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Willows council approves updated five‑year MOU with rural fire district for shared services
Summary
The Willows City Council approved a multi‑year memorandum of understanding with the Willows Rural Fire Protection District to formalize shared fire protection and administrative services for July 2026–June 2031. Council and the rural board framed the deal as preserving volunteer resources and fiscal fairness.
The Willows City Council on May 12 approved an updated memorandum of understanding with the Willows Rural Fire Protection District to clarify and fund shared fire protection and administrative services for the five‑year period beginning July 1, 2026.
City staff described the contract as the product of a multi‑year review intended to align fiscal responsibilities with how the two agencies actually operate. Fire Chief Monk told the council the work was aimed at creating “a fair, equitable and realistic” arrangement that captures the administrative tasks currently handled by both organizations.
At the public comment period, John Amaro, vice chairman of the Willows Rural Fire Protection District (speaking unofficially), praised the partnership and asked the council to approve the agreement, noting the challenges volunteer departments face today and thanking city staff and rural board members for their work.
Council members generally endorsed the MOU as a continuation of a longstanding partnership. Council member Lorie Pride said she pulled the item from consent to ensure the public heard the details and praised the rural district’s recent Prop 218 funding for improving local fire resources. Council member Gary Hansen called the agreement “well written” and said the district and city have a ‘‘symbiotic relationship.”
The recommended action in the staff report was to approve the MOU establishing updated terms for shared services between the city and the rural district for the period identified in staff materials. The council voted unanimously, 5–0, to approve the contract as presented.
The staff presentation referenced a multi‑year funding schedule and an overall contract total that was read aloud during the meeting but whose spoken figure in the public transcript is unclear (see clarifying details). City staff said the agreement is intended to better reflect administrative responsibilities and to support continued ALS and fire‑response services across district lines.
Next steps: staff will implement the updated interagency terms as written in the adopted MOU and continue to coordinate with the Willows Rural Fire Protection District on operational details and any subsequent budget adjustments.
