"Every room has been scrutinized," said Dan Wendt, Norwalk safety-service director. "We are excited. This was the minimum for what we need for the fire department in Norwalk."

An architect's rendering was unveiled Tuesday. Norwalk Fire Chief John Soisson discussed the station with city council during its meeting that night.

Mull & Weithman Architects, Inc., a Columbus firm which specializes in fire stations, created the design based on feedback from committee members. Seven firms applied to design the new station.

"We are trying to be cost-effective. We took out all the like-to-haves. This is a basic, basic fire station," Soisson said.

The chief, Capt. Aaron Lynch, Lt. Curt Stang, Wendt and public works director Josh Snyder represented the city on the committee. Soisson said the committee also includes many volunteers who have "different areas of expertise they bring to the table" and have a vested interest in Norwalk.

Knowing so many people have devoted countless hours to the process "makes you feel good," Soisson said.

"It's been a long process. I'm happy we're moving forward," Norwalk Mayor Rob Duncan said. "In the end, I think it will be a building the community is proud of."

Despite how difficult and challenging the process has been, the mayor said "it's brought us to where we need to be" and those passionate discussions have resulted in a great station.

"This was well vetted," Soisson added. "Every option was discussed and was argued."

Wendt said it was important having feedback from Lynch and Stang since they represent firefighters who will be working and staying overnight in the station and provided a pragmatic perspective.

"They were invaluable to the project," Wendt added. "Everybody here is making fire service better in Norwalk."

The bay doors are 14 feet wide.

"That's 4 feet wider than what we have here," Soisson said.

The bays themselves are about 70 feet long with doors on each side.

"The main pieces and the long pieces will come out the front," Soisson said.

Beside the bay is the turnout gear room, which is atmospherically-controlled.

"It elongates the lifetime of the gear," the chief said. "That's in most stations everywhere."

There are rooms near the bay for tools, EMS supplies, one dedicated to gear and laundry and another for decontamination.

In the administrative half of the station are a training room, watch room and offices for the fire inspector/assistant chief, duty officer and chief. There is a bunk area with three handicapped-accessible bathrooms with showers.

"We cut five offices off the plan," Soisson said. "We're down 22 percent from the original plans in 2008."

The building is about 16,500 square feet.

"It looks into the future," Soisson said. "I don't think a main station needs any more room than what we have here."

On March 15, 2016, Norwalk voters approved the use of $3.5 million from the capital investment trust fund to build the new fire station.

The current building was constructed in 1912. The new station will be built near 108 Whittlesey Ave.

The plan suggested for the site could be enlarged by acquiring two homes near the northeast corner of Highland Place and Pleasant Avenue and making use of a portion of a city-owned parking lot.

Public parking spaces would be available on the Ravinia Fire Station site. Construction on the new Fire Station 32 would not begin until at least 2022, City Manager Ghida Neukirch said during a committee meeting.

Neukirch said the city has had preliminary discussions with the immediate neighbors, and plans to meet with the larger Ravinia community shortly.

"We are sensitive to concerns about a fire station in a residential neighborhood," Neukirch added. "We will work closely with our architectural services team to make sure there is an appropriate buffer."

Mayor Nancy Rotering asked that other residents served by the Ravinia Fire Station also be included in the community meetings.

"It can't hurt to have more people be part of that conversation," Rotering said.

The fire department also operates out of the two larger fire stations at 1130 Central Avenue and 1100 Half Day Road.

City officials say space is so cramped at the nearly 90-year-old Ravinia Fire Station that it's difficult to maneuver equipment and apparatus in and out.

The decision was delayed from December to allow Councilman Dennis Brown, a general contractor, to more closely review the proposed plan with staff and architects.

Brown said after meeting just before Christmas that he is satisfied concerns he had raised will be addressed.

Those concerns went to sustainability, long-term maintenance and how the plan fit the site.

“I fully vetted the issues I brought up and all of my questions were answered,” Brown said. He was not present with the council but participated in the meeting via teleconference call.

Another issue brought up by a citizen and retired engineer raised concern about the adequacy of the turning radius for making a right turn out of the station driveway onto southbound Fountain Hills Boulevard.

Fire Chief Dave Ott said that is a separate issue than the station concept, but the issue has been reviewed and he noted that the plan calls for an existing median to be cut back, which will give the trucks more room to turn.

Ott said that newer engines also have a tighter turning radius than previous models.

Brown made the motion to approve the concept plan based on design presented as number four. However he did add features from a couple of the other designs. One of the changes is the use of a hip roof rather than a gable for the more public building.

Brown said he is also satisfied with materials to be used for a heavy beam look on the gable of the apparatus building. He was sent to a fire station that had a similar material installed about 20 years ago to see how it was holding up, and Brown said he was satisfied it will hold up.

The design concept highlights a dual structure plan with apparatus bays and firefighters’ dormitory in one building, with a second structure having living quarters and office space along with public facilities including a community meeting room. The structures are connected with a closed walkway.

Due to the proximity of the building site to residential homes the design has a strong residential feel. The public and living space has been sited closest to the neighborhood with the truck bays and dormitory toward the back of the site.

The facility is designed at 9,600 square feet with three truck bays and personal space for six firefighters. There is also office space allocated for use by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

The town has been looking at the project to relocate Fire Station #2 for a number of years. The current site is on Saguaro Boulevard south of Shea Boulevard.

While Chief Niles Ford says DriveCam aims to save money and reduce risky behavior, union representatives argue it’s become a common form of punishment. Among the violations firefighters are being cited for is not wearing seat belts. If firefighters are caught not wearing their seat belt three times, they face a five-day suspension. If BCFD policy is violated four times, they could face a 10-day suspension.

Anything beyond four violations may result in demotion or termination. Seat belt use is a secondary violation to the one that activated the cameras.

Union President Rick Hoffman says, "Every second counts when responding to an emergency."

Dr. Burton Clark has studied the culture within departments regarding the lack of seat belt use among firefighters. Dr. Clark says, while firefighters are led to believe the faster they get to a scene the better a person’s chance is to survive, studies show that’s not always the case. Between 2011 and 2015, Baltimore City paid out $3.5 million dollars to cover the total cost of collisions.

BCFD spokesman Roman Clark says, "Safety comes first. Seat belts are required by the law and department policy."