Enterprise-Record from Chico, California • 7

Chico Enterprise Recordriday November 5 19937A New plan would put more firefighters on the lines By Michael Gardner Sacramento Bureau SACRAMENTO A state wide reorganization plan to put more 1 ircfighters on the front lines and fewer behind desks is a positive first step but falls short of resolving serious understaffing pioblcms in Butte County the assessment of Steve Biown the fire chief in Butte County for the California Depart ment of orestry and ire Protec tion (CD) not a panacea but going in the right Biown told the Enterprise Record A draft reorganization plan was unveiled before the state Board of orestry Wednesday in Sacra mento a tremendous work load not being met at the field said Lloyd Kiefer a regional chief for the California Department of orestry and ire Protection in Redding The problem is CD is being asked to do more with less Kiefer told the board resources Just he said me the question is where do you get the biggest bang for your As part of the proposed restruc turing of CD personnel are being shifted around and two of the four regional offices will be closed Also the Sacramento headquarters will be downsized he said If the plan is adopted and approved by the Legislature and Gov Pete Wilson these are the major changes for CD fire services in Butte County: Inspections: An expanded in pro gram Currently about 60 volun teers help inspect structures for fire hazards and offer community outreach programs such as going to schools The new plan would provide about $80000 for the county to add about 220 volunteers Officials believe the program especially cleaning brush around structures and limiting other fire hazards helps prevent some blazes and keeps others from getting out of control Helicopters: The Vina helicop ter station will be fully staffed at all times including the addition of a second full time pilot As part of the plan the Redding office would be expanded to include another forester to review proposed Timber Harvest Plans Butte Timber Harvest Plans are cleared through the Redding office Brown said the review staff in Redding is now And the CD nursery in Ma galia will be consolidated with the seed program in Davis In Ma galia there will be a renewed emphasis to produce and sell nursery stock to small companies so the CD program remains self sufficient Brown said thankful for any help he can get but pointed out that past state budget cuts have left his operations shortstaffed or example a fulltime com pany of seven firefighters was eliminated from the Stirling City station That leaves just one company on duty there Also the fire lookouts at Berry Creek and orest Ranch were closed for lack of funding Brown said In his presentation to the board Kiefer stressed that this is just the initial stab at cost savings through restructuring not going to stop with Kiefer said the economic situation in the state going to be in a continual mode of Kiefer expects most of the changes can be made by shifting personnel since many positions have been left vacant for the past year while reorganization plans are finalized But layoffs are also depending on future funding and final implementation of the pro gram he warned A final plan is expected to be presented to the orestry Board next spring i IS LACO plans more higher fees for sphere of influence changes By Nick Ellena Staff Writer OROVILLE Increased fees lit finance sphere of influence updates and a revision of its policies and procedures manual diew most of the attention at Thursday's meeting of the Butte County Local Agency ormation Commission (LACO) The commission passed a motion of intent last month to enact fees to partially defray costs of amending sphere of influence boundaries for cities and some special districts The fees considered are $25 per acre involved in a sphere of influence amendment except for water or irrigation districts whose sole purpose is to provide agricul luial water where $10 per acre would be charged The fees are being considered in order to relieve the local jurisdic tions many of whom are finan cially strapped from having to absorb stall costs for preparing expensive sphere of influence icvisions Spheres of influence required of local jurisdictions by the state aic playing an ever increasing role in the development of land uses as population pressures mount They form the basis for most LACO 'decisions The fees would be in addition to those already charged by LACO for processing applications such as annexations and formation of county services areas and special districts These now go to the county which pays for LACO' operation The cities of Chico Paradise Oroville and Gridley are reviewing their sphere of inlluance bounda ries in their current general plan updates LACO established by state law reviews local governmental changes such as annexations and formation of county services areas and special districts for compli ance with state regulations One requirement is that each agency such as a city or a special district have a sphere of influence delineating the boundary limits in which it ultimately can provide services basic charge is to determine whether services can be provided by the agencies involved without adversely impacting other jurisdictions The spheres of influ ence form the foundation for many of decisions State regulations call for a review of sphere of influence boundaries every five years Because the existing sphere of influence plans in the county are 12 to 18 years old they generally are out of conformity with state policy and with changing circum stances in the county according to LACO executive officer Paula Leasure Hence the move by LACO to initiate the sphere of influence updates earing a potential financial impact on special districts Com missioner Keith rasier asked for a continuance for further study which was granted Commissioner James Owens a member of the Chico City Coun cil said the fees are being proposed to avoid putting the costs of the revisions on the local agencies which generally cannot afford them Leasure estimated the total cost of the revisions for five cities and 26 special districts at $495000 The fee revenue would be about $80000 for the next three years she reported Some economies can be made in the update process she said and also it can be stretched out over more years to allow revenue to accumulate she said if the revenue is insuffi cient to complete all the updates it is better to start the process with what fees the Commission deter mines can be reasonably im she stated in her report No fees would be imposed on the formation of countywide serv ice areas or voter initiated county wide special districts ees in such circumstances were considered un reasonably excessive Also LACO would be author ized to waive the fees entirely for uncomplicated applications where staff work would be minimal The revision of Poli cies and Procedures Manual begun two years ago was adopted by unanimous vote It dealt mainly with sharpening of role in dealing with spheres of influ ence Major policy statements: Sphere of influence plans now required to show only the area of jurisdiction for the agency involved also are1 to include boundaries for expected 5 10 and 12 year expansion A determination first will have to be made on whether an area can be serviced by the agency in volved before LACO can in clude it in its sphere of influence Greater consideration is to be given to requiring a neutral reve nue impact between adjoining jurisdictions before a sphere of influence can be expanded LACO would have to consider for example whether a new agency would benefit inordinately from a shift of taxes such as annexation to a city of a high sales tax producing unincorporated area Applicants are to be encour aged first to first ask the jurisdic tion involved for an environmental review and for pre zoning before an application for annexation is filed with LACO Priscilla Hanford of Paradise an alternate member of LACO called adoption of the policies and procedures revisions an excellent step forward for LACO to fulfill its The commission also approved a memorandum of understanding with Butte County that designates Leasure a planner with the county's Department of Develop ment Services the LACO execu tive director The Mendocino National orest is hosting public open houses to discuss the Proposed Land and Resource Management Plan and Draft Environment Impact Statement All interested Individuals and organizations are welcome and encouraged to attend the meetings from 3 pm to 9 pm at the following locations: 11893 Corning Ranger District Office 111593 Lake County Office of Education 22000 Corning Rd Corning 1152 South Main St Lakeport 11993 City Council Chambers 111693 orest Supervisor's Office 1 25 East Commercial St Willits 420 Laurel St Willows or further information please call Dick English or Michelle Light at (916) 934 3316 The USDA orest Service prohibits discrimination In Its programs and employment opportunities on the basis of race color national origin sex religion age disability political beliefs and marital or famltlal status To file a complaint write the Secretary of Agriculture US Department of Agriculture Washington DC 20250 or call (202) 720 7327 or (202) 720 1 1 27 (TDO) I NMAIPir THEATRES A I "'jj i 1888 Springfield Drive 899 0494 7:10 10:00 GETTYSBURG pg 2:00 7:26 NOW OPEN: MOVIES 10 CHICO 1 MAVIC in CHICO III El Behind the New Chico Mall AMILY ENTERTAINMENT! JE BRIDGES 1:50 4:35 7:30 10:20 $325 Matinees Daily Before 6PM 12:50 3:10 5:30 8:00 10:25 1:35 4:25 7:20 10:05 ull Service Concessions 12:10 2:30 5:00 7:35 9:55 3:00 5:20 7:45 10:10 12:00 2:10 4:45 7:00 9:15 7:15 10:15 1:40 4:15 7:05 9:50 All element of audio performance design engineering acoustic and component meet strict standard See RONT ROW JOE at the MOVIES 10 GRAND OPENING! £Plush Roomy Comfortable Chairs The Lucasfilm THX Sound System represents the ultimate in movie picture and sound quality 9 Computerized Box Office and Same Day Advance Sales JOHN TRAVOLTA LOOK WHO'S TALKING NOW! Wall to Wall Screens lesh and Bone DENNIS QUAID MEG RYAN ARMAND ASSANTE SHERILYN Back on duty $525 ADULTS $325 CHILDREN $325 SENIOR CITIZENS 4 Celebrate With Us At Chico New 10 Screen Theatre Located Behind the New Chico Mall Vjumon7 fOBB pTTh A STEVEN SPIELBERG ilm JURASSIC PARK fcEC uni i riLLZ 12:05 2:25 4:55 ton 153 whale 71 IN THE LINE SIJO IRE 1 CUNT I 1 I EASTWOOD TOM HANKS MRfi RYAN SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE El 9 Cup Holder Armrests 9 Video Arcade At wear your ULr rt Wnv VUK 1 'C is '41 S' Di I ROBO giSfc 'c C2MD hy aS rA' ''V A i 1 4.