Fairview, Wood Village and Troutdale negotiate short Gresham fire contract amid district talks

Fairview staff told the Economic Development Advisory Committee that Fairview, Wood Village and Troutdale negotiated a one-year extension with the City of Gresham for fire services while the three cities study longer-term options, including forming a new fire district.

Sarah Selden, community development director, said the cities considered a five-year renewal but concluded they could not afford that term and so negotiated a one-year extension to provide time to develop a longer-term plan. She said the three cities are exploring a service model that would create a new taxing district, which would levy a rate applied to property taxes to pay fire services and capital needs.

Selden said the cities plan to commission a public poll of Fairview residents to gather feedback on fire services and that a consulting firm, Triton, previously completed an evaluation of options. She said a new fire district would not immediately create a new station; interim arrangements and mutual-aid agreements would continue.

Committee members discussed cost trade-offs and the need to explain options clearly to residents, including capital costs and potential station locations. No formal decision was made; staff described negotiations with Gresham as ongoing and noted a one-year extension is in place while longer-term work continues.