Calif. city struggles to reopen shuttered fire station

By Rebecca Kimitch
The San Gabriel Valley Tribune

EL MONTE, Calif. — A fire station that was shut down last year for budgetary reasons could reopen in two months thanks to a recently approved federal grant.

But to receive the grant, El Monte has to come up with $540,000 to pay a portion of operations, and officials aren't sure the cash-strapped city can afford even that.

"We are working really hard to make it work... but we are struggling right now," city manager Rene Bobadilla said. "I'm hopeful that it happens."

The city was already facing severe challenges in its attempt to balance its budget for next fiscal year, which starts July 1, even before the fire station opportunity emerged. For the past month, Bobadilla has been trying to win concessions from employee unions to avoid dozens of layoffs.

City officials have asked the Los Angeles County Fire Department, which operates fire services for El Monte, for data demonstrating the need to reopen Station 167, located at Bryant and Peck roads.

Since the station closed in August, 911 response times in some areas of the city have increased, according to John Tripp, deputy chief of emergency operations for the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Still, the department is meeting its goal of a response within 5 minutes, 90 percent of the time,Tripp said.

"We have not seen anything excessive, no 8-or-10 minute arrivals," he added.

Paramedics response times may have been more effected, particularly in the eastern portion of the city, according to Paul Rusin, director of the Los Angeles County Fire Fighters Local 1014, which helped the county apply for the grant.

Station 167 had housed the city's one paramedics unit, because it was the most centrally located station. But when it closed, the paramedics were moved to Station 166, 3615 Santa Anita Ave.

That means that when a resident in the eastern part of El Monte suffers a stroke or a heart attack, firefighters from one of the city's three stations respond quickly, but it make take longer than before for the paramedics unit to get there, Rusin said. While the firemen wait, they can offer the patient "basic life support."

"In parts of the city, before it was 3 to 4 minutes for paramedics to arrive, now its 6 to 8 minutes," Rusin said.

The grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would cover the cost of staffing Station 167 for two years — at a cost of approximately $1.8 million a year. But the grant would not cover operating costs, such as fuel, electricity, supplies, equipment maintenance, administrative support, Tripp explained.

To receive the grant, the city would also have to agree to pay the full cost of keeping the station open for a third year.

If they are given the okay, Tripp said they could have Station 167 open in about 60 days.

The closure is saving the city approximately $2.2 million a year.

Last year, El Monte faced a $12 million budget deficit — one-fifth of the city's total $49 million general fund budget. In addition to closing the station, city leaders laid off more than 100 employees, slashed services, cut employee salaries by 10 percent and postponed a contractually agreed-upon pay raise.

Revenues for the coming budget year is expected to be $500,000 more than this year. But that is a far cry from the $4.2 million needed to end the furloughs, restore all benefits and give employees their raise.

Bobadilla has asked the employee unions to continue some of the cuts to benefits and pay. Three of the city's four unions have agreed to a five percent salary cut, a slight improvement from the previous 10 percent cut, and continued pay raise freeze.

But, city leaders still do not have an agreement with the Police Officers Association.

Tripp said the department is working with the city to determine accurate costs of reopening the station.

"Sure, grant money is free money, but when you don't have much money, and then here it is that you have to come up with money to get money... it's difficult," he said. "The city is putting forward good faith to try to get it open... they would like to restore this service."

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