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Fire chief updates board on Station 62 joint project, Station 61 renovation and options for temporary Station 63
Summary
Chief reported progress on Station 61 renovation, a joint Station 62 project under review, title issues for a Caltrans lot expansion, and exploratory outreach to Southern California Edison about a potential parcel near Rio Real for a longer‑term central facility.
Fire District staff updated the board on multiple facility projects during the administrative report.
Chief reported that a joint station (Station 62) committee met and that the project will be presented to the Montecito Board on March 17 and to the Carpinteria board at the April 2 meeting. The district is seeking a Caltrans lot expansion for Station 62 but remains "still waiting on the title resolution" for one corner of that lot, staff said.
The chief said Station 61's upstairs renovation appears to be moving forward within budget after recent positive reviews from city planning and building staff; the contractor meeting to confirm scope and budget was expected to follow.
Regarding Station 63 and a temporary central presence, the chief said staff met with a Southern California Edison representative about a roughly 10‑acre parcel in the 3500 block of Rio Real that Edison said it might sell. The district asked if a smaller portion might be available; Edison had not yet replied. The chief characterized the discussion as exploratory to identify options for a long‑term complex (station, headquarters, training tower) or a temporary station until a permanent central station is feasible.
Board members raised concerns about building on the district's existing half‑acre lot versus acquiring new land and the cost estimates from a planning consultant. The chief said next steps include meeting with county planning to confirm the consultant's cost estimates and researching lease options for interim central presence if building is not feasible immediately.
