San Luis Obispo County is officially responsible for delivering Oceano’s fire services now that the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) approved divestiture of those services from the Oceano Community Services District (OCSD).
Following LAFCO’s Dec. 19, 2024, approval, the county, which has partnered with Five Cities Fire Authority (FCFA), took over fire services on Jan. 1 and will provide Oceano fire protection and emergency services through the Grover Beach and Arroyo Grande fire stations.
A minimum of two personnel per engine and response times of seven to 11 minutes from the Arroyo Grande Fire Station and seven to nine minutes from Grover Beach ensure that Oceano residents will receive the same level of service they currently do, according to a county staff report.
“When the OCSD announced it could no longer provide fire protection services, there was considerable concern about the future of fire services in the area,” LAFCO Executive Director Rob Fitzroy said during the Dec. 19 meeting. “However, through collaboration between LAFCO, the county, OCSD, and the FCFA, we’ve reached a solution that not only preserves the quality of service but also ensures the fiscal responsibility of the county.”
The contract will cost the OCSD, as it was required to transfer property tax revenue, impact fees, rent revenue, and additional general fund revenue to the county as of Jan. 1.
“OCSD property tax revenue will be approximately $1.3 million,” the county staff report stated. “Additionally, the Public Facility Fire Fees that are collected by the OCSD will be transferred to the county.”
A one-time transfer of $2.5 million in assets and liabilities from OCSD to the county and two lease space agreements between the parties are also required.
“This agreement represents a significant milestone for Oceano and the broader region,” Fitzroy said.
Some OCSD board members and community members are unhappy with the agreement.
In both 2020 and 2022, Oceano voters shot down the idea of paying a flat parcel tax of $180 per parcel owner annually to help maintain rapid response times from the FCFA. Due to the failed tax measures, the OCSD opted to pull out of the joint powers agreement it had with Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach for fire services.
During a June 26 , 2024, OCSD board meeting, district board member Shirley Gibson said “the most concerning consequence” of the failed tax measures and the county taking over services is the fact that response times will now be longer than they were when all three stations were running. The fire station in Oceano isn’t operating.
“Those additional minutes are extremely significant to a critically ill person, and I hope that no one has to go through that,” she said.
While board members and residents expressed concerns about the plan during various OCSD board meetings over the last year, LAFCO reported that it didn’t receive any protests during the protest hearing.
“This agreement is a win for the Oceano Community, ensuring stable fire services while minimizing fiscal impacts for the county,” Fourth District SLO County Supervisor Jimmy Paulding said during the Dec. 19 LAFCO meeting. “The collaborative efforts of the county, the OCSD, and the FCFA have made this transition possible, and we are confident this will continue to benefit the residents of Oceano and South County.”
This article appears in Jan 2-12, 2025.