Approved Minutes - 2024-10-24South Shore Fire Station Task Force Minutes
October 24, 2024
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CITY OF LAKE OSWEGO
South Shore Fire Station Task Force Minutes
October 24, 2024
Approved
Members Present: Aidan Shannon, Buzz Chandler, Carrie Love, Chris Durkee,
Christian Manz, Dashel Hinrichs, Gabriella Tuna Garamvolgyi G.
Roman, Ginny Perelson, Jeff Gudman, Jim Wolper, Jon Harrell,
Karen Sampson, Kianna Angelo, Liza Parker, Mignon Reynolds,
Patrick Cechini, Councilor Trudy Corrigan, Lieutenant Jonathan
Isbell
Members Excused/Absent: Ellen Steel
Staff: Don Johnson, Kristine Artman, Amanda Creek, Quin Brunner,
Scott Vachter, Jeremy Langeliers, Matt Miller, Roberto
Villalpando
Public: Terri Ross, Stewart Whipple
WELCOME
City Councilor Trudy Corrigan thanked members of the newly-formed Task Force and outlined the
framework of support for this project. She shared that the City Council set a 2024 strategic initiative to
“begin a needs assessment and community engagement process to rebuild the South Shore Fire Station,”
pointing to the Council’s growing concern about structural deficiencies that could seriously impact the
station’s ability to function.
Offering context and advice to new Task Force members, Councilor Corrigan shared:
“We believe good governance relies on transparency, and an open, honest, fair and inclusive
decision-making process. And that’s where you come in.”
“We are relying on your good judgement, your critical thinking skills and your ability to ask good
questions to make this process successful.”
“Our city will benefit because of your efforts. And personally, I’m hopeful that you’ll find
participating in this process to be rewarding. Thank you, again, for your willingness to be
involved.”
YOUR CHARGE
Chief Don Johnson sketched the charge of the Task Force, which is to “Review and provide feedback on:
• The Fire Department’s assessment of community coverage needs,
• Existing facility and site conditions at the South Shore Fire Station,
• The Department’s vision for their next generation of service provision,
• Preliminary project cost estimates, and
• A full-scale community engagement strategy, contingent upon a City Council decision to
advance this project.”
South Shore Fire Station Task Force Minutes
October 24, 2024
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YOUR TEAM
Each person in the room gave a brief introduction.
YOUR ROLE
Quin Brunner provided a high-level ethics orientation, sharing that:
• Task Force members are public officials, as such they are bound by a code of ethics
• In their role they should:
o Show up to each meeting with their ideas, energy, passion, and questions
o Share information with their neighbors, friends, etc.
o Send questions and ideas to Quin
• In their role they should not:
o Schedule additional meetings, conduct business outside of regular meetings
o Speak for the board or City without authorization
o Accept gifts, favors, or personal benefit because of their role on this Task Force
• There are lots of people to support Task Force members in navigating their role (Quin, staff
team, City Attorney’s Office, fellow board members). Members should call Quin for guidance or
support.
CHAIR SELECTION
Jeff Gudman nominated Chris Durkee to serve as Chair of the South Shore Fire Station Task Force.
Carrie Love seconded the motion.
Chris Durkee offered brief remarks, thanking Jeff for the nomination and sharing a potential conflict of
interest (his son is an LOFD firefighter). Brief discussion followed.
The group voted unanimously to elect Chris Durkee Chair. No opposed. No abstentions.
FACILITY TOUR
Task Force members toured the fire station in groups, visiting:
The Bathrooms & Office where Chief Kristine Artman highlighted the:
• Lack of private facilities, showers,
• Issues with the garbage disposal backing-up in the main bathroom,
• Need for additional bathrooms for additional crew, and
• Inability to provide counseling and mentoring to staff in the existing office space.
The Apparatus Bay where Chief Scott Vachter highlighted the:
• Insufficient storage,
• Poor ventilation,
• Inch of space between the boat trailer and the back wall,
• Need to separate the turnout room, EMS room, and decontamination room, and
• Value of having additional space for upstaffing in disasters.
The Front Apron where Chief Don Johnson highlighted the:
• Disruptive maneuver that the crew has to execute after each call, pulling the fire engine into
traffic in order to back it into the bay,
• Uninviting exterior; lack of community amenities (like a community room) or art,
South Shore Fire Station Task Force Minutes
October 24, 2024
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• Adjacent city-owned properties,
• Opportunities for parking improvements, and
• Current storm drainage inadequacies.
The Living Area and Workout Room with Jeremy Langeliers, highlighting the:
• Pinch points that emerge in the current cramped quarters,
• Low ceiling in the workout room and the creative work-arounds (stair-stepper positioned under
the sky light),
• Plumbing that leaders to shower disruptions,
• Generator that incompletely powers station amenities, and
• Discrepancy in seismic safety (the bay is seismically sound; the living quarters are not).
PREVIEW OF NEXT MEETING
Staff distributed binders to each task force member, containing materials related to the next meeting.
Assistant Fire Chief Kristine Artman provided an overview of the next meeting, sharing that discussion
would center on response time. Key questions for the next meeting are: do we need four fire stations?
and, if so, are they in the right location?
Meeting adjourned around 8:00pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Quin Brunner
Management Analyst