City of Encinitas Special Council Meeting- Fire Management Services 6/11/25

The City of Encinitas held a special council meeting on June 11, 2025, to discuss the potential withdrawal from the Cooperative Fire Management Services Agreement with the cities of Del Mar and Solana Beach. The fire chief presented the history and current structure of the agreement, which consolidates executive fire management functions across the three cities to improve coordination and cost efficiency. Encinitas currently funds about 69.25% of the cooperative agreement's costs, totaling approximately $2.62 million, with $1.8 million contributed by Encinitas. The council discussed the implications of withdrawal, including budget impacts, personnel redistribution, and maintaining service quality. Staff highlighted opportunities for increased focus on wildfire preparedness, community engagement, and grant funding if Encinitas operates an independent fire department. The council agreed to initiate the withdrawal process with a target completion date of March 31, 2026, and requested a public update on the transition status and service framework changes by August 2025.