Council approves five-year Cal Fire contract with added battalion chief; city staff say second chief is mandated

Highland City Council voted June 24 to approve a five-year contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, covering July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030, that city staff said totals $46,400,000 and includes adding a second battalion chief that Cal Fire has identified as required.

Carlos, a finance staff member who presented the item, told the council the office had followed up after a budget study session when council members raised concern about the addition of a second battalion chief. “What I will tell you is that, at the end, we understood that this is a mandate, something that they're required to do to have as part of the contract because of the additional personnel where we're going from, 24 to 31,” Carlos said during the presentation.

The contract also reflects Cal Fire’s transition in work schedules discussed previously with the city: staff said the current contract cuts a 72-hour workweek to 66 hours and that Cal Fire has indicated a possible later move to a 56-hour workweek. Carlos said Cal Fire told the city it would not seek additional staffing when it makes the shift from a 66- to a 56-hour schedule. “They’re not looking to make, additional staffing changes or requests when they make the transition from a 66 to a 56,” Carlos said.

Council members pressed staff about termination language after the presentation. One council member asked about a 60-day cancellation clause; Carlos explained that the 60-day provision applies in circumstances where the city is not paying Cal Fire for services and that the contract includes a separate provision requiring that if either party opts to terminate under other circumstances, Cal Fire would continue to provide services for a full year to allow the city time to secure another provider.

Council discussion that followed focused on the earlier ambiguity the council had encountered about the battalion chief; one member said the finance and personnel subcommittee had not previously been aware of the additional position. After discussion, a council member moved to adopt the finance subcommittee’s recommendation to approve the contract; another council member seconded the motion. The council took a voice vote and approved the contract.

The contract and related staffing changes are included in the city’s two-year budget materials presented at the same meeting. City staff said they had met with Cal Fire to try to address council concerns and that the staffing increase tied to the contract was a Cal Fire requirement because of the increased number of personnel covered by the agreement.

Council members and staff did not provide a detailed line-item breakdown in the public presentation; the contract total and the staffing counts were stated during the meeting.