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Ross Council directs staff to begin amending facilities master plan to consider Citizens Advisory Committee concept
Summary
At a May 6 special meeting the Ross Town Council voted to direct the town manager to initiate preparation of an amendment to the facilities master plan to incorporate the Citizens Advisory Committee concept as a preferred alternative to Concept B, pending further technical, operational and financial analysis. The resolution passed by roll call vote.
The Ross Town Council on May 6 voted to direct the town manager to begin preparing an amendment to the town's facilities master plan so the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) concept can be considered as a preferred alternative to Concept B.
The action, adopted as Resolution No. 2623, tasks staff to initiate the amendment process and to update the space program, project description and cost estimates needed for environmental review. The motion passed on roll call with affirmative votes from Council members Dalling, Kercher and Salter and from Mayor Prom Robbins and Mayor McMillan.
David Kelly, the project manager for the facilities master plan, told the council that the original plan (adopted in June 2023) favored Concept B, which emphasized new construction and a coordinated campus redevelopment. The CAC proposal, by contrast, centers on historic preservation and rehabilitation of the existing public safety building while integrating civic uses in a consolidated structure; Kelly said the CAC presentation showed strong community interest but flagged open questions about site circulation, apparatus-bay access, underground utilities and other operational details.
Kelly also said the CAC's preliminary cost estimates were produced by construction professionals but remain conceptual and need refinement; the town has released an RFQ for architectural and engineering services and received 10 statements of qualifications. Kelly said the selected consultant team will help refine the space program, update cost estimates and produce the project description needed for environmental review.
During the staff presentation and council discussion, members pressed for specificity in the resolution to create a clear public record. One council member asked why several "be it further resolved" clauses were included; staff and the town attorney representative said the specificity helps an adopted amendment serve as a clear reference for future decisions. The council amended the draft language to state that any amendment "will continue to advance the town's adopted policy objective of compliance with state housing requirements," to say the CAC concept is preferred pending technical, operational and financial analysis, and to direct that such analysis be completed as "expeditiously as possible."
Two residents spoke during public comment. Mike Rosenbomb urged the council not to initiate the amendment while a ballot initiative remains pending, saying the council should not be pressured into a decision. David Peterson warned that adding a fire station would materially change capital and operating costs; he said equipment could require "a million and a half plus" and ongoing annual costs could be "three and a half to $4 million," comments the council noted would need to be tested and refined during the analysis.
Staff emphasized that initiating an amendment does not equal final project approval or authorization to construct; the next steps include selecting an architect through the procurement process, refining a full amended plan (which could be presented as a new alternative), updating cost estimates and returning to council for formal adoption and any subsequent environmental review. The council did not set a final adoption date and directed staff to proceed with the preparatory work and public engagement required for a formal amendment.
