DEPARTMENT: Government and Public Affairs
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Jeff Coyle
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S) IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT: Emergency Services District No. 2's Request to Incur Debt
SUMMARY:
A briefing on a request from Emergency Services District (ESD) No. 2 to incur debt of up to $30 million for the development of additional fire stations and purchase of equipment. City consent to incur debt is required pursuant to the agreement terms between Bexar County and the City of San Antonio that created ESD No. 2 in 2004.
BACKGROUND:
In October 2004 City Council approved, through ordinance 97417, an agreement with Bexar County to create Emergency Services District No. 2 within the City's Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) for the provision of fire suppression and emergency medical services for individuals residing within the district's boundaries. ESD No. 2 is in western Bexar County and is generally described as bounded on the west by the Bexar County line; on the south U.S. Highway 90; on the east by Loop 1604; and on the north by Culebra Rd.
Because state law (Texas Health and Safety Code Section 775.022) requires that the City pay the ESD a pro-rata share of the District's indebtedness should the City annex a portion of the District's territory, the City reviews and evaluates any request to incur debt prior to providing consent.
The agreement for the creation of ESD No. 2 includes the following conditions:
* ESD No. 2 cannot incur debt in excess of $20,000 without the consent of the City.
* If the City annexes a portion of ESD No. 2, any contractual obligations of ESD No. 2 to, or the payment of any debt incurred by, a third-party contractor will not be a debt for purposes of Texas Health and Safety Code Section 775.002 unless City approved the contract creating the obligation or debt.
* Any fire station constructed by ESD No. 2 will be located and constructed with the concurrence of the San Antonio Fire Department.
* ESD No. 2 will ensure that its equipment is co...
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