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Health & Fitness

Prop 1: South End Fire Station/Rescue Truck - Risk vs Benefit

Risk is a very personal issue. This blog outlines how I evaluate risk in opposing Proposition 1. My challenge and goal is improving safety against the reality of all costs.

I am not voting for .

As a Councilmember, I try to be fair and consistent in analyzing all budgets, projects and services. Even though Public Safety is a personal priority and widely recognized as a basic government responsibility, I review and critique Fire and Police projects and services as closely as discretionary projects and services. As I mentioned in a letter to the editor and again in an earlier blog, approving Proposition 1 condones budget practices that I don't feel are in the best long-term interests of Islanders. But, budget concerns would be moot if defeating Proposition 1 endangered our Citizens.

Before deciding to oppose Proposition 1 on its financial and practical merits, I took great effort to determine the safety implications. I'm sure a new fire station is safer than an older fire station. I'm sure a new fire rescue truck is safer than an older fire rescue truck. My challenge and goal is improving safety against the reality of costs. 

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Risk is a very personal issue. The examples are endless. Some parents allow their children to walk or bike to school. Some parents do not. Some parents allow their teenagers to drive at 16, some delay. We respect each other's comfort or aversion to risk. I'll outline how I evaluate risk in opposing Proposition 1.

The main reason for replacing the South End Fire House (Station 92) is because it was built when building standards were not codified to withstand "today's big earthquake." The Island experienced, three significant earthquakes in the last 63 years.  The 2001 6.8 magnitude Nisqually quake, the 1965 6.5 magnitude Seattle-Tacoma quake and the 1949 6.8 magnitude Olympia quake. Being built in 1962, our fire station experienced and survived two of the last three significant earthquakes. In that the Keewaydin Club House (VFW Post) built in 1922 survived the '49 quake, I feel the South End Fire House would have also survived the '49
quake.

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In 1962, standards were to build to an 100 year event. Today, we respect and plan for much stronger but less frequent events. The City's emergency preparedness plans often cite the 1 in 500 year Cascadia Subduction Zone Quake and the 1 in 1,000 year Seattle Fault Quake. Long-term planning for these events are justified.  But, execution  should not come at the expense of long-term prudent policy of routine replacement cycles. 

The long term benefits of failing Proposition 1 far exceed the nominal risk associated in postponing hardening the South End Fire Station. Not only will Islanders receive the benefit of improved Council budgeting practices, but Islanders will receive the benefit of a cleaner and more vetted Levy. Risk is personal. I am very understanding if you disagree with this analysis. To me, this Proposition does not improve Islander safety sufficient to justify the implicit harm caused by condoning poor budget practices. Voting no on the proposition is a vote for commonsense budgeting. This is especially important as the Council negotiates the Biennial Budget that drives new projects and services and the corresponding tax increases for the next two years.   

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