Los Altos council votes to seek annexation into Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District

The Los Altos City Council voted unanimously March 10 to initiate annexation into the Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District and directed staff to submit an application to the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO).

Council reviewed staff analysis of options for fire protection after the city’s current 10‑year contract with County Fire, which expires Dec. 31. City staff recommended annexation as the most sustainable long‑term arrangement, saying it would move ongoing fire and emergency‑medical services funding onto the County Fire district’s property‑tax base while removing the city’s capital exposure for two fire stations and deferred maintenance that staff estimated at $1.5 million. City Manager Gabe Majino told council the transfer would include the two fire stations’ property and a negotiated tax‑transfer agreement; LAFCO process steps and financial details will be finalized in coming weeks.

Mayor Meadows and several council members described annexation as a financial and service‑level improvement: the district is a special fire protection entity with a dedicated tax base, they said, which would provide more predictable revenue tied to property‑tax assessments and reduce the possibility of future mid‑cycle contract increases or reductions in service. Vice Mayor Lang and Council Member Weineberg pressed staff on contingency planning if LAFCO timing extended past the contract end date; staff said County Fire indicated it would continue providing service while payment arrangements were resolved.

Several residents addressed council during public comment. Richard “Bob” Heg, a former Los Altos firefighter, urged council to keep ties to County Fire and praised the district’s training and standards. Former Fire Chief Tony Bowen similarly supported annexation, saying County Fire strengthened regional response capacity.

Council approved a resolution directing staff to submit the LAFCO application on or before April 2 so the matter could be heard in June, and to return to council on April 14 with the finalized financial details. If LAFCO approves annexation this year, staff said the change would become effective Jan. 1, 2027. The council amended the draft resolution to ensure the document consistently refers to both fire protection and emergency medical services.

What changes and what does not: the city’s recommendation will move the city’s portion of property‑tax receipts to the County Fire district; residents’ overall property‑tax bills will not change. 9‑1‑1 response procedures also remain the same for callers — dispatch will continue to route fire/medical calls to County Fire — and staff emphasized service continuity as the district assumes operations. If LAFCO approves annexation, the county district will assume responsibility for station maintenance and long‑term capital replacement, removing those future capital obligations from the city’s CIP.

Next steps: staff will file the LAFCO application, continue negotiating the tax‑transfer and station‑transfer terms with County Fire, return to council April 14 with financial exhibits, and participate in the LAFCO hearing process with the goal of implementation on Jan. 1, 2027 if approved.