SEISMIC SAFETY OF DISTRICT FIRE STATION

By Michael Ayers

The District fire station is an "Essential Services Building", as such, it must be seismically safe.

Yet, meeting the seismic safety for this essentials service building may be accomplished through structural seismic improvements in strategic locations, or a retrofit.

In light of the failed bond measure, the Board has worked to establish a committee, comprised of community members to explore this issue and resolution options; including funding options. The failure of the proposed bond has brought to light the need for the Board, District staff and community to work together to resolve this complex issue.

The committee will conduct its own research into the issue, taking into account risk versus benefit. The goal is to present several options for Board review with the financial impact of each option so that rational disscussion may ensue and an informed decision reached that will provide the most effective benefit to the community with the least impact.

I have been involved in these meetings and provided some practical experience. I am employed by a district that has completed two seismic upgrades to its stations: one a rebuild and the other a retrofit... both with no additional financial impact to the community we serve.