Belmont considering own fire department

The numbers from the four proposals will be compared with the city-run option and the possibility of keeping South County Fire Authority intact, Mayor Dave Warden said.

Last year, Belmont and San Carlos both voted to dissolve the South County Fire Authority, a 26-year partnership that created a model for other mergers throughout the state. The decision to split was sparked by the Belmont City Council late last year, but Warden is quick to point out all hope is not lost for salvaging the bitter relationship.

The two agencies have until June 2006 to either solve their differences, find a new agency to partner with or create their own department. San Carlos councilmen Mike King and Don Eaton represent the city on the authority board of directors and have always maintained a merged department would serve both communities best.

Both cities are discussing the proposal for fire services from the four neighboring agencies this week. The San Carlos City Council heard an oral report from Interim Fire Chief Chuc Lowden and Assistant City Manager Brian Moura last night. San Carlos plans to analyze the proposal themselves. Belmont City Council will meet tonight and receive a written report from Interim City Manager Jack Crist about their plans to hire an outside audit firm to review the proposals.

Political differences between the two councils and city management created the South County rift. However, both cities now have three council seats up for re-election and San Carlos is set to replace retiring City Manager Mike Garvey by the end of the year. Belmont recently hired Crist and plans to fill the position permanently by March.

Neither city expected this reach a decision before September.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com