HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-10-11 PACKET 04.04.
TO:
Economic Development Authority
FROM:
Christine Costello, Economic Development Director
DATE:
October 6, 2016
RE:
BEC and Fire Station #2
Background/Discussion
In March of 2011, staff began to assemble and evaluate the needs of Cottage Grove’s Fire
Department. A staff-led facilities needs summary was undertaken and completed in September
2011, which demonstrated the need for a new fire station to meet the needs of Cottage Grove’s
growing community. The new fire station project was introduced into the City’s Capital
Improvement Plan (CIP) and is currently proposed to be constructed in 2017. In order to move
toward design and ultimately construction of the new facility and for the fire department the
activities at Fire Station #2 need to be relocated to other facilities within the community to ensure
the same high level quality of service is provided by the fire department.
The closure of the BEC will provide the fire department that opportunity to maintain their high level
of service while construction takes place on a new Central Fire Station (located on the site of the
current Fire Station #2). The fire department is proposing at this time to run their ambulatory
services (EMS) out of the BEC building while construction takes place on the new Central Fire
Station. The BEC building would also be used to house equipment as well as provide training
space for fire fighters and paramedics during construction. The fire department is proposing to
use both the upper- and lower level of the BEC. On the upper level the two conference rooms
and training room would be used for training and CPR equipment storage. In the lower level the
fire department would use the garage space for vehicle parking and additional equipment storage.
The use of the BEC will provide a cost savings by allowing the demolition and construction of the
new Central Fire Station to take place without interruption of the fire department’s services that
are performed out of Fire Station #2.
The City Council’s final approval of the Central Fire Station project will take place in December
2016. If approved, Fire Station #2 would begin moving equipment and setting up space in the
BEC in February 2017, and then officially operating EMS services out of the space no later than
March 2017. Tenants of the BEC will be gone by December 31, 2016. The only tenant that was
allowed an extension passed January 2017 was the East Ridge Robotics team. The team uses
just the garage space for building and training purposes. The robotics team has been very
accommodating since they do not pay rent for the space. The space would be available for the
team to use until January 2017, but due to cost savings and need to maintain all fire department
services for the community it will be a necessary for the robotics team to vacate the space.
During the time the fire department is using the BEC, the Economic Development Authority (EDA)
will not have to maintain utility, cleaning, and trash services during the fire department’s use.
Those costs would be paid for by the fire department as if they were continuing to operate the
current Fire Station #2.
Economic Development Authority
Fire Dept. & BEC
October 6, 2016
Page 2 of 2
Community Development Director/City Engineer Levitt will be at the EDA meeting to provide
additional background information on the construction of the Central Fire Station and the proposed
use of the BEC building during construction.
Recommendation
Consideration of a motion to recommend the Cottage Grove Fire Department use the BEC
Building at 7516 80th Street until the completion of the new Central Fire Station; and the fire
department responsible for utility, cleaning, and trash services during their use of the building.