City manager says fire-district task force will include four cities as officials explore regional model

Troutdale City Manager Mike Weston told the Public Safety committee that Troutdale and neighboring cities are exploring a regional fire-district model and have begun forming a task force to study structure and messaging. Weston said the task force will include the four city managers and mayors, one council member from each city, the fire chief and a representative of the fire union. The cities plan to develop intergovernmental agreements and public messaging as they study options; Weston said the city has a draft contract with a consultant (Praxis) that the city plans to execute soon to support the work. Weston said the effort responds to concerns about sustaining response levels and improving response times. "Everyone acknowledges that a fire-district model is necessary in order for continued fire service at the response levels and times that we're shooting for," he said, adding that the group seeks shorter response times than the 15-20 minute range and hopes for 5-10 minute responses in many areas. The committee did not vote on a regional change. The city manager's remarks described ongoing intergovernmental planning and indicated that Troutdale's timeline may be somewhat ahead of the other cities but that the task force will work to find a model acceptable to local unions and all four cities.