Fairview committee explores switching fire services from Gresham to Clackamas-area fire district

Jenny Weber, the City Council liaison to the Fairview Public Safety Advisory Committee, told the panel the three East County cities recently met to consider long-term options for fire services after Gresham proposed a significantly higher contract price.

Weber said the cities are studying whether to form their own fire district or join an existing Clackamas County fire district (referred to in the meeting as “Fire District 1”). She said the move would likely require an initial outlay to establish or add stations — including a possible new station near Sandy Boulevard — but could free general fund revenue now consumed by public safety costs.

"Gresham's proposal was substantially increased, almost double and continuing to increase every year," Weber said. She told committee members that public safety currently consumes about 75% of Fairview's general fund when sheriff, police, ambulance and fire costs are combined.

Weber said Troutdale and Wood Village joined the discussion and that Clackamas County had shown early willingness to help stand up district operations if the cities proceed. She said joining or creating a district could improve local control and potentially reduce the pressure on Fairview's general fund, allowing money to pay for other municipal programs.

Committee members asked operational questions about dispatch and mutual‑aid arrangements. A committee member asked whether Clackamas units would be dispatched by Multnomah County systems; meeting speakers said they did not have a firm dispatch arrangement to describe and that mutual‑aid and closest‑unit principles typically apply across jurisdictions.

Weber recommended watching a recorded briefing the three cities produced; she described it as a longer overview of Measure 50/property tax compression effects and district options. Committee members also discussed timing: Gresham offered a one‑year contract extension in some form to bridge transition time, which Committee members said would give municipalities breathing room to plan.

Weber and others emphasized the complexity: building stations and capital facilities, establishing a tax district or bond measure, and coordinating staffing across multiple jurisdictions. She said the three cities showed broad agreement about pursuing the study and educating voters if a district path is chosen.

The committee did not take any formal vote on the item during the meeting. Weber said she would notify committee members about future inter‑city meetings and posted materials.

The committee flagged several follow-ups for staff and council: continuing feasibility work, clarifying dispatch and CAD integration questions, and preparing outreach and education for residents if a ballot measure or other funding mechanism is proposed.