Whether the Oceano Community Services District will get a share of the county's off-highway motor vehicle registration fees remains an unknown.

But what is known is that the district likely won't get all the money it's asking for when the supervisors consider the request this spring.

The district has requested a total of $199,152 in OHV fees that the county receives annually from the state to be used to help support existing operations at the Oceano Fire Department.

Of the almost $200,000 request, the district would like to see $64,800 allocated to funding a full-time fire crew that would be stationed at the beach to respond to emergency calls at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area on busy weekends.

“The likelihood is that's not going to happen,” said OCSD General Manager Patrick O'Reilly.

However, the district has still requested the funds, which O'Reilly said would help to provide better coverage to the community during times when fire crews are responding to calls in the dunes.

“There are certain periods of time when it's a strain,” to respond to those calls,” he added. “It can impede response time.”

Advertisement

The Oceano Fire Department doesn't receive any state funds to support the fire and emergency services it provides to the Oceano Dunes SVRA as part of a mutual aid agreement with other fire services agencies.

For a 12-month period ending in November 2007, 18 percent of all Fire Department responses have been to the Oceano Dunes SVRA, which attracts more than 2 million visitors annually. Most of those people enter the off-highway park from Pier Avenue in Oceano.

Fourth District Supervisor Katcho Achadjian, whose district covers Oceano, has told the OCSD that its request currently exceeds the county's share of the OHV fees and would most likely exceed it in the future.

Achadjian said this week that his priority will be to see that “100 percent of the money goes to Oceano,” but that it may be split between different agencies.

“I also have needs in Zone 1/1A,” said Achadjian. “I'm going to do my best to see that every penny goes to Oceano. I want this to be a benefit to the community.”

Other agencies like the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District's Zone 1/1A, which encompasses parts of Oceano, Halcyon, Arroyo Grande and most of Cienaga Valley also have requested a share of the OHV Fees.

Achadjian said the supervisors will likely consider the requests for OHV fees in April or May.

February 23, 2008