The future of fire service in Hemet could be decided Tuesday when the City Council is scheduled to vote on a proposed five-year contract with the Riverside County Fire Department.

The 7 p.m. meeting has been moved from council chambers to the Hemet Public Library to accommodate a larger crowd.

City Manager Wally Hill is recommending that the city sign a contract with the county fire department, a branch of the statewide Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, to provide fire and paramedic services in the city. If approved, it would mean an end to the city’s 106-year-old municipal fire department, effective July 1.

At the same meeting, the council will be asked to implement the city’s last, best and final offer to the Hemet Firefighters Association. A settlement with the members is required before the services can be contracted.

Under the proposed contract, the first-year cost would be $8.9 million paid to the county fire department, plus an additional $2 million in costs the city would incur. That is cheaper than what was proposed in November, Hill said, and less than the $11 million city administrators estimate it will cost to keep the city department.

City firefighters and supporters have disputed those numbers, saying the current department will be less expensive.

Union President Steve Sandefer said the local department is not ready to give up the fight.

“We still stand behind the Hemet Fire Department,” he said. “It’s not broken and it doesn’t need to be fixed. We’re clearly less expensive and it’s clearly not what the community wants.”

Sandefer mentioned how previous meetings regarding fire services have drawn crowds of more than 400 people, almost all in favor of keeping the local department.

“We’re fighting not just for the department we care about, but we believe we work for the 80-year-old woman who lives in Seven Hills, the 70-year-old man in Sierra Dawn and the 50-year-old business owner on Florida Avenue,” he said. “Until they say, ‘We’re done with you,’ we’ll continue to provide the best service.”

In voting to pursue the contract in November, the council majority of Larry Smith, Shellie Milne and Robert Youssef said they were looking for the best service for the least amount of money.

The decision led to a failed attempt to recall the three council members.

Linda Krupa and Bonnie Wright voted against a contract, saying local control is best.

Smith and Krupa are running for re-election in the Nov. 4 election, where they are challenged by five other candidates.

Sandefer questioned the timing of the vote, which comes about two months before an election that could change the council majority.

Hill said the city wouldn’t be locked into the decision.

“There is nothing that we’re doing that is irreversible if the new council wants to change direction,” he said.

Krupa didn’t question the timing in relation to the election, but wondered how accurate the Cal Fire proposal is in the wake of a 4 percent pay increase awarded to state firefighters effective next year.

“I don’t think we have sufficient information or looked at the numbers close enough to make a decision on Tuesday. I’m surprised it is on the agenda so soon with all of the flux in the numbers.”

Milne said she is happy the issue is finally coming to a vote.

“This has been going on since before I was elected,” she said. “It’s been so long, it’s been dragged out unnecessarily.”

It is unknown how many of Hemet’s current firefighters would be retained by the state agency.

Hill said those who are paramedic-qualified will have a better chance of remaining.

Sandefer is not as confident.

“No guarantees have ever been made that they all will be (retained),” he said.

The city has spent almost two years evaluating proposals from its own department and the county’s. Hemet is one of just a handful of Riverside County cities with its own fire department, including Riverside, Murrieta and Corona. The others contract with Cal Fire.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9086 or cshultz@pe.com