass FPD in the northeast, and Sheep Ranch in the north (protected by Central Calaveras FRPD). MFPD borders Tuolumne County in the southeast. MFPD reported that both of its stations need living quarters and backup emergency generators. The District would like to relocate Station 2 to a larger lot and replace it with a bigger building and living quarters. It was reported that a lack of available revenue had restricted MFPD from implementing these improvements. The addition of living quarters at Station 1 will occur in 2013- 2014 and cost about $120,000. Financing will be derived from the capital improvement reserve. In addition, the District needs to replace its 26-year old type 1 fire engine and two 23-year old type 2 engines. There is also a need to replace the old 1993 chassis on the firefighter support unit. 7.1.3 Sphere of Influence Considerations There is the potential of consolidation of MFPD with Altaville-Melones FPD. Both districts expressed the desire to include each other’s boundary areas into their SOIs as a first step towards consolidation. In addition, Murphys FPD is looking into a Cooperative Fire Services Agreement with Copperopolis FPD, with which it already has a common chief. However, because Copperopolis FPD is a member of CALPERS, while Murphys FPD is not, these two districts may have to reconcile this difference first before proceeding with consolidation. The recommendation for the Sphere of Influence for Murphys Fire Protection District is that the SOI be coterminous with the District boundary. 38 Calaveras LAFCO, Countywide Fire Municipal Service Review, April 8, 2013, Pages 180-196. 50 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 7.2 Present and Planned Land Uses in the Murphys Fire Protection District Area, Including Agricultural and Open Space Lands 7.2.1 Calaveras County General Plan and Zoning for Murphys FPD Area Primary land uses within the Murphys Fire Protection District are residential, recreational, commercial, light industrial, and general agriculture. The District’s bounds encompass approximately 47 square miles. There are approximately 2,655 residents within MFPD, based on Census place population in the 2010 Census.39 MFPD anticipates growth in population and similarly in service demand within the District in the next few years. However, no formal population projections have been made by the District. Three subdivisions were approved before the economic downturn, which have been on hold since. The largest proposed development is in the Vallecito area and consists of 110 new units, which will double the size of the community. The community of Douglas Flat is expecting 108 units, which also is anticipated to double the size of the town. Forty six new units are anticipated in Murphys. The State Department of Finance (DOF) projects that the population of Calaveras County will grow by eight percent in the next 10 years. Thus, the average annual population growth in the County is anticipated to be approximately 0.8 percent. Based on these projections, the Murphys Fire Protection District’s population would increase from 2,655 in 2010 to approximately 2,867 in 2020. It is anticipated that demand for service within this District will increase minimally based on the DOF population growth projections through 2020. 7.2.2 SOI Determinations on Present and Planned Land Use for Murphys FPD 1-1] Murphys Fire Protection District (MFPD) currently has an estimated population of 2,655. 1-2] The District observed an increase in call volume in the last few years, due to an increase in the amount of winery tourism in the area. 1-3] MFPD anticipates growth in population and similarly in service demand within the District in the next few years. Three subdivisions were approved prior to the economic downturn, which have the potential to be developed in the future. 39 US Census Bureau, 2010 Census, Census Places Murphys and Vallecito in Calaveras County. 51 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 7.3 Municipal Services—Present and Probable Capacity and Need 7.3.1 Murphys FPD Present and Probable Capacity and Need Background The Murphys Fire Protection District reported that it had sufficient capacity to serve current demand, but not anticipated future growth. MFPD reported that it required a piece of property to which it could relocate its Vallecito fire station and build sleeping quarters, in order to increase personnel availability in the southern portion of the District. In addition, with an increase in service demand, MFPD is anticipating difficulties in maintaining up-to-date and reliable equipment. 7.3.2 SOI Determinations on Present and Probable Capacity and Need for Murphys FPD 2-1] Station 1, which was reported to be in fair condition, houses two type 1 fire engines, one type 2 fire engine, two type 3 fire engines, one type 1 3,000-gallon water tender, one firefighter support unit, three utility vehicles, and three staff/command vehicles assigned to chief officers. 2-2] Station 2, located in a building owned by the District on a privately-owned piece of land, was acquired in 2000 and reported to be in fair condition. The station is staffed by five volunteer firefighters and two captains, and houses one type 2 engine and one type 3 fire engine that belongs to AMFPD. 2-3] Water for the Murphys Fire Protection District is provided through the domestic supply from Union Public Utility District (UPUD) in areas where hydrants are present. In areas with no hydrants, MFPD responds with its 3,000-gallon water tender and two mutual aid water tenders. 7.4 The Present Capacity of Public Facilities and Adequacy of Public Services Provided by Murphys FPD 7.4.1 Adequacy of Services Provided by Murphys FPD The District reported that its financing levels were not adequate to deliver services. Challenges include the recent economic recession and consequential drop in property tax revenue caused by the drop in the assessed valuation of properties. MFPD attempted to pass a special tax measure twice; however, voters rejected it both times. An additional challenge lies in the fact that although service demand has increased over the last 10 years, due to growth in the winery business in the area, the District has not received additional revenue to pay for this service increase. 52 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 7.4.2 SOI Determinations on Adequacy of Services Provided by Murphys FPD 3-1] MFPD has 33 sworn personnel—one fire chief, three battalion chiefs, one assistant chief of operations, fire marshal, one division chief, five captains, six engineers, and 15 firefighters. The Murphys Fire Protection District reported that its staffing level had not changed in the last few years. Paid employees are compensated based on job duties and rank. Firefighters receive $15 an hour, engineers receive $18 an hour and captains get $22 an hour. There are four part-time personnel and no full-time employees. The median age of the firefighters is 34.5, with a range from 16 to 69. 3-2] MFPD has 24 EMT, six first responder and 23 Firefighter I certified personnel. 3-3] The Murphys Fire Protection District’s facilities appear to have marginally sufficient capacity to provide adequate services to current demand and future growth. Existing stations are in fair condition and require additions and upgrades; the Murphys Fire Protection District reported a need for multiple vehicle replacements. MFPD anticipates challenges with outdated equipment and lack of personnel in meeting additional demand due to future growth. Response times meet Mountain Valley Emergency Medical Services Agency standards for response to medical emergencies. 3-4] The Murphys Fire Protection District reported that there are areas on Pennsylvania Gulch Road, Skunk Ranch Road, French Gulch Road, Sheep Ranch Road, and in Murphys Pines that have long response times, due to their rural nature. 3-5] A significant challenge is the lack of available volunteer staff. MFPD anticipates difficulty maintaining updated and reliable equipment and personnel when the District experiences growth in the future. 3-6] MFPD reported that both of its stations needed living quarters and backup emergency generators. The Murphys Fire Protection District would like to relocate Station 2 to a larger lot and replace it with a bigger building and living quarters. 7.5 Social or Economic Communities of Interest 7.5.1 Murphys Community Background The community of Murphys has preserved its sense of history and developed a new wine and tourism economy. The Murphys Fire Protection District needs to work with the community and other governmental agencies in the area to add income from tourism to the Murphys FPD. Perhaps additional fund-raisers could be developed to take advantage of the tourism events or existing events could add the Murphys FPD to the benefit list. Since tourists are also protected by the Murphys FPD they should also contribute. 53 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 7.5.2 SOI Determinations on Social or Economic Communities of Interest for Murphys FPD 4-1] In addition to the required agendas and minutes, the Murphys Fire Protection District tries to reach its constituents through fundraisers, and a public education program held at the station, which is popular with schools. Occasionally, MFPD participates in public hearings and workshops as needed. 4-2] MFPD practices outreach efforts; however, the District lacks a website where information can be made available to the public. It is recommended that every public service provider have a website to keep constituents aware of the agency’s activities. 7.6 Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Status SB 244 defines disadvantaged unincorporated community as any area with 12 or more registered voters, or as determined by commission policy, where the median household income is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median. 7.6.1 Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities 7.6.2 Murphys FPD Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Status 5-1] Based on 2010 Census income information for Census Designated Places in Calaveras County, the Murphys Census Designated Place meets the income definition of a disadvantaged unincorporated community. The community is located within MFPD’s bounds and sphere of influence. 54 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update Mur C ph a y l s a F v ir e e r P a ro s t e L ct A io F n C Di o strict ^`Sheep Ranch VALLEY VIEW A DR very ^` MORAN RD FIR Hathaway Pines^` P C r e o n te tr c a t l e F d P b D y Central FPD Protected by Central FPD Ebbetts Pass FPD ·|þ} 4 DOG PO D T A O O ND G W lt E T N a R O O W v R S i D N l A l R e W D Y M FRIC e O S l T o A CI N n TY S e D R A D s O E N M S F A M IN P N E G T D R O O E N L R E D D A R D RD FRENCH GUL H C IG H H M R O D UNTAIN RD F S R A E N N D C M O H E M u S G IN M r U G p E L O R h C E R H y L D D s R S A D IX F R M P D ILE D S R H D M E u E r P p R h A y N s^` C MA H IN F S R O T ^` D LEND D O o R u F C M g O R O l Y a O D U s T N E F T D l R D a P A t E V N I N S S S R Y K L D U V N A K N I R P A A O G N N U C D L H C E H R R O D RD SA WY ·|þ} MURPHYS GRADE RD RANCH RD ·|þ} 4 POAG RD^` BATTEN RD Vallecito C 4 ·|þ} O 9 4 W KICK A R n D g ^` els A l C A ta n a v M g m i A e l I l N l e p s S T F C S am A p ^` BYPA R S O S L R LE G D R U I NCLUB RD RAN B T C O U H R N R R E B D E HILL RD D E DR RE M D O H O IL R L E R D D R RUNNING SPRIN GS RD M M OA P N A A IN R G IN R CA O V S E T R T T D S FERRY RD SKUNK GULCH Calaveras County AIROLA RD ^`Carson Hill ·|þ} 49 WHITTLE RD Location Map (Not to Scale) 0 0.5 1 2 3 4 Miles 4 L E Murphys FPD Boundary Fire Facilities Parcels G ^` E Murphys FPD Waterbodies Towns N Sphere of Influence Boundary D Highways Calaveras Fire Protection Sphere of Influence Update Adopted on April 21, 2014 District Boundaries Roads LAFCo Resolution 2014-0001 55 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 8 SAN ANDREAS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT (SAFPD) 8.1 San Andreas Community and San Andreas Fire Protection District Background 8.1.1 San Andreas Community Background San Andreas History San Andreas is an unincorporated census designated place and the county seat of Calaveras County. The population was 2,783 at the 2010 census, up from 2,615 at the 2000 census. Like most towns in the region, it was originally founded during the California Gold Rush. The town is located on State Highway 49 and is registered as California Historical Landmark #252.40 Settled by Mexican gold miners in 1848 and named after the Catholic parish St. Andres, the town has been a noted mining camp since early days. The gold from the initially discovered placers gave out after a few years, but the discovery of gold in an underground river channel in 1853 revitalized the camp and it soon became a town. Mining of the channels was lucrative enough for the town to completely rebuild after fires in 1858 and 1863. The gold discovered here contributed greatly to the success of the Union during the Civil War. In 1866, San Andreas became the seat of Calaveras County. It was said to be a rendezvous location for Joaquin Murietta. Notorious highwayman Black Bart was tried here and sent to prison. The post office was established in 1854.41 San Andreas Population Data The 2010 US Census reported that San Andreas had a population of 2,783. The Census reported that 2,595 people (93.2% of the population) lived in households, 21 (0.8%) lived in non- institutionalized group quarters, and 167 (6.0%) were institutionalized. There were 1,146 households, out of which 314 (27.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 449 (39.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 156 (13.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 66 (5.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There 396 households (34.6%) were made up of individuals and 190 (16.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26. There were 671 families (58.6% of all households); the average family size was 2.84. The San Andreas population was spread out in age as follows: SAN ANDREAS AGE DISTRIBUTION Under the age of 18 585 people 21.0% Aged 18 to 24 197 people 7.1% Aged 25 to 44 589 people 21.2% Aged 45 to 64 777 people 27.9% 65 years of age or older 635 people 22.8% The median age was 45.7 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males. 40 State of California, Office of Historical Preservation, California State Parks. http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/ListedResources/Detail.aspx?num=252. Retrieved 2012-10-06. 41 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 824. ISBN 9781884995149. 56 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update There were 1,311 housing units of which 632 (55.1%) were owner-occupied, and 514 (44.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 13.3%. 1,404 people (50.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,191 people (42.8%) lived in rental housing units. 8.1.2 San Andreas Fire Protection District Background42 SAFPD was originally formed as the San Andreas Protective Hook and Ladder Company in 1858 to provide fire protection services to the town of San Andreas and the surrounding area. In 1912, residents of San Andreas elected to form the San Andreas Fire Protection District.91 San Andreas Fire Protection District (SAFPD) provides structure and wildland fire protection, hazardous materials and emergency medical first responder services along with emergency medical technician non-transport service. SAFPD is located in the western portion of Calaveras County. The San Andreas Fire Protection District is adjacent to Mokelumne Hill FPD in the north, Copperopolis FPD in the south, Foothill FPD in the west, Central Calaveras FRPD in the east, and Altaville-Melones in the southeast. The present bounds encompass approximately 66 square miles. The San Andreas Fire Protection District has undertaken 11 annexations since its formation. The most recent annexation took place in 2000 and involved territory that was previously included in Calaveras County Fire Department. The 2000 County Fire reorganization increased the SAFPD boundary area to 66 square miles. It was reported that both San Andreas FPD fire stations were in need of upgrades. One of the stations which is currently just a garage, is in need of a complete remodel. In addition, electrical wiring needs to be repaired and engines updated. There is also a need for an additional space for administrative work and a four-wheel drive engine for several rural areas where there is snow or the ground is extremely wet. 8.1.3 SOI Considerations for San Andreas FPD SAFPD reported that fire providers in the County were increasingly dropping borders. There is the potential for consolidation of SAFPD with Mokelumne Hill FPD; however, the matter has not been discussed formally between the two districts. Another governance structure option that interests SAFPD is annexation of the Golden Hill Subdivision, which is currently in Mokelumne Hill FPD, and the inclusion of the entire Double Springs Subdivision in its boundaries, which is currently in both SAFPD and Foothill FPD. Since there has been no formal interaction with another fire protection district at this time, the recommendation for the San Andreas FPD is for the Sphere of Influence to be coterminous with the District boundary. 42 Calaveras LAFCO, Countywide Fire Municipal Service Review, April 8, 2013, Pages 197-213. 57 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 8.2 Present and Planned Land Uses in the San Andreas Fire Protection District Area, Including Agricultural and Open Space Lands 8.2.1 Calaveras County General Plan and Zoning for San Andreas FPD Area Land uses within the District are general agriculture, agricultural preserve, residential agriculture, environmental protection, industrial, commercial, general forest, and residential. The District’s bounds encompass approximately 66 square miles. There are approximately 3,128 residents within the San Andreas FPD, based on census block population in the 2010 Census.43 The population density within the San Andreas Fire Protection District is 46 people per square mile. In terms of planned development, new multi-family units within the San Andreas FPD are planned south of Highway 49, west of Russell Road, and north of Highway 49, along Main Street and along Gold Strike Way. Multi-family units are also planned in the vicinity of the Highway 12/49 junction. Commercial development is planned south of Highway 49, east of Pool Station Road, and in the southeastern portion of the District along Highway 49. Industrial areas are planned west of Angels Road and along Airport Road, in the south of the San Andreas FPD, and along Highway 49. The future growth area of the San Andreas FPD encompasses the planned multi-family and industrial development areas.44 The State Department of Finance (DOF) projects that the population of Calaveras County will grow by eight percent in the next 10 years. Thus, the average annual population growth in the County is anticipated to be approximately 0.8 percent. Based on these projections, the San Andreas FPD’s population would increase from 3,128 in 2010 to approximately 3,386 in 2020. It is anticipated that demand for service within the District will increase minimally based on the DOF population growth projections through 2020. 8.2.2 SOI Determinations on Present and Planned Land Use for San Andreas FPD 1-1] San Andreas Fire Protection District has an estimated population of 3,128. 1-2] Over the last few years, the San Andreas Fire Protection District has experienced an increase in service demand. 1-3] SAFPD anticipates growth in population and similarly in service demand within the District in the next few years. An increase is anticipated, due to growing County government and commercial businesses. An increase in transit through the San Andreas Fire Protection District is also anticipated to impact demand for services. 43 US Census Bureau, 2010 Census, Census Blocks 4012, 4013, 4029, 1011, 1037, 1043, 1039, 4014, 1012, 1048, 1044, 1049, 2015, 2010, 2027, 2034, 4043, 4039, 4038, 4037, 4036, 4033, 4028, 3019, 3015, 4024, 4041, 4017, 3007, 2035, 2036, 2040, 2041, 3003, 3004, 3005, 2030, 2031, 2039, 2038, 2037, 2028, 2020, 1041, 3000, 4016 in Census Tract 3 and Census Block 1023 in Census Tract 2.10 in Calaveras County. 44 Calaveras County, San Andreas Community Plan Land Use Designations Map, January 2008. 58 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 8.3 Municipal Services—Present and Probable Capacity and Need 8.3.1 Present and Probable Capacity and Need Background The District reported that its financing levels were marginally adequate to deliver services. SAFPD has 40 personnel of those 30 have acquired Fire Fighter status or better however many do not go after state certification. Included are one fire chief, one assistant chief, one battalion chief, six captains, six engineers, three operators, and 12 firefighters. One staff member is full time, four are part time, and two receive a stipend. The remaining are volunteers. Board members are reimbursed for attending meetings. The chair of the Board gets $100 per meeting; the rest of the board members receive $60 per meeting. The median age of the firefighters is 28, with a range from 18 to 74. The San Andreas Fire Protection District reported that it had enough volunteers and did not face challenges with recruitment. SAFPD has 14 EMT 1 or higher certified personnel. 8.3.2 SOI Determinations on Present and Probable Capacity and Need for San Andreas FPD 2-1] SAFPD owns and operates two fire stations, which were both reported to be in fair condition. Station 1, which was built in 1951, is located at 37 Church Hill Road in San Andreas. Station 1 houses equipment and personnel, and serves as a training center for Calaveras County Training Officer’s Association. Vehicles housed in Station 1 include one type 1 engine, one aerial/track, one type 3 engine, one rescue unit, and one breathing support vehicle. 2-2] Station 2, which was built in 1950s and purchased by the San Andreas Fire Protection District in 2002, is located on East Saint Charles Road. It houses one type 1 water tender, one type 1 engine, two type 2 engines, and one type 3 engine. 2-3] Water to the San Andreas Fire Protection District is provided by Calaveras Public Utility District. Calaveras PUD has the ability to supply water for an extended fire event if needed. 59 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 8.4 The Present Capacity of Public Facilities and Adequacy of Public Services Provided by San Andreas FPD 8.4.1 Adequacy of Services Provided by San Andreas FPD SAFPD has approximately 10 firefighters per 700 residents. It was reported that in 2011 the District’s average response time was 1.67 minutes and the 90th percentile response time was 3.9 minutes. An area that SAFPD can improve upon is tracking its response times, being aware of its median and 90th percentile response times and collaborating with CALFIRE on data exchange, which would allow for more structured response and enhanced efficiency and consistency in data gathering. The San Andreas Fire Protection District reported challenges with regard to financing of services, mostly attributable to declining revenues as a result of decreasing property values and the State restructuring revenue sources and borrowing funds, combined with increased costs related to rising supply prices and dated equipment. 8.4.2 SOI Determinations on Adequacy of Services Provided by San Andreas FPD 3-1] San Andreas Fire Protection District facilities have sufficient capacity to provide adequate services within the current service area and to the anticipated future growth. 3-2] Current response times meet Mountain Valley Emergency Medical Services Agency standards for response to medical emergencies. 3-3] SAFPD reported it had adequate equipment and personnel, and did not anticipate any difficulties in continuing a similar level of services into the future. 3-4] Infrastructure needs include upgrades to both fire stations, electrical wiring repairs, engine replacements, purchase of a 4-wheel drive engine, and additional space for administrative needs. 3-5] The San Andreas Fire Protection District’s services appear to be adequate based on its ISO rating and response times. 3-6] On average, the San Andreas Fire Protection District responds to incidents faster that all other providers in the County. 60 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 8.5 Social or Economic Communities of Interest 8.5.1 San Andreas Community San Andreas has a definite community identity because it is the County Seat for Calaveras County. Since the community is unincorporated, the San Andreas Fire Protection District helps to provide community activities and spirit. 8.5.2 SOI Determinations on Social or Economic Communities of Interest for San Andreas FPD 4-1] In addition to the required agendas and minutes, the San Andreas Fire Protection District tries to reach its constituents through fundraisers held at the station, participating in community events, such as local auto shows, and going to field and farm days at high schools. At these events, the firefighters show children the fire engines and teach them CPR and first aid. SAFPD collaborates with hospitals and various community organizations. 4-2] SAFPD practices extensive outreach efforts; however, the San Andreas Fire Protection District lacks a website where information could be made available to public. It is recommended that every public service provider have a website to keep constituents aware of the agency’s activities. 8.6 Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Status SB 244 defines disadvantaged unincorporated community as any area with 12 or more registered voters, or as determined by commission policy, where the median household income is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median. 8.6.1 Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities 8.6.2 San Andreas FPD Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Status 5-1] Based on 2010 Census income information for Census Designated Places in Calaveras County, the San Andreas Census Designated Place meets the income definition of a disadvantaged unincorporated community. The community is located within SAFPD’s bounds and sphere of influence. 61 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update ^` Calaveras LAFCo Calaveras County San Andreas Fire Protection District ·|}þ RICH GULCH RD 26 BIG BAR RD PALO G M OO A D R E D LL RD G WIN ST MAIN^` G W I S N MIN T E RD Palom M a okelumn ·|}þ e 26 H NE i IL l S l O N F RD P CE D NTER S ·|}þ 4 T 9 RI ^` V M ER o k RA e N lu C m H R n D e DR YELLAV YPPAH Hill PEREGRINE RD HAWVER RD MUSIC D GUL O CH R S D TER RD GU L LC o W H c E R T a D tio W n HIS K M EY S a LID p E R D (N J C W O o E RD e E S t N R U D n to S t r M S a A c l R a F IA le P R ) D D San Andreas FPD DOU GIL B LA M R L D E SPRINGS RD BEAL ·|}þ R 1 A 2 NCH RD CENTRAL HILL RD GOLD ST R R US IK S E EL R L R D D Sa CHURCH n HIL L L RD E A ON n ^` A d R P T D O r O e R P Y a D E A s S N T ZA D M R ILLS A ·|}þ C V ALAVE W R E IT S A T S M RD URRAY CRE M EK U R R D R M A O Y U D N A T L A E I L N N RA O N A C K H R G O R R C D K O Y V R E D RD JIM MIN LU E C R K D P Y C r e o n B t O e O t S r c T a t l e M F I d CH P E B L D R y D 49 Con C so a l l i a d v a e te ra d s FPD CEMENT PLANT RD OLD GULCH RD New Hogan ^`Calaveritas Re GAN s N RD ervoir POOL STATION RD FOURTH CRO A SS l IN t G a R v D ille Melones F F R P IC D OT CITY RD DOGTOWN RD HOGAN DAM RD Co 0 ppe 0 ro .5 polis 1 FPD 2 3 4 COSGRAVE RD DOGTOW N RD Miles 4 L E San Andreas FPD Boundary Fire Facilities Parcels G E San Andreas FPD Waterbodies ^` Towns N Sphere of Influence Boundary D Calaveras Fire Protection Highways Sphere of Influence Update Adopted on April 21, 2014 District Boundaries Roads LAFCo Resolution 2014-0001 62 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 9 WEST POINT FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT (WPFPD) 9.1 West Point Community and West Point Fire Protection District Background 9.1.1 West Point Community West Point Community History West Point (formerly, Indian Gulch and Westpoint) is a census designated place (CDP). As of the 2010 US Census, West Point's population was 674, down from 746 in the 2000 Census. The town is registered as California Historical Landmark #268.45 There is an annual West Point Lumberjack Days festival in the community. Walton's Mountain Winery & Vineyard is West Point's First Winery that opened in 2006. West Point was originally the name of a camp established here by scout Kit Carson, who was searching for a pass over the Sierra Nevada. The town was originally named Indian Gulch when founded in 1852; the name was changed to West Point in 1854. The first post office was opened in 1856, the name changed to Westpoint in 1895 and changed back to West Point in 1947.46 One emigrant road forked by Big Meadow — its north branch came directly to West Point, which was a thriving trading post prior to the gold discovery. Author Bret Harte lived there for a time. West Point Population Data The 2010 US Census reported that West Point had a population of 674. There were 308 households, out of which 70 (22.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 125 (40.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 39 (12.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 18 (5.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 109 households (35.4%) made up of individuals and 48 (15.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19. There were 182 families (59.1% of all households); the average family size was 2.81. The West Point population was spread out in age as follows: WEST POINT COMMUNITY AGE DISTRIBUTION Under the age of 18 133 people 19.7% Aged 18 to 24 36 people 5.3% Aged 25 to 44 119 people 17.7% Aged 45 to 64 223 people 33.1% 65 years of age or older 163 people 24.2% The median age was 50.0 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males. There were 378 housing units of which 213 (69.2%) were owner-occupied, and 95 (30.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.9%. 434 people (64.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 239 people (35.5%) lived in rental housing units. 45 West Point, Office of Historical Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-06. 46 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 845. ISBN 9781884995149. 63 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 9.1.2 West Point Fire Protection District Background West Point Fire Protection District (WPFPD) was formed in 1948 to provide fire protection to the residents of the District. West Point Fire Protection District (WPFPD) provides structural, vehicle and wildland fire suppression, basic life support response to medical emergencies, fire prevention and community education to the community of West Point and surrounding area. The West Point Fire Protection District is located in the northeastern portion of the Calaveras County. WPFPD borders Amador County in the north, Ebbetts Pass FPD in the east and south, the Sheep Ranch area (protected by Central Calaveras FRPD) in the south, and Central Calaveras FRPD in the west. The West Point Fire Protection District is approximately 108 square miles in size, encompassing the area along portions of SR 26 between the north and the south forks of the Mokelumne River. There are two geographic areas within West Point FPD served by other agencies. WPFPD works jointly with these agencies on a first response and mutual-aid basis for wildland fire incidents within the District. CALFIRE is responsible for the SRA areas within the District. The United State Forest Service (USFS) is responsible for wildland fire response within the Federal Response Areas in the District. Governance structure options with regard to WPFPD include annexation of the Skunk Hollow area and an area along SR 26 south of the District’s bounds where the West Point Fire Protection District reported it is often the first on the scene of an incident. 9.1.3 SOI Considerations for West Point Fire Protection District Given the geographical proximity and close working relationship of Mokelumne Hill FPD, Central Calaveras FRPD and West Point FPD, these districts may be suitable for consolidation. These providers generally served small rural areas with limited resources to provide adequate financing for services. The three districts conduct extensive joint training exercises, and appear generally compatible, based on similarity of service levels and service areas. The three districts have had informal discussions; all parties are reportedly interested in enhancing sharing and collaboration through shared resources and joint training. The three districts are looking into a shared services agreement; however, there has been no outcome to these negotiations to date. While land use is in the San Andreas area is somewhat denser than the rural communities served by Mokelumne Hill FPD, Central Calaveras FRPD and West Point FPD, it may be appropriate for San Andreas FPD to be considered for inclusion in this regional consolidation, given that SAFPD responds regularly within MHFPD’s and CCFRPD’s bounds through mutual aid. Since no formal agreements have been reached at this time, the recommendation is for the Sphere of Influence for the West Point Fire Protection District to be the same as the District boundary. 64 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update 9.2 Present and Planned Land Uses in the West Point Fire Protection District Area, Including Agricultural and Open Space Lands 9.2.1 Calaveras County General Plan and Zoning for West Point FPD Area Land uses within the West Point Fire Protection District are primarily timberlands/mineral resource areas, wildlife botanical area, agricultural preserve, and residential center with a 40- acre lot minimum. The West Point Fire Protection District’s bounds encompass approximately 108 square miles. Privately owned lands within the West Point Fire Protection District are designated as State Responsibility Areas (SRA) and are classified as a "High Fire Severity Hazard Zone." The California Department of Forestry provides primary jurisdictional responsibility for wildland fire protection except in those areas of the Stanislaus National Forest protected by the United States Forest Service. Privately owned lands are predominately made up of lots and parcels within established residential subdivisions. Based on GIS analysis of Census 2010 block data, there are approximately 2,458 permanent residents within the District. The State Department of Finance (DOF) projects that the population of Calaveras County will grow by eight percent in the next 10 years. Thus, the average annual population growth in the County is anticipated to be approximately 0.8 percent. Based on these projections, the West Point Fire Protection District’s population would increase from 2,458 in 2010 to approximately 2,655 in 2020. It is anticipated that demand for service within the District will increase minimally, based on the DOF population growth projections through 2020. 9.2.2 SOI Determinations on Present and Planned Land Use for West Point FPD 1-1] WPFPD anticipates no growth to minimal growth in population and similarly in service demand within the District in the next few years. 1-2] There is a lack of economic activity in the West Point area, as logging, the primary industry and employer, has failed. 1-3] Given the lack of employment and industry in West Point, there is little attraction of new residents to the area. 9.3 Municipal Services—Present and Probable Capacity and Need 9.3.1 Present and Probable Capacity and Need Background WPFPD reported that it faced capacity constraints with regards to serving existing demand. The current staffing level reportedly offers no depth to coverage, in other words if any staff member is unable to cover their shift, then it is challenging to respond to all calls as there is minimal back up personnel. While there are many areas with long response times, due to the remote rural nature of the District, the lack of adequate facilities and equipment compounds the West Point Fire Protection District’s inability to provide swift services. 65 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update The West Point Fire Protection District reported that financing was inadequate to provide services due to several constraints. The District recently faced a long-term lawsuit that resulted in extensive expenditures and a drawdown of the District’s reserves. The suit questioned the validity of a voter-approved benefit assessment. The assessment expired in July 2011. Recently, voters instead approved a special tax, and the District has been able to levy the tax on the parcels and collect much needed revenues to continue operations. With the new special tax revenue and completion of the lawsuit, the West Point Fire Protection District anticipates that financing levels will return to an adequate level. 9.3.2 SOI Determinations on Present and Probable Capacity and Need for West Point FPD 2-1] WPFPD has 23 sworn personnel—one part-time fire chief, three full-time officers (two captains one engineer), three interns and 16 volunteer firefighters. 2-2] Volunteers are paid incident response stipends of $5 per call per volunteer, regardless of length of response required. Interns receive pay for tuition and books, and in return, they complete 48 hours weekly at the station. 2-3] Pay for paid staff depends on position and experience, and ranges from $2,900 per month to $4,000. 9.4 The Present Capacity of Public Facilities and Adequacy of Public Services Provided by West Point FPD 9.4.1 Adequacy of Services Provided by West Point FPD WPFPD reported that it faced capacity constraints with regards to serving existing demand. The current staffing level reportedly offers no depth to coverage. Additionally, while there are many areas with long response times, due to the remote rural nature of the West Point Fire Protection District, the lack of adequate facilities and equipment compounds the District’s inability to provide swift services. Current response times meet Mountain Valley Emergency Medical Services Agency standards for response to medical emergencies. 9.4.2 SOI Determinations on Adequacy of Services Provided by West Point FPD 3-1] The West Point Fire Protection District has a long-term goal of adding living quarters to Station 1. At present there is no financing available for this improvement. 3-2] The County purchased a water tender, and recently, transferred ownership to WPFPD. The West Point Fire Protection District is now in the process of fully equipping the tender. The Fire Chiefs Association has formed a water mitigation committee to deal with this issue. 3-3] The West Point Fire Protection District also reported that it would like to see American Legion extend its service hours from 12 to 24 hours daily. During periods that American 66 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update Legion is not staffing the area, WPFPD is able to provide EMT-1 certified personnel, but no paramedic level personnel for emergency medical response. 9.5 Social or Economic Communities of Interest 9.5.1 Community Background West Point has a unique community history. The West Point Fire Protection District helps the area to maintain a sense of community. It is unfortunate that the District has had to allocate so many resources to a lawsuit. 9.5.2 SOI Determinations on Social or Economic Communities of Interest for West Point FPD 4-1] In addition to the required agendas and minutes, the District tries to reach its constituents through prevention education programs such as prevention week and educational projects with students. 4-2] The West Point Fire Protection District also maintains a website where information is made available to the public. 4-3] WPFPD has conducted fundraising to fund substantial legal defense costs. The Firefighter’s Association augments these outreach efforts through various fundraising events, such as the Lumberjack Days and Chili Cook Off. 9.6 Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Status 9.6.1 Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities SB 244 defines disadvantaged unincorporated community as any area with 12 or more registered voters, or as determined by commission policy, where the median household income is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median. 9.6.2 West Point FPD Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Status 5-1] Based on 2010 Census income information for Census Designated Places in Calaveras County, the West Point Census Designated Place meets the income definition of a disadvantaged unincorporated community. The community is located within WPFPD’s bounds and sphere of influence. 67 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update Calaveras LAFCo Calaveras County West Point Fire Protection District Location Map (Not to Scale) LILY GAP RD LILY W GA IN P T O FO N L R S D OM RD West Point FPD A R D D I A E R LN IA RD ·|þ} 26 DOSTE P R R O D ND S E G R A N O l I S e K N A K S n W U I W Y c T M H A I L S O N o L K D E N E G e A Y R M ^` B S E R D T L TA ID D RD E R RD E S A PIN S K QUAIL LN F RD P DEA D R C D S O e R T P F n A F A R V R N t E R U D ^` N r L U W I S a E D J E M S E A Y G l i A l I S IN A E F s R U S N e D T P R ^` S y H D D D J v M R O U I A L i I E A N L W l R L R l A E I O R L R R e OA A D R e D A F D L I ^` AT V R A D F s D S ^` LA t T R R T P D D L O N Y o L R N P I N V i a n B E D O V i t l O O L M T R A A L SO S N K L RD o A R L a R N D d R F D S l I a L O V t A E R K ED R R B O CK RD A L M N L M D O I M U B T O C P O N C H U S T r A e S N E B o S I E T S L L n N W C t A L H U R e I t I A R N S M D E D r c D S D R I a R L M t R D D L l e O A R F N d U D C P N H H UBBA b RD T D R A y D IN B AR A R MS I T D L RO E NG Y R D RIDGE RD W S A U r h M · n |þ} i 4 M t o e l I d T P L ^` i E n V e E s L ^` RD M ORAN RD OLD E C M a b O B m D I b R G A o p T e N R r t r E C t R i E n s o D S g n P P Y t n o a N e n s A ll V s A ^` ^` J F O P DR D SIERRA O P T Y TAW A DR 0 1 2 4 6 Miles L 4 E West Point FPD Boundary Fire Facilities Parcels G E West Point FPD Waterbodies ^` Towns N Sphere of Influence Boundary D Highways Calaveras Fire Protection Sphere of Influence Update Adopted on April 21, 2014 District Boundaries Roads LAFCo Resolution 2014-0001 68 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update ABBREVIATIONS AED automated external defibrillator AMFPD Altaville-Melones Fire Protection District Cal EMA California Emergency Management Agency CALFIRE California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection CCFPD Calaveras Consolidated Fire Protection District CCFRPD Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District CDP Census Designated Place CEQA California Environmental Quality Act CFPD Copperopolis Fire Protection District CHL California Historical Landmark CKH Act Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation DOF State Department of Finance DUC Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community ECC Emergency Command Center EMT Emergency Medical Technician EPFPD Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District FD Fire Department FFPD Foothill Fire Protection District (dissolved) FPD Fire Protection District FRPD Fire and Rescue Protection District FY Fiscal Year JLFPD Jenny Lind Fire Protection District (dissolved) LAFCO Local Agency Formation Commission MFPD Murphys Fire Protection District MHFPD Mokelumne Hill FPD MSR Municipal Service Review (LAFCO) 69 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update PUD Public Utility District SAFER Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response SAFPD San Andreas Fire Protection District SB Senate Bill SOI Sphere of Influence (LAFCO) UPUD Union Public Utility District US United States USDA United States Department of Agriculture USFS United States Forest Service WPFPD West Point Fire Protection District 70 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update REFERENCES Calaveras County, San Andreas Community Plan Land Use Designations Map, January 2008. Calaveras LAFCO, Countywide Fire Municipal Service Review, April 8, 2013. Calaveras LAFCO, Resolutions 2014-0002, Jan 27, 2014 and 2013-0005, June 17, 2013. California State Fire Marshall, Course Information and Required Materials, 2007, p. 44. Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. ISBN 9781884995149. http://houseboats.com/new-melones-lake/, October 19, 2013. Remy, Michael H., Tina A. Thomas, James G. Moose, Whitman F. Manley, Guide to CEQA, Solano Press Books, Point Arena, CA, February 2007, page 111. State of California, Altaville, Office of Historical Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10- 06. State of California, Copperopolis, Office of Historical Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-06. State of California, Glencoe, Office of Historical Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10- 06. State of California, Office of Historical Preservation, California State Parks. http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/ListedResources/Detail.aspx?num=252. Retrieved 2012-10-06. State of California, Murphys, Office of Historical Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10- 06. State of California, Rail Road Flat, Office of Historical Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-06. State of California, West Point, Office of Historical Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012- 10-06. US Bureau of Reclamation: http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/camping.html, October 19, 2013. US Census Bureau, 2010 Census, Census Block Group 1 in Census Tract 1.20 and Census Blocks 2032, 2016, 2000, and 2020 in Census Tract 2.20 in Calaveras County. US Census Bureau, 2010 Census, Census Block Group 6 in Census Tract 4 and Census Places Rail Road Flat and Mountain Ranch in Calaveras County. US Census Bureau, 2010 Census, Census Blocks 4012, 4013, 4029, 1011, 1037, 1043, 1039, 4014, 1012, 1048, 1044, 1049, 2015, 2010, 2027, 2034, 4043, 4039, 4038, 4037, 4036, 4033, 4028, 3019, 3015, 4024, 4041, 4017, 3007, 2035, 2036, 2040, 2041, 3003, 3004, 3005, 2030, 2031, 2039, 2038, 2037, 2028, 2020, 1041, 3000, 4016 in Census Tract 3 and Census Block 1023 in Census Tract 2.10 in Calaveras County. US Census Bureau, 2010 Census, Census Places Murphys and Vallecito in Calaveras County. 71 Adopted APRIL 21, 2014, CALAVERAS LAFCO Resolution 2014-0001 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPHERES OF INFLUENCE Update PREPARERS Calaveras LAFCO, John Benoit, Executive Officer PO Box 2694, Granite Bay CA 95746 916-797-6003 johnbenoit@surewest.net Christy Leighton, Planning Consultant 555 E. Willow Street, Willows CA 95988 530-934-4597christyleighton@sbcglobal.net 72