By Ben Aguirre Jr.
The Argus
NEWARK, Calif. — For almost 10 months, the Newark and Union City fire departments had been looking at a possible merger to offer better service.
But after a recent study showed that combining the two departments would not be economically viable for Newark, fire officials are now considering a hybrid model that would include the Alameda County and Fremont fire departments.
The Newark City Council agreed last week to allow City Manager John Becker to solicit proposals from Alameda County to be the primary provider of fire services to Newark, and then a proposal from Fremont to be an emergency backup.
Under the model, which still is being discussed, the Newark Fire Department would be folded into the county fire agency.
Speaking to the council Thursday, Newark Fire Chief Demetrious Shaffer who would lose his job if the hybrid plan is completed said the deal makes sense both economically and from a service standpoint.
However, he noted that many kinks would need to be ironed out before such a plan could be implemented.
Newark and Union City began discussing combining their departments in July 2008 after a feasibility study showed that both cities would benefit from increased levels of service.
In October, the two cities hired a consulting agency to study the impacts of putting the two departments together.
The consultant’s report released to the council noted that combining the two agencies would result in increased costs for the city of Newark, partly because Newark firefighters are paid less than their Union City counterparts.
The report also suggested that Newark and Union City individually or jointly seek primary firefighting services from Alameda County and pursue a quot;fee for servicequot; deal with Fremont. Under this model, most fire and emergency calls in Newark and Union City would be handled by the Alameda County Fire Department which in theory would include firefighters currently employed by the two cities.
The Fremont Fire Department then would send a battalion chief and extra crews to either city, if necessary.
Newark Mayor David W. Smith noted that the suggested model is quot;extremely complex,quot; and Becker stated that there are a quot;tremendous number of issuesquot; that need to be resolved before the plan comes to fruition.
City Council members said it would be difficult for them to agree to dissolve the Newark Fire Department, but said they’d be open to considering services that would best benefit the city and its residents.
quot;We have to be cautious in a move like this. ... This would be forever,quot; Councilman Luis Freitas said. Added Shaffer: quot;It wasn’t on my goal sheet to work myself out of a job. (But I) hope it shows (my) level of commitment.quot;
When asked how long it would take before the suggested model would be enacted, Becker said there was no timetable.
It could take six months, he said, to gather and analyze proposals. And if everything was approved and went off without a hitch, he noted, it could be another 12 to 18 months before residents would see the new services.
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