Foster City Council Approves Fire-Share Expansion Deal With San Mateo

The Foster City City Council on Monday voted unanimously in support of a staff recommendation that would expand fire department job-sharing with neighboring San Mateo.

The two cities have shared Fire Chief Dan Belville, a San Mateo employee, since earlier this year.

The "Agreement for Shared Fire Department Employees" calls for combining deputy fire and battalion chiefs.

The measure aims to help the two cash-strapped cities address budget shortfalls. It is a component of the Foster City City Council’s stated goal of eradicating a $2.8 million budget shortfall within two years.

Belville initially sketched out the cost-cutting plan, which then went to the council’s staff for an official recommendation, Foster City Mayor Linda Koelling said.

The measure needs approval from both cities.

“It all looks really good,” Koelling said. “We’re very pleased with the savings for the cities and the quality of service is still very high.”

Under terms of the deal, Foster City would pick up the full tab of a shared deputy chief’s $228,000 annual salary.

Foster City would get discounts on the $360,000 fire chief (from 50 to 33 percent) and $149,000 battalion chief (from 100 to 33 percent) salaries.

The move will save Foster City taxpayers about $550,000 a year, nearly 8 percent of the city’s $8.1 million annual fire budget, Finance Director Steve Toler told Patch in an email.

“That $550,000 savings goes a long way in helping to cure that structural deficit,” Toler said.

The measure opens the door to future job-sharing, with battalion chief, fire prevention and administrative staff positions mentioned as likely targets.

“We’re very pleased and we’re all saving some money, so that’s the main thing,” Koelling said.

The council also voted in support of a proclamation honoring outgoing Community Development Director Rick Marks, who is retiring after 28 years. The council officialy declared Dec. 28 “Rick Marks Day.”