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Council Communication
Public Safety Bond Committee Final Report and Recommendations
Meeting Date:May 18, 2010 Primary Staff Contact:Ann Seltzer
Department:Administration E-Mail:ann@ashland.or.us
Secondary Dept.:None Secondary Contact:None
Approval:Martha Bennett Estimated Time:10 Minutes
Question:
Does the Council accept the final report and recommendations of the Public Safety Bond Committee?
Staff Recommendation:
Accept the final report and recommendations of the Public Safety Bond Committee.
If Council accepts the recommendations, staff will develop an implementation plan for council review
and discussion at a future meeting.This implementation plan would focus adding a measure for Fire
Station No. 2 to the May 2011 ballot.
Background:
In July 2009, the City Council adopted a goal to replace Fire Station No. 2. This goal followed the
City's Facilities Master Plan, completed in 2008. In January 2010, the City Council approved the
appointment of a fourteen-member committee to evaluate four public safety projects including:
replacement of Fire Station #2, improvements to the existing Police Station, financing of an aerial
ladder truck and financing a firefighter training tower.
The purpose of this committee was to determine:
Whether there is a valid need for the identified public safety facility improvements
Which public safety facility improvements should be on the levy
Whether the City should seek voter approval of a General Election Bond (or a series of GO
Bonds) to fund the various improvements
What amount should be on the levy
And, if it is determined a GO Bond should be placed on the ballot, which election date is
recommended, and
Provide to the Council the committee rational on making a final decision/recommendation to
the Council.
The Committee met eight times over the past four months and thoroughly evaluated each proposed
project. The final report is attached and includes the following recommendations.
Fire Station #2
The committee unanimously agrees there is a valid need to replace Fire Station #2 and the need has
reached a critical level. The Committee recommends the City seek voter approval of general
obligation bonds not to exceed $3 million and to place a measure on the May 2011 ballot.
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Improvement to Police Station
The Committee unanimously agrees there is a valid need for expansion and improvements to the Police
Station.This project should be a top priority for the City and would be more cost effective if the
station was relocated to the Grove. Of the thirteen members present, twelve recommend the City seek
voter approval of general obligation bonds at a general election after May,2011.
Fire Training Facility
The Committee unanimously agrees there is a valid need for a training facility but does NOT
recommend seeking general election bonds to finance the facility.
Aerial Ladder Truck
The Committee unanimously agrees there is a valid need for an aerial ladder truck but does NOT
recommend seeking general election bonds to finance the truck.
Public Safety Bond Committee
The Committee unanimously agrees to re-convene as a group to work on the May 2011 campaign for
passage of the measure to finance Fire Station #2; to serve as a community sounding board for citizens
with interests or concerns about the need for Fire Station #2; and to be “on-call” should the City
Council need to re-convene the committee.
Committee Members
1.Don Makin, Chair (Facilities Master Plan
Committee)
2.George Kramer (Facilities Master Plan
Committee)
3.Laura Dougherty (CERT Volunteer)
4.Mary Modesitt (Volunteer Police)
5.Olaff Paul (Volunteer Police)
6.Clark Custodio (Retired Fire Chief)
7.Dennis Slattery (Budget Committee)
8.Dave Dotterrer (Planning Commission)
9.Roberta Stebbins (Budget Committee)
10.Daryl Boldt (long time resident/builder)
11.Loren Razzano (long time resident interested
in city)
12.Jerry Kenefick (finance/accounting
background)
13.Lee Fox (retired USFS)
14.Thomas Walters (wants a “common sense”
approach to public safety
improvements/funding)
Related City Policies:
Council Goal Setting
Council Options:
1) Accept the report and recommendation of the Public Safety Bond Committee and direct staff to
prepare an implementation plan for Council review at a future meeting.
2) Accept the report of the Public Safety Bond Committee and take no further action.
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Potential Motions:
I move to accept the report and recommendations of the Public Safety Bond Committee and direct staff
to prepare an implementation plan for Council review at a future meeting, targeting May 2011 for a
ballot measure for Fire Station No. 2 as recommended.
I move to accept the report of the Public Safety Bond Committee and take no further action at this
time.
Attachments:
Final Report and Recommendation
Estimated project costs and tax rate
Background Information Identified Public Safety Needs
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