In the sixth meeting of the Community Fire Hall Advisory Select Committee (ASC) April 18, Ernie Polsom of FireWise Consulting Ltd. provided an overview of two components for the ASC to consider: a draft Work Plan for the ASC as it considers next steps, and a Fire Hall Spatial Analysis to use as a starting point for the ASC on associated discussions.
The Work Plan lays out a roadmap for the ASC to consider longer-term solutions to the challenges facing the current Fire Hall, focusing upon foundational principles around the maintenance of current service levels and the creation of a key piece of public infrastructure that will serve the community for the next 50+ years. The Work Plan offers a snapshot of fixed (regulatory) requirements of the new Fire Hall, as well as a framework for discretionary aspects to be explored, including space allocation that is not legislated, siting, building methods, design considerations, costing and funding, and other options.
Polsom’s discussion of the Spatial Analysis included three options: the first covering aspects of a base building comprising a Fire Hall only, the second addressing aspects of a Fire Hall with co-location capacity (for example, if the building is shared with Search & Rescue operations), and the third exploring aspects of a Fire Hall that includes BC Ambulance.
Additionally, a process was adopted by which broader community information will be provided to the ASC through the Committee’s facilitator, Kerry McArthur, for coordination. Requests for delegations to present to the ASC will follow the same process.
Further to the evening’s discussion, the ASC made the following Motions:
• Approval of the Work Plan as information and as a guide for the Committee moving forward
• Approval of the Fire Hall Spatial Analysis as a guiding document and resource for the Committee moving forward
• Approval of the process to receive public input through requests to the ASC Facilitator
The ASC’s sixth meeting was held from 6:30 to 8:35 p.m. in Council Chambers at the Town of Creston’s Town Hall. Subsequent meetings are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on select Wednesday evenings from April to June 2018, with the next meeting scheduled for May 2, 2018.
The ASC was formed to make recommendations to Council on solutions to address the deficiencies of the existing Fire Hall, in order to meet the province’s legislative/regulatory requirements and industry standards.
To read copies of the ASC Work Plan and the Fire Hall Spatial Analysis, click here. To request information or to seek an opportunity to address the ASC, contact Committee Facilitator Kerry McArthur at cfhasc.facilitator@gmail.com.
