Wauwatosa council directs staff to draft term sheet for potential joint fire department with West Allis

The Wauwatosa Common Council voted to advance work on a potential joint fire department with West Allis, approving two related resolutions after an extended, sometimes contentious debate.

One resolution, adopted 13–1, directs the city administrator to prepare and present within 30 to 90 days an executive summary outlining a potential joint fire department. A second resolution, also approved 13–1, authorizes city staff to apply for a state innovation grant if West Allis and Wauwatosa approve an agreement to transfer fire protection and emergency services.

The discussion was the evening’s longest. Alder Meindl, who announced a no vote, said the proposal was rushed and lacked key details. “We’re looking at being asked to commit without a solid governance structure, without a concrete dispatch plan, without a true financial risk assessment,”…