City to collect proposed fire protection impact fees for fire district

BARSTOW — Several Barstow firefighters sat in the City Council Chambers Monday night to watch the Council members move closer to collecting more money for the Barstow Fire Protection District.

The Council voted 5-0 Monday night to allow the city to collect the fire protection development impact fees proposed by the fire district. The fees will be assessed to new developments within the city to help defray the cost of increased fire protection as Barstow grows. As a special district, the fire protection district cannot collect fees so it enlisted to the services of the city to collect the money.

Under the agreement, the money collected by district stays in a separate fund and can only be used for equipment, buildings and other non-personnel expenses. The amount of the fees have not been set. According to a report from city staff, after both the city and the Barstow Fire Protection District governing board approve the collection agreement, the Council will have to consider an ordinance to impose the fees.

The fire district also asked the Council to set a special meeting to consider placing an initiative on the November ballot to increase the sales tax to help fund the fire district. The additional money could be used to provide more firefighters. The Council decided to hold a special meeting for the matter on July 24.

The Council also extended several contracts with consultants who provide services to the city. The city’s agreement with Barstow Community Hospital to use John Rader as a public information officer on a part-time basis was re-approved, as were extensions to contracts for an engineering firm and a federal lobbyist. The council approved a new contract with Evelyn Radel to provide assistance to the city’s finance department.

Also at the meeting, the Council set a hearing for protests and objections to several delinquent administrative fine and penalty accounts for July 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

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