Council votes to extend Gresham fire services IGA for five years as regional task force continues work

Staff summarized ongoing regional work on fire and emergency medical services and presented a proposed five-year extension of the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the City of Gresham. The staff presentation described a task force composed of the four cities, District 10 and a union representative; consultants were asked to consolidate existing reports and run revenue and expense scenarios to inform next steps.

Staff highlighted several material IGA provisions: inspection fees earned by Gresham would be retained by Gresham rather than used as an offset, any party may withdraw from the IGA with 12 months' notice, and the IGA preserves the existing service level (it does not promise increased service). A city staff member said the cost increase baked into the proposed extension reflects Gresham's historical 10-year average increases and noted that the extension is intended to buy time while a longer-term regional solution is developed.

A council member asked whether a withdrawal by one city would change assessments; staff said recalibration would be likely in that scenario. The extension was moved, seconded and approved; staff noted the current extension runs to June 2026 and the new expiration date under the approved amendment would be June 30, 2031. "I move to approve resolution 29 dash 20 25 providing a 5 year extension of the Gresham Fire Emergency Medical Services contract with a new expiration date of 06/30/2031," a council member said. The council and staff also discussed community education, the potential need for an additional station on the Wood Village-Fairview border, and upcoming community meetings and polling related to a potential local-option funding ask.