Measure FF: Emergency Response and Preparedness Parcel Tax
Measure FF provides funding for fire services, emergency response, 9-1-1 communication, hazard mitigation, and wildfire prevention.
About Measure FF
Measure FF provides $8.5 million in funding annually from parcel taxes to pay for fire services, emergency response, 9-1-1 communication, hazard mitigation and wildfire prevention. Berkeley voters passed Measure FF in November 2020 with 74.2% approval. The original ballot question read:
Shall an ordinance enacting a tax at a rate of $0.1047 per square foot of improvements, which is estimated to generate $8.5 million annually for firefighting, emergency medical response, 9-1-1 communications services, hazard mitigation, and wildfire prevention and preparedness, until repealed by the voters, be adopted?
Status
The Fire Department has used Measure FF funds for a variety of projects to improve disaster preparedness and department operations.
A 2023 City Auditor’s report on Measure FF determined that spending aligned with the ballot measure and city code. The audit found: “The majority of funds went toward Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) program areas and the top spending categories were wages and benefits, professional services, capital, and transfers to the Paramedic Tax Fund.”
Firefighting
Measure FF funding supported training and equipment to ensure firefighters are better prepared to handle complex calls, including those in taller (5+ story) buildings, hazardous materials releases, and active shooter incidents. Funding also supported an analysis of all fire department’s essential facilities, an analysis of staffing and deployment, efforts for recruitment, retention, and employee wellness to ensure a fully staffed and healthy team.
Emergency Medical Response
Measure FF funding supported a lease of a new Fire Department Headquarters with an ambulance deployment center, created new positions to lead a new ambulance transport division and perform continuous quality improvement and education, allowed a six-month pilot of a low acuity medical unit that proactively contacts frequent 911 users and provides in-home care and connections with other appropriate services, and provided Automated External Defibrillators in fire department vehicles.
9-1-1 Communications Services
Measure FF funding supported the design, procurement, installation and maintenance of a city-wide outdoor warning system, and is funding a comprehensive analysis of the city’s Emergency Communications Center (ECC) with the goal of enabling 911 calls to be triaged so the most appropriate resources can be connected to each call for help.
Hazard Mitigation
Measure FF funding is paying for a novel Evacuation and Response Time Study to understand the time it will take residents to evacuate in the event of a wildfire and what impacts development and road design may have to emergency response times. FF is also supporting a novel program called Street Trauma Prevention (STP) that will support the City's efforts to eliminate all traffic-related deaths and severe injuries while increasing safe, equitable mobility for all, and has provided new staff to research, apply and manage over $9,500,000 in grant awards in FY24 - 25.
Wildfire Prevention and Preparedness
Measure FF funding has provided the capacity to study the wildfire risk Berkeley faces to understand, long-term, how to best use the funding to maximize our mitigation efforts. FF funding supports an average of 8,000 defensible space inspections annually and has expanded free chipping services to all of Berkeley, resulting in 1,200 pickups of over 3,000 cubic yards of flammable vegetation annually. For residents who are financially or physically unable to conduct defensible space activities, the City has launched the Resident Assistance Pilot Program and following a recommendation from the Disaster Fire & Safety Commission, launched a Eucalyptus understory clean-up program that has removed 192 cubic yards of material. The City has also installed model firesafe demonstration gardens around Firehouse #4 and has acquired a mobile water delivery vehicle capable of delivering 3,000 gallons of water when water is not accessible through fire hydrants.
Management and oversight
The Fire Department manages the emergency response and preparedness projects funded by Measure FF.
The Disaster and Fire Safety Commission provides citizen oversight of expenditures and the City Council approves programs and projects funded by Measure FF.
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