Board extends Groveland co-location agreement to maintain local fire coverage, switches to rent model

The Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to the license and cost-reimbursement agreement with the Groveland Community Services District (GCSD) to continue colocating a county fire engine at the Groveland station and adopted a joint resolution (Res. 47-26) to affirm the partnership.

County staff described the amendment as a 15-month extension that aligns the agreement to the county's current Cal Fire contract period and changes the cost structure to a fixed rent model so the county can budget a stable amount rather than paying variable replacement costs as they occur. "Switching to that rent payment instead of a lump sum when it occurs is what's reflected in that rent payment," said Pete Campo of GCSD during public comment.

Staff and GCSD representatives said the arrangement helps maintain the county's 12-minute response-time standard for the Groveland area, strengthens mutual aid and is fiscally efficient compared with the county building a new station. The board approved the amendment by motion; the meeting record indicates a unanimous vote in favor (4-0-0).

Next steps: county staff and GCSD will continue to collaborate on station maintenance, equipment amortization and any capacity expansion tied to future grant opportunities. The amendment extends the current co-location through 06/30/2027, the end date noted for the county's Cal Fire contract in the meeting materials.