R 4859 RESOLUTION NO. 4859
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO
GRANDE APPROVING A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
AMENDING THE FIVE CITIES FIRE AUTHORITY JOINT EXERCISE OF
POWERS AGREEMENT AND APPROVING A GENERAL COUNSEL
CONFLICT WAIVER
WHEREAS, the City of Arroyo Grande ("City") is a member agency of the Five Cities
Fire Authority (FCFA), which was created in 2010 upon approval of a Joint Powers
Authority Agreement by the City, City of Grover Beach and the Oceano Community
Services District; and
WHEREAS, the City, City of Grover Beach and the Oceano Community Services
District wish to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement amending the FCFA Joint
Exercise of Powers Agreement and adopting a General Counsel Conflict Waiver.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Arroyo Grande
that the Memorandum of Agreement Amending the Five Cities Fire Authority Joint
Exercise of Power Attorney and General Counsel Conflict Waiver, attached hereto and
incorporated herein as Exhibit A, are hereby approved and the Mayor and City Clerk are
directed to sign the same on behalf of said City.
On motion of Council Member Barneich, seconded by Council Member Ray, and on the
following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES: Council Members Barneich, Ray, Brown, and Harmon
NOES: Mayor Hill
ABSENT: None
The foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted this 29th day of May, 2018.
RESOLUTION NO. / 59
PAGE 2
JIM LL, MAYOR
ATTEST:
KE LY WETM RE, CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
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JAMES _'' i* N, CITY MANAGER
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
, ____ Z, ------
EATHER WHITHAM, CITY ATTORNEY—
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EXHIBIT A
Memorandum of Agreement(MOA)
Amending the
Five Cities Fire Authority
Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement
This agreement is entered into by the Cities of Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach, and the
Oceano Community Services District, which are hereinafter referred to as the Parties. This
amendment to the Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement, dated June 7, 2010 ("Amendment"),
includes the following terms and provisions relating to the operations of the Five Cities Fire
Authority("FCFA"), which operations shall continue as provided in the Joint Exercise of Powers
Agreement("JPA"or"JPA Agreement").
1. Each Parties' contributions for funding the Fiscal Year 2018/19 FCFA budget
shall be:
a. City of Arroyo Grande $ 2,523,661
b. City of Grover Beach $ 1,798,108
c. Oceano Community Services District $ 987,362
2. For Fiscal Year 2018/19, staffing shortages shall be operationally managed by the
Fire Chief with updates provided to the Board of Directors. Such staffing shortages may result in
temporary closure or reduced staffing at fire stations.
3. During Fiscal Year 2018/19, the Parties shall act in good faith to meet and confer
for the purpose of considering amendments to the JPA including, but not limited to,
modifications to the funding formula contained in Exhibit B of the JPA Agreement ("Funding
Formula"),the provisions regarding member withdrawal, and future staffing levels beyond Fiscal
Year 2018/19, so that the JPA may be amended to meet the needs of each of the Parties. If the
Parties cannot agree upon amendments and a restructured JPA by April 1, 2019, then any
member agency may withdraw pursuant to the terms of this Amendment. Notwithstanding the
potential withdrawal of a member agency, if the remaining Parties cannot agree upon
amendments and a restructured JPA by April 1, 2019, the JPA shall be terminated as of
December 31, 2019, and assets and liabilities shall be distributed by and among the Parties
pursuant to Sections 4 and 5 below.
4. During Fiscal Year 2018/19, the Parties shall also act in good faith to meet and
confer in order to do the following by April 1, 2019, in preparation for the potential withdrawal
of a member agency and/or termination of the JPA:
a. Establish a distribution of assets currently owned and/or in the possession
of the JPA, including, but not limited to major pieces of apparatus and capital
equipment, which will allow all three Parties to maintain sufficient apparatus and
capital equipment to establish an independent fire service; and
b. Establish the obligations of the Parties to pay future obligations that were
incurred by the FCFA prior to July 1, 2019, including, but not limited to, those
future obligations related to lease payments on Engine 2 and 3 and future
pension/PERS obligations.
c. Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Parties mutually agree and understand
that as a result of the withdrawal of a member agency or the termination of the
JPA, no Party shall be obligated to future payment lease obligations for any
Engine that does not remain in the custody, control, and possession of that
agency.
5. If the Parties are unable to agree upon amendments and a restructured JPA by
April 1, 2019, then the Parties shall act in good faith to meet and confer to finalize the
distribution of all assets currently owned and/or in the possession of the JPA not established for
distribution in accordance with Section 4.a above, such as additional tools, machines, parts,
supplies, communication devices, computers, office equipment supplies and furnishings, by
December 31,2019.
6. Upon mutual agreement of the City Manager of Grover Beach, the City Manager
of Arroyo Grande, and the General Manager of Oceano CSD that the Parties are making progress
towards JPA amendments and working in good faith, the April 1 deadlines contained within this
Amendment will be extended for a period not to exceed six (6) months and will result in a
corresponding extension of time of the December 31, 2019 deadline so as to always allow an
eight month wind down for distribution of assets and establishment of new services. This
extension may be handled administratively with no requirement of board approval from any of
the Parties.
7. Upon termination of the JPA or the withdrawal of an agency, any two agencies
subject to the JPA Agreement may agree, without consent of the third agency, to continue
operating under the FCFA name and branding and/or reestablish the FCFA under a new
agreement and operate under the FCFA name and branding.
8. The Parties understand and acknowledge that consistent with the Joint Exercise of
Powers Agreement and the conflict waivers contained therein, dated June 7, 2010 and the signed
waiver agreement, dated May 18, 2018, between the FCFA Board, the City Council of the City
of Grover Beach, the City Council of the City of Arroyo Grande and Board of Directors of the
Oceano Community Services District, the Grover Beach City Attorney, David Hale is
representing the Five Cities Fire Authority as General Counsel and the City of Grover Beach as
City Attorney in regards to the performance of the tasks identified in this Amendment. To the
extent said representation may result in a potential or actual conflict of interest pursuant to
Section 4. E. (7) of the JPA Agreement, the Parties hereby waive the requirement that Mr. Hale
withdraw from representing either Party and agree to sign the conflict waiver agreement,
attached as Exhibit "A", manifesting the subject waiver to the JPA Agreement Section 4. E. (7)
and that the signing by the parties herein of the subject conflict waiver agreement is a
representation by the parties the subject conflict waiver is in compliance with the California
Rules of Professional Conduct, section 3-310 and has adequately advised them of the potential
conflicts contained within the subject representation. Moreover, the City of Arroyo Grande and
Oceano Community Services District are represented by independent legal counsel which has
reviewed the conflict waiver and advised them regarding said agreement.
9. To the extent there is inconsistency between this Amendment and the JPA, the
terms of this Amendment shall control, including but not limited to JPA Sections 4.E.(7), 6.B,
8.B.(3), and Section 17.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
and attested by their proper officers hereunto duly authorized, and their official seals to be hereto
affixed, as of the day and year first above written.
CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE CITY OF GROVER BEACH
By: By:
,Mayor ,Mayor
Attest: Attest:
, City Clerk , City Clerk
OCEANO COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT Attest:
By:
,President ,Board Secretary
E= MI IN I EXHIBIT ADAVID P. HALE
a Ptofessiona1 Corporation
ATTORNEY AT LAW
May 11, 2018
Five Cities Fire Authority
Board of Directors
And Member Agencies
Fire Chief
140 Traffic Way
Arroyo Grande, California 93420
Attention: Honorable Chair and Members of the Board of Five Cities Fire Authority; City Council
for City of Grover Beach, City Council:for City of Arroyo Grande and Members of the Board for
Oceano Community Services District
Re: Conflict Waiver
Dear Boards and Respective Councils:
In 2010, when the Five Cities Fire Authority, ("Authority")was established,the member
agencies entered into a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement.("Agreement"), dated June 7, 2010.
This Agreement established a Government Code section 6500 Joint Powers Authority,for the
establishment and implementation of fire suppression and emergency medical services for the
three member agencies consisting of the City of Grover Beach,the City of Arroyo Grande and
Oceano Community Facilities District("Member Agencies").
The Authority was structured for the purposes of maximizing efficiencies and to accomplish
that objective, delegated numerous operational functions to different member agencies. The
function of the Authority's General Counsel was delegated by Section 4, E. (7)and subsection 2,
of Exhibit"A" of the Agreement to the Grover Beach City Attorney. The Member Agencies
recognizedat that timethere was the potential for a conflict of interest between the role of the
City Attorney for Grover Beach representing the City and the role of representing the Authority
at the same time. As a consequence,the Member Agencies agreed to waive the conflict and
acknowledged that waiver in Section 4, E. (7) of the Agreement.
There are currently discussions between the Member Agencies with how the Authority should
proceed which is reflected in the proposed Memorandum of Agreement ("MOA")of which this
Conflict Waiver is attached as Exhibit"A". The MOA contemplates a number of phases of
negotiations including butnot limited to potential restructuring of the Authority, redrafting the
provisions of the Agreement, distribution of major assets and equipment,the potential
withdrawal of a member of the Authority or a complete termination of the Authority.
Therefore, it is the intent of the Authority and the Member Agencies to allow the City Attorney
for Grover Breach to participate in the subject negotiations and to continue to represent both
1
401 Clovis Ave., Suite 208 Clovis, CA 93612
0:559.229.2200 C:559.974.3274
the City of Grover Breachand the Authority notwithstanding the conflicts that may arise due to
this representation.
The following are the pertinent Rules of Professional.Conduct related to this engagement:
..RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Rule 3-310 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct provides in pertinent part:.
(C) A member(of the Bar] shall not, without the informed written consent of each client:
(1) Accept representation of more than one client in a matter in which the interests of the
clients potentially conflict; or
(2) Accept or continue representation of more than one client in a matter in which the
interests of the clients actually conflict;or
(3) Represent a client in a matter and at the same time in a separate matter accept as a
client a person or entity whose interest in the first matter is adverse to the client in the first
matter.
(ID) A member who represents two or more clients shall not enter into an aggregate
settlement of the claims of or against the clients without the informed written consent of each
client.
Mr. Hale's REPRESENTATION
In this matter, I will continue to represent the Authority consistent with the Agreement while
continuing to maintain the position of City Attorney and represent the City of Grover Beach as a
Member Agency of the Authority. This has been previously agreed to by the.Member Agencies
as indicated above, and by execution of this Agreement will continue to be approvedand
authorized by the Member Agencies consistent with this letter.
This considers and the Member Agencies acknowledge this will include, but not be limited to,
megiving advice to the Authority and the City of Grover Beach related to the negotiations
concerning the restructuring of the Authority, redrafting of any provisions of the Agreement,
the potentially defining and negotiating the distribution of major assets or equipment of the
Authority, the potential withdrawal of a Member Agency or the termination of the Authority.
The Member Agencies are advised and acknowledge that at any stage of the various
negotiations or actions defined within the MOA,the following adverse consequences could
arise. Moreover, in the event the Parties herein cannot come to an agreement on any phase(s)
of negotiation related to the MOA,then Mr. Hale shall withdraw from representation of the
Authority and City of Grover Beach and special counsel shall be engaged.
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ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES
I am obliged to inform you of any actual or reasonably foreseeable adverse effects of this
representation that could.arise as part of any phase or portion of the MOA negotiations. It is
possible that:
• I may be tempted to favor the interests of one client over the other.
• I may not be able to present the appropriate position,claims or defenses for a client in
order to avoid taking adverse positions to the other client.
• I may be restricted from forcefully advocating a client's position for fear of alienating
the other client.
• I may be forced to withdraw from representing either or.both clients because of
disputes or further conflicts of interest which could increase either or both clients' attorney's
fees and costs.
• There may be an appearance of impropriety in my representation of both clients
simultaneously.
YOUR CONSENT
It is understood that this consent will not waive any protection that you may have with regard
to attorney-client communications with me in this matter. Those communications will remain
confidential and will not be disclosed to any third party without your consent.
I believe that you are familiar with the factual background in this matter, and I have given you a
sufficiently-detailed description for obtaining informed written consent. However,if you
believe that there is any other information that you or I need to have before such consent can
begranted, please let me know immediately:
In the event that circumstances change or I becomeaware of new information that requires a
new consent from the parties, you will be notified of that fact immediately, and continued
representation will be subject to the informed written consent of involved parties.
The Member Agencies acknowledge they are represented by independent legal counsel and
that by signing this Conflict Waiver represent they have sought legal advice related to the
proposed conflict represented by this waiver and based upon that advice is fully informed and
agrees to sign this Conflict Waiver to allow the City Attorney for Grover Beach to continue to
represent the Authority and the City of Grover Beach during the negotiations related to the
subject MOA.
Your execution of this consent form will constitute an acknowledgment of full disclosure in
compliance with the requirements of Section 3-310 of the California Rules of Professional
Conduct previously quoted in this letter.
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A copy of this letter is enclosed for your files. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate
to call.
Very truly yours,
David P. Hale
A Professional Corporation
Ci., Attorn y fo over Beach
David P. Hale
Accepted:
Five Cities Fire Authority
Board of Directors
Date:
Chair, Board of Directors
City of Grover Beach
City Council
Date:
Mayor
City of Arroyo,Grande
City Council
Date:
Mayor
Oceano Community Services District
Board of Directors
Date:
Chair, Board of Directors
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OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION
I, KELLY WETMORE, City Clerk of the City of Arroyo Grande, County of San Luis
Obispo, State of California, do hereby certify under penalty of perjury, that the attached
Resolution No. 4859 was passed and adopted at a special meeting of the City Council
of the City of Arroyo Grande on the 29th day of May, 2018.
WITNESS my hand and the Seal of the City of Arroyo Grande affixed this 31St day of
May, 2018.
4.e Ubeffig4Ce
KELLY T RE, CITY CLERK