Annexation & Consolidation

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On behalf of everyone in the Southern Marin Fire District and Mill Valley Fire Department, welcome to our website.

In January 2020 the City of Mill Valley and the Southern Marin Fire District entered into a shared services agreement that leverages existing staff from both agencies to create a new, single management team for both agencies.

The District has 63.5 full time employees including a Fire Chief, a Deputy Fire Chief, a Fire Marshal, 2 Battalion Chiefs, 9 Fire Captains, 13 Paramedic Engineers, 5 Firefighter Paramedics, 16 Firefighter Engineers, 4 Firefighters, 1 HR Manager, 1 Finance Manager, 1 Payroll Specialist, 1 Communications Coordinator, 1 IT Coordinator, 1 Administrative Aide, 3 (2 full-time and 2 part-time) Fire Inspectors, 1 Fire Prevention Specialist, and 1 Vegetation Management Specialist. In the spring of 2015, through a command level operational cost-sharing agreement we began sharing Battalion Chiefs with the City of Mill Valley. In January 2020 we modified the agreement to include the Executive & Prevention Teams, resulting in a single management structure for both the Mill Valley Fire Department and Southern Marin Fire Protection District. The District's Fire Chief serves as the Fire Chief for both agencies. This allows us to reduce administrative duplicity and create a single shared Training Division.

The City of Mill Valley brings a Deputy Fire Chief, 2 Battalion Chiefs, a part-time fire inspector, and a defensible space inspector to the combined team. Combining the two agencies, there is a total of 93 employees who are proud to provide services to the community of Mill Valley and Southern Marin Fire District areas in a caring and professional manner.

Mission

Our mission is to continuously meet the needs of our community in the most effective and efficient means possible. Our people do that daily through prevention, education and emergency response. The Mill Valley Fire Department has a rich history and has proudly served the community for over 100 years, and the new partnership with the Southern Marin Fire District builds on this rich history and service, bringing the best of each agency together to serve the larger community.

Trained Responders

Mill Valley & Southern Marin firefighters are highly skilled and trained "all-risk" emergency responders providing services to Mill Valley out of two fire stations, and the Southern Marin Fire District out of three fire stations. Collectively we provide public education, inspection services, plan checking, vegetation management and post-incident fire investigation through our fire prevention efforts.

Further Information

Feel free to explore the Southern Marin Fire District Website. We have tried to make it as comprehensive as possible, but if you can't find what you are looking for, please let us know. We are always eager to receive feedback and would love to hear your comments.

If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to email info@smfd.org or call 415-388-8182.

Meetings And Agendas

Oct 3, 2022 at 04:00 PM: Special Joint Meeting of the Southern Marin Fire Protection District Board and Mill Valley City Council - REVIEW DISTRICT AGENDA PACKET, REVIEW CITY AGENDA PACKET, WATCH VIDEO
Oct 17, 2022 at 06:30 PM: Mill Valley City Council Meeting - REVIEW CITY AGENDA PACKET
Oct 26, 2022 at 06:00 PM: Southern Marin Fire District Monthly Board Meeting - REVIEW DISTRICT AGENDA PACKET
Dec 8, 2022 at 07:00 PM: Marin Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) Meeting - REVIEW AGENDA, Item 6 (Public Hearing)
July 1, 2023: Effective Consolidation Date
July 11, 2023 at 5:30 PM: Consolidation Ceremony and Ribbon Cutting Event - Review News Release, WATCH VIDEO

Documents & Reports

2022 SMFD MVFD Merger Assistance (09-22-22) (PDF)

Questions & Answers

Q: When did the shared services agreement begin?

A: Since 2014, the Southern Marin Fire Protection District and Mill Valley Fire Department have been actively engaged in two formal shared services agreements. These agreements were viewed in part, as a means in which to evaluate the value of exploring a formal consolidation with the City of Mill Valley. Since then, both agencies have been sharing battalion chiefs; developed a structure capitalizing on the benefits of four battalion chief positions and merging operational programmatic areas where feasible.

Q: Will the consolidation cost me, the tax payers, more?

Q: How do we know these two fire departments can work together?

A: Since 2014, the Southern Marin Fire Protection District and Mill Valley Fire Department have been actively engaged in two formal shared services agreements. These agreements were viewed in part, as a means by which to evaluate the value of exploring a formal consolidation of the two fire departments. Since then, both agencies have been sharing battalion chiefs; developed a structure capitalizing on the benefits of four battalion chief positions, and merging operational programmatic areas where feasible. In 2020 both groups decided to formally study, and if appropriate, find a way to consolidate services into one fire department. This application is a byproduct of that work.

Q: Will my fire station remain open and staffed?

Q: Will this adversely impact response times?

Q: As a resident, how will I be represented by the Board of Directors?

A: The Southern Marin Fire Protection District Board is elected at large from within the district boundaries. Mill Valley will be added to that election process with residents of Mill Valley being able to vote and run for seats on the board starting with the 2024 election. Until the 2024 election occurs the the Southern Marin Fire Protection District will create a special sub-committee that includes two appointed Board members and two Mill Valley City Council members (who are appointed by the Mill Valley City Council) to help ensure Mill Valley residents' voices are heard.

Q: Why should we consolidate?

Q: What communities will be served when the consolidation is complete?

Q: When will the consolidation take place?

Q: How can I find out more about what is occurring with this application?

A: A complete independent report was conducted by Citigate to analyze all aspects of this application. That report can be found on https://www.marinlafco.org/smfpd-mv-fire-department-consolidation . In addition on October 3, 2022, both agencies held a joint meeting where they unanimously approved moving this application to LAFCo. You can watch that joint meeting from the City of Mill Valley website.

News Release - Unanimous Vote Supports Consolidation of Mill Valley Fire Department And Southern Marin Fire District

Post Date:10/04/2022 1:34 PM

MVFD_SMFD_Better Together_Logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On October 3, 2022, during a special joint meeting between the Southern Marin Fire Protection District Board of Directors and the City of Mill Valley City Council, both bodies endorsed a joint resolution supporting consolidated fire services. Consultants from Citygate Associates provided a presentation and report. Additional discussion relative to the Marin Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) process, as well as supporting comments from John Grey, Local 1755 Labor Attorney, Association Presidents, Mill Valley Assistant City Manager Alan Piombo, and Southern Marin Fire District Fire Chief Chris Tubbs, was provided. The Citygate Associates report reviews the merits of consolidation in-depth, answering questions regarding financial viability, operational efficiencies, and governance. The unanimous vote by City and District Leaders authorizes the City Manager and District Fire Chief to compile the LAFCo application to be submitted at the earliest convenience. Historically, the Mill Valley Fire Department and Southern Marin Fire Protection District have been working together with the shared Battalion Chief model and eventually with broader shared services. Staff on fire engines have been cross trained and assigned to each other’s stations for several years leading up to this moment.

The ultimate result of consolidated fire services is a “better together” approach that takes the strengths of both agencies to increase services to the public. Improved safety for the firefighters on the front lines every day, improved safety for our community, and strong governance offers a unique opportunity to enhance services at no additional cost to the taxpayers.

“We are excited about the efficiencies this relationship offers the community,” said Fire Chief Chris Tubbs. He said, “Consolidated efforts that enhance safety, increase financial resiliency, contain costs and improve bottom line services such as fire prevention are the exact results we feel our community demands.”

Fire consolidation is strongly supported by the Local 1755, fire department administration/City staff, and elected from both agencies. Broader communication and outreach strategy are forthcoming to ensure residents fully understand the process and benefits of the consolidated fire services.

For more information, contact Communications Coordinator Elysha Omoomy of Southern Marin Fire District, 28 Liberty Ship Way, Suite 2800, Sausalito, CA 94965 at 415-388-8182 or email at eomoomy@smfd.org

Review full press release PDF SMFD_MVFD_Consolidation Meeting_Oct 3_22_IMG

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