Los Altos City Council OK’d the first step in the annexation process of the city’s fire department to Santa Clara County Fire at last week’s City Council meeting.
Annexation is the addition of a smaller territory or entity into a larger established one. In this case, the Los Altos Fire Department would be annexed to Santa Clara County Fire. While a change, the city currently contracts with Santa Clara County Fire for its fire protection and emergency medical services.
There will be no change to such services, Assistant City Manager Jon Maginot told council. Emergency calls will continue to be answered by the Los Altos Police Department while fire and emergency medical calls will be transferred to the county.
The first step of the annexation process is the initiation of the Local Agency Formation Commission of Santa Clara County (LAFCO) annexation process. Santa Clara County LAFCO is a state-mandated agency that oversees the boundaries and districts of cities and special districts, according to the county’s LAFCO website.
In June 2025, City Council instructed staff to explore what options the city had in regards to fire protection services, and on Oct. 28, 2025, the city approved non automatic renewal of the current contract.
City staff explored four options, Maginot said. These included the negotiation of a new contract with Santa Clara County Fire, annexation into the County Fire district, partnership with another service provider or the creation of an internal fire department.
“After looking at the various benefits and drawbacks of each option, we’ve come forward with the recommendation to move forward with annexation into the County Fire District,” Maginot said.
Los Altos has been contracting with Santa Clara County Fire (both the Santa Clara County Fire Department and the Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District, which is the special district for fire protection services) since 1996. For 30 years, the city has been renewing its contract with Santa Clara County Fire in 10-year intervals, Maginot told City Council.
Annexation into Santa Clara County Fire would include the transfer of property tax from the city to the district. There is no fiscal impact on individuals’ property taxes.
While the city would see a decrease in property tax revenue, there are some benefits, Maginot said.
“We would see an equal or greater reduction in expenditures that we’re paying to County Fire,” Maginot said.
Annexation would also include the transfer of the city’s two fire stations to the county and a $1.5 million lump sum payment for deferred maintenance, “…That the city was responsible for that we put on hold due to various budget and financial decisions,” Maginot said.
Council members were overwhelmingly supportive of the annexation. Councilmember Larry Lang said that fires in Southern California last year highlighted just how catastrophic those disasters can be, and how it’s crucial to have a well-prepared and resourced fire response team.
“One of the things I think we learned from the fires in Southern California recently is that those kinds of configurations are regional threats,” Lang said. “The fire’s going to be very disinterested in where city boundaries are if such a thing were to happen. … I think this is going to be of great service to our community, as well as a sensible financial thing.”
Members of the community, including current and former County Fire employees, also backed the annexation.
“You’re being protected by the best fire department in California, plain and simple,” Bob Hagg, who’s now retired but previously served as a Santa Clara County Fire Department captain at the El Monte fire station, said during public comment.
The annexation received support from the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors March 10, Maginot told council members. In addition to council’s approval, the Board’s approval was needed for the application to move forward.
The LAFCO application is due April 2 and the city aims for a hearing before LAFCO June 3. LAFCO approval should come in the fall, and the annexation would be effective Jan. 1, 2027.
Staff are set to return to council April 14 and present the financial aspects of the annexation for council consideration and approval.
