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Council presses administration on temporary Fire Station 20 after wiring thefts and site delays
Summary
Council members pressed fire and maintenance officials for an update on establishing a temporary Fire Station 20. City staff said wiring had been stripped, generator or trailer options were being explored and preliminary site work would cost roughly $15,000; a full rebuild was estimated at approximately $1.516 million.
Council members expressed urgency about establishing a temporary Fire Station 20 to maintain response capacity near the port area after staff reported that wires had been stripped from the existing station and other site work is required.
During the meeting a council member said the city was prepared to move funds to finish the station but wanted to get bids right. Chief Reese (identified in the record as a department chief) described site work needs and gave a preliminary estimate of roughly $1.516 million for the station project. Reese said temporary measures would still require site work and about $15,000 to cover silt, delivery of base materials, electricity and water relocation. He also reported that the station had been stripped of wiring, leaving no way to open the garage doors, and that staff had contacted PIL to explore options to temporarily keep apparatus outside or power garage doors with generator support while ensuring safety and the city’s class 1 fire rating.
Council members noted the port is a major economic driver and voiced concern about neighborhoods, nursing homes and retirement facilities near the port that rely on timely emergency response. One council member recalled that when the station was originally built a single‑wide trailer was used in one bay for about a year while permanent work proceeded and urged the administration to pursue a temporary trailer or similar stopgap.
The chief said a pre‑bid meeting had been held and the administration is committed to moving the work forward; council members agreed to support necessary funding and requested an update in two weeks.
