The City of San Fernando is located in the northeast section of the San Fernando Valley at the southern foot of the San Gabriel Mountains, approximately 23 miles North of Downtown Los Angeles. This compact community of 2.4 square miles and 25,000 residents is completely surrounded by the City of Los Angeles, including the nearby communities of Sylmar, Mission Hills and Pacoima. The City of San Fernando was incorporated in 1911 and is currently organized according to the City Council/City Manager form of government with seven full service departments, including Administration, City Clerk, Finance, Community Development, Police, Public Works, and Recreation and Community Services. Fire and emergency medical services are provided through a contract with the City of Los Angeles. The City employs approximately 125 full-time equivalent employees. The City is governed by a five-member City Council who serve overlapping four-year terms, with a Mayor appointed every year, on a rotating basis, by a majority vote of the City Council.