OCEANSIDE – In an emergency, residents in some parts of this city can be reached faster by paramedics or firefighters from another jurisdiction.
So joining a joint-powers authority that operates emergency dispatch for all cities in North County, except Escondido, might make sense, interim Fire Chief Rob Dunham suggested during a City Council study session yesterday on the city's proposed budget for the next two fiscal years.
No votes were taken during discussions on the proposed $109 million 2006-07 fiscal year budget or the $115 million budget for 2007-08.
Only Councilman Rocky Chavez voiced opposition to spending the estimated $1 million it would cost to join the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District, which operates the regional dispatch system.
Dunham said that joining the system would mean quicker response because the nearest emergency vehicle would be dispatched from any participating fire department.
For instance, he said, residents of the Morro Hills area or on Sleeping Indian or Wilshire Roads in northeast Oceanside could get help faster from Fallbrook, while those living near Oceanside Boulevard and Bobier Drive at the east side of the city were closer to aid from Vista.
And Oceanside might not have to build a new fire station in the Ocean Hills neighborhood because Vista and Carlsbad, which border much of the area, plan stations nearby, Dunham said.
He was not so much opposed to the plan, Chavez said, as the process.
He said the idea never had been discussed by the council before being brought up as part of the proposed budget for the 2006-07 fiscal year, which begins July 1.
Dunham said he wanted to tackle the fiscal question first. He promised a full report on the dispatching proposal June 21, when the council is scheduled to vote on the budget proposals.
The council was scheduled for another budget workshop tonight, but decided last night that it had done all the talking about the city's finances that it wants until a public hearing set for June 2.
Both proposed budgets for the next two fiscal years maintain a council policy to keep a 10 percent reserve for emergency expenditures.
The budgets, reflecting 4 percent and 6 percent increases respectively, over current revenue figures, allow existing programs to remain virtually unscathed, and yesterday's session primarily concerned possible additions.
In the absence of formal votes, the council majority:
Wanted to add at least one uniformed gang police officer and perhaps hire a consultant to seek grants for the city.
Did not want a public-information officer, although hiring has begun.
Decided against giving itself a pay raise but will consider an automobile allowance increase, to be decided later, considering the high cost of gasoline. The allowances are currently $450 a month for the mayor and $400 for each council member.
Wanted to continue with an economic study of alternative uses for the Oceanside Municipal Airport property.
Approved a $75,000 expenditure to study future location of police headquarters but did not want to spend $1 million on preparation of a citywide master plan.
Agreed to spend $1.4 million on new software for the city's financial and human resources departments.
Lola Sherman: (760) 476-8241; lola.sherman@uniontrib.com
