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Residents form independent advisory committee as council considers ad‑hoc committee on firehouse plan
Summary
Staff recommended a short‑term ad hoc council committee to evaluate the Friends of the Ross Firehouse proposal; in parallel residents say they have formed a seven‑member citizens’ advisory committee to study fiscal, technical and service‑level impacts and requested the town's cooperation and limited, timely support.
Town Manager Krista Johnson asked the council to consider forming a limited‑duration ad hoc advisory committee of two council members to evaluate the Friends of the Ross Firehouse proposal and report back with nonbinding findings, options and recommendations no later than the May 14, 2026 council meeting.
Proponents’ representatives told the council that they have already organized an independent seven‑member citizens’ advisory committee. At the meeting one resident explained why the citizens’ committee planned confidential internal deliberations (to allow open negotiation) and said membership could change during the process; proponents estimated a 2–3 month maximum timeframe for the group's work and said they will examine costs, financing options and technical feasibility. Council members and staff asked procedural questions about confidentiality, committee composition, public engagement and how the town would incorporate any findings.
Council did not take a formal vote to adopt the citizen group; staff reaffirmed that any official town committee would be structured to comply with the municipal code and Brown Act and would not have authority to negotiate or commit town resources. The council and staff said they will provide a framework and consider how best to coordinate the town’s possible ad hoc advisory committee with the citizen group’s work.
