By Theresa-Marie Wilson

The Grover Beach City Council recently approved an increase in fees to provide fire and emergency medical aid dispatch services.
Fire services for the Cities of Grover Beach and Arroyo Grande and the Oceano Community Services District (OCSD) were consolidated in June of 2010 with the creation of the Five Cities Fire Authority (FCFA). Grover Beach runs dispatch services for the entire Five Cities Fire Authority area.
In 2008, the City of Grover Beach entered into an agreement with OCSD for fire, rescue, and emergency medical aid dispatch services. In the original agreement, OCSD agreed to pay $1,518 per month or $18,216 per year based on analysis for a Call For Service (CFS).
In 2014, when Arroyo Grande joined the agreement it was at a cost of $3,268 per month or $39,216 per year based on the same formula.
After reviewing the service needs, an additional fulltime dispatcher was brought on board, staff overtime was increased to cover necessary shifts, technology was improved and administrative oversight was increased, all of which were covered in the existing fiscal year 2015 budget.
Like almost everything else, prices for these services will increase for 2016. The expected price tag is $149,500. By using the existing cost sharing formula already used by the FCFA, 48 percent cost to Arroyo Grande will come in at $71,762, 33% cost to Grover Beach at $49,336 and 19% cost to OCSD at $28,406
Both the City of Arroyo Grande and the OCSD approved their respective dispatch services agreement. New fees went into effect July 1, the start of the new fiscal year.
The FCFA serves a population of more than 38,000 in a 10 square mile service area. They responded to 3, 481 calls for service in 2014.