Council adopts amended Ross Valley Paramedic Authority JPA; continues parcel-tax language for July review

The Town Council adopted Resolution No. 2635 on June 11 approving an amended and restated Ross Valley Paramedic Authority (RVPA) joint powers agreement that centralizes operations and financial management and adds 2/3 vote thresholds for major actions. Fire Chief Dan Mahoney told the Council the revised document, effective July 1, 2027 upon member approvals, retains the Board governance structure but adds specific voting thresholds for expenditures above 3.5% of the operating budget and establishes procedures for membership, withdrawal and equalization of parcel-tax rates over time.

Chief Mahoney summarized the agreement as the product of an extensive two-year review and told the Council it "reflects extensive review and input from the Board, member agencies, and staff over the past two years." Council discussion focused on the mechanics of 2/3 Board votes versus member-agency approval for particular actions, and on equalizing parcel-tax rates among member agencies by about 2031. The measure to renew the four-year RVPA parcel tax (July 1, 2027–June 30, 2031) will appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot if the Council finalizes and approves ballot language; Council directed staff and counsel to review suggested edits to the ballot preamble language and return the item on July 9 for final action.

Council agreed to continue the parcel-tax language discussion so that Town counsel and RVPA counsel can vet whether proposed wording changes (including replacing "assist" with "respond" and debating the phrase "locally controlled") conform to legal and County election requirements. The continuation was approved unanimously. Chief Mahoney noted the tax funds roughly 50% of RVPA operations with the balance from transport revenues and that proposed rates would equalize over several years.