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closeTask force explores options
Chris Albert
A group of Puyallup residents met this week to begin an exploration into the pros and cons of annexing the Puyallup Fire Department into the Central Pierce Fire District.
The task force was assembled as an exploratory group to answer questions about the merger, such as the costs and benefits, and provide information for the public before voters decide whether or not to be annexed into the Central Pierce Fire District. The measure will be on the ballot this November.
“I believe this community is going to be better informed about the possible pluses and minuses and we’d like to hear from them,” said Puyallup Mayor Don Malloy.
The exploratory group is comprised of nine Puyallup residents. Seven were selected by their city council representative and the other two were selected by the task force.
Bob Merritt, senior associate of mHc Associates Emergency Services Division, will facilitate the task force. Merritt has facilitated several groups about fire department mergers and the creation of regional fire districts, including work with the Sumner merger into East Pierce Fire and Rescue and the establishment of a regional fire district for the cities of Algona, Pacific and Auburn.
“I use a participatory form of facilitating,” he said. “Some of it is driven by a resolution the council passed. That kind of sets our mission, and some of it is what we develop as a team.”
After selecting the additional members the groups set out to form a road map for accomplishing the goal of simplifying information for Puyallup residents and weighing the pros and cons of the merger.
In the coming weeks, the group will use the support of fire personnel staff, completed studies and other material to make sense of the information.
With a measure going before Puyallup voters in November, time is an issue.
“We need to be going from educating our own parts to providing information out in the public by the end of August or the first week of September,” Merritt said.
Getting the information on the voters pamphlet is critical, Malloy said.
“A lot of people I think use the voters pamphlet as a guide to making an informed decision,” he said. “I know I do.
“I believe when the public is given a good choice and you offer them something they want and they think it is important and see value in it they will vote for it,” Malloy said.
Puyallup residents have seen that before when they voted to fund the construction of the Puyallup Public Library, he said.
“The question is are they going to see something of value and a long term financial advantage to the city,” Malloy said.
The task force will have anywhere from four to six meetings to make that determination.
“The task force is going to have a lot of homework to do,” Merritt said.
Hopefully the public participates in seeking information so more people are informed, he said.