California City Council directs staff to negotiate Kern County Fire takeover under Proposal A amid fiscal shortfall

The California City Council voted unanimously on Nov. 3, 2025, to direct staff to formally begin contract negotiations with Kern County Fire for the provision of fire services in California City and to meet and confer under the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, with the council selecting Proposal A for further negotiation.

City Manager Lopez told the council the Kern County proposal includes full fire prevention and suppression, emergency medical response, rescue, hazardous-materials response, fire inspections, plan review, cause-and-arson investigation and support services such as dispatching, training, maintenance and procurement. Lopez said the county’s offer includes a $3,980,000 credit that would be phased in over 2.5 years (about 9% in year 1, 35% in year 2 and 50% in year 3) and that the full cost would be recalculated after the phase-in period. Lopez said staff was presenting four staffing options (A–D) that differ by crew size (three- vs. four-person engines) and by whether advanced life support (ALS) is included; staff showed estimated city costs for fiscal years 2025–26 through 2027–28 under each option.

Lopez said the proposals were prepared in response to ongoing fiscal stress: the city has balanced the last two budgets by drawing on fund balance, past special parcel-tax measures failed, and the council previously authorized an interim agreement with Kern County for chief services. Lopez said an assumed effective date for the proposals would be Jan.…