The ins and outs of Police consolidation

If only consolidating city services were as simple as cramming peanut butter and jelly into a bottle and calling it Goober. Alas, the issue of police consolidation between San Anselmo and Fairfax has been a topic of debate for more than 30 years.

The most recent chapter came to a close last year after the two town councils voted against consolidation, with Fairfax officials going so far as to vote on never rehashing the subject again. It's a longstanding concern within both communities that will inevitably re-enter the public discourse.

"I don't see how this will not come up again," said Fairfax Councilman David Weinsoff.

"What focuses minds on consolidation is finances," said San Anselmo Police Captian Jim Providenza. "That's often a driving issue; that's an issue why it didn't move forward."

According to Providenza, police consolidation is certainly possible. Whether it would ever be approved or if both towns would be happy with the services left to them after consolidation is another question

"Depending on how you do things and the way you structure things, there can be potential savings," said Providenza, who worked with consultants for both the 2007 Officer Standards and Training study and the 2008 Lewis-McCrary dispatching and records consolidation report. "Does that leave everyone with the same amount of services? That's where it has to be hammered out."

Among the key concerns is local control of local services, which neither town is hasty to part with. The 2008 report suggested that the best way to save money in a consolidation would be to stop providing 24-hour a day walk-in service in Fairfax and consolidate into one office in San Anselmo.

"The Fairfax police force under [former] Chief [Ken] Hughes has been a perfect reflection of the Fairfax community. The officers he's trained are a perfect group of officers for this town," Weinsoff said. "If you consolidate, do you lose that?"

Another hurdle was the stipulations of the consolidation itself. Under the proposed plan put forward by San Anselmo, Fairfax would not operate its 24 hours a day walk-in service —a requirement under Measure F.

Last November, Fairfax residents passed Measure I -- a five-year extension of a $125 annual municipal services tax implemented in 2005 as Measure F to help preserve public safety, public works, and youth services. That revenue would add up to $465,000 annually.

Weinsoff voices concerns that the tax revenue doesn't have the same buying power as it had five years ago. It could become "a death spiral," he said.

"Your costs are increasing but your revenue is not," he said.

Up until last year, meetings were held to discuss the cost-saving benefits of a consolidation. The 2007 study concluded that San Anselmo and Fairfax could save a combined $430,000 annually by consolidating entire police departments. A less extreme merger would be to combine back-office support, such as dispatching and records. A thorough examination of such a merger was concluded in Sept. 2008. Prepared by independent consultants Lewis-McCrary Partners, the study considered various factors, including technological and personnel issues to determine multiple options. According to the study, the most cost-effective option would yield a second year savings of $99,995.

But Weinstoff argues that both previous studies were flawed. "The savings would never be that substantial," he said. The only Fairfax councilman to vote in favor of consolidation at last year's meeting, Weinstoff would prefer to see a more thorough analysis and allow the general public to vote on the issue.

For now, the debate remains at rest.  

"Until the economic conditions press the two towns to take another hard look at this, I just don't see where the motivation is," Weinsoff said.

The towns already share various services, including schools, sanitary services and a joint fire department, which merged in 1982 with the formation of the Ross Valley Fire Department.

In June, both San Anselmo and Fairfax voted to include Sleepy Hollow as a full member of the Ross Valley Fire Service – despite some concerns that were raised by the Fairfax council. The unincorporated Sleepy Hollow currently contracts with the department for services, paying 23 percent of the department's annual labor costs, according to Fire Chief Roger Meagor.

For the last two years, San Anselmo and Sleepy Hollow have held discussions about re-jigging the Ross Valley Fire Service participation to include Sleepy hollow as a full member. After its enrollment was approved, Sleepy Hollow now has two voting members on the fire service's board of directors (instead of one non-voting member) and their contribution amount would be based on a percentage share of cost.

"Overall, it strengthens the Joint Powers Authority," Meagor said. "I don't see any drawbacks."