Krissy Waite
The Marin Independent Journal, Novato, Calif.
(TNS)
Jul. 15—A group of Ross residents has proposed a ballot initiative aimed at preserving the town’s fire station.
Friends of Ross Firehouse filed the necessary paperwork with the town on June 30, Town Manager Christa Johnson said. The initiative aims to rehabilitate the station and staff at least two firefighters.
The proponents have 180 days to gather signatures, Town Attorney Benjamin Stock.
“This, we believe, is a vision that Ross residents will support for a bond measure requiring a two-thirds vote,” Friends of Ross Firehouse president Bob Herbst said.
He estimated the group needed 175 signatures to succeed. He said the initiative already has “well over” 100 registered supporters.
If the necessary signatures are verified, the issue must be put to voters at the town’s next regularly scheduled election, and occur no less than 88 days after the date the council adopts a resolution submitting the ordinance to the voters.
The town could call special election. Herbst said they are aiming for a special election in June 2026 to present residents with a fully designed and priced-out plan.
In 2021, the Town Council voted unanimously to close Ross Valley Fire Department’s Station 18 due to age. The station was shuttered on July 1.
The fire department is planning to staff three firefighters per engine at its San Anselmo and Fairfax stations. Ambulance services will remain in town.
Estimates to build a new station — renovating it to meet current flood zone and Essential Services Act requirements could cost more than rebuilding — came close to $28.4 million, according to the town. Instead, town leaders opted for a civic center plan that omits a fire station for around $14 million.
“By contrast, our plan rehabs and rebuilds within the existing building foundations, which are well built and structurally sound, and maintains the historic firehouse architecture that everyone in Ross and Marin County knows and loves,” Herbst said.
Stephanie DiMarco, vice president of the citizens’ group, said the goal is to safeguard health and welfare. The group is working with BRW Architects, which has offices in San Francisco, on plans that would rehabilitate the existing firehouse for the same, if not lower, cost, they said.
“It’s important enough that it should be taken to the voters and not be up to three people,” DiMarco said. “Let’s really bring it to the voters and see what the residents have to say.”
The Town Council revisited the topic at a meeting in March, where council members — in a 3-2 split — ultimately decided against spending more resources on researching alternatives to closing Station 18. Councilmember Mathew Salter and Mayor Pro Tempore Elizabeth Robbins wanted to explore options.
A sticking point is emergency response times. The current engine response time is seven minutes, 55 seconds for over 90% of emergencies in Ross. Relocating the engine could increase that by two minutes when the medic unit is out on another call.
“We have an older population,” DiMarco said. “In the case of a stroke or heart attack, those minutes matter.”
On Thursday, the council voted 3-2 to direct staff to move forward with selling Engine 18. The engine is 20 years old — three years past the useful life of the department’s engines — and is the oldest in the fleet, Johnson said.
Proceeds from the sale, around $20,000 to $25,000, would go to Ross. Garaging the engine would cost around $25,000 to $50,000 annually, plus another $125,000 to