Item A: River Road/Santa Clara Transition Project

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? Option No. 3: Create Eugene Fire Volunteer Service - As Eugene Fire currently has no volunteer firefighter program, this may be a considerable institutional change for this City service (especially since the current City collective bargaining agreement prohibits a volunteer firefighters). Nonetheless, there is no essential difference between a fire service volunteer program and volunteer programs in library, parks, and other services, and this is something many cities encourage and promote, except of course for the much greater probability that fire service volunteers will be faced with life threatening and liability incurring situations. Advantages: Provides an outlet for present and future residents who wish to volunteer in the area of public safety; indirectly sustains a current Santa Clara community institution Challenges: Eugene currently has no volunteer service, and such an option may not “fit” financially or operationally within City Fire Department plans; the City’s current collective bargaining agreement will not allow the City to “employ” volunteer firefighters. Miscellaneous Options ? Miscellaneous Fire Option No. 1: Community Meeting Space - Another potential “heritage” option for the fire service, albeit unrelated to the volunteer institution, but relevant to sustaining community neighborhood activity nodes, is for fire station facilities to incorporate community and event meeting space (such as available at the River Road Parks and Recreation District facility). A “Phase 2” expansion of the City’s new fire station would include such meeting space, and Santa Clara Fire’s Station No. 2 near Awbrey Park has a community meeting room that accommodates 50. Advantages: Provides a highly visible and stable locus for the community; reinforces the role of the “fire hall” as a community center (and perhaps encourages expanded community involvement in volunteer service, etc.) Challenges: Current and under construction City fire service facilities do not have the space, or staffing, to accommodate regular community meetings and events What Another Community Has Done There are numerous examples that can be found of fire districts that provide the sole fire protection and EMS service within incorporated cities. Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue (TVFR) in Washington County, Oregon provides fire protection and EMS services in unincorporated county areas and in several incorporated cities, and currently maintains six fire stations with volunteer components. As TVFR has grown, several all-volunteer fire brigades and stations have been absorbed into the District and a serious commitment has been made to sustain and employ this volunteer contingent. As with any volunteer opportunity, success and longevity depend on clear guidelines, training, and real work responsibilities being provided to the volunteer corps. 13 River Road/Santa Clara Transition/Heritage White Paper DRAFT 11-24-05 Service provider Review