San Carlos To Vote On Outsourcing Fire Department

SAN CARLOS (CBS SF) - The San Carlos City Council is set to decide Monday night how it will provide fire and emergency services to the city once the Belmont-San Carlos Fire Protection District dissolves in October.

The council will consider between two primary proposals; one from Redwood City Fire Department and a second submitted by Wackenhut Services Inc., a Florida-based private provider.

The proposal from Wackenhut is projected to save San Carlos between $1.9 million and $6.6 million annually, according to staff reports.

The proposal from the Redwood City Fire Department is projected to bring a savings of $1.7 million to $3.5 million per year.

"The council has two clear contrasting options; a business model and a municipal model," consultants from TriData, a firm hired to analyze the fire protection models and proposals, said in a report to the City Council.

"During review, council members should consider service levels, delivery methods and cost as well as their individual philosophy about how an organization delivering service should function," the report said.

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