I don't get it.
I'm not ashamed to admit it either.
Two years ago come December Astoria lost two historic waterfront buildings that had been restored by the owners to house active businesses including a cafe everyone loved. We became less confident in our ability to fight a big waterfront fire with good reason. At the time Astoria's Fire Chief Hanson told me that if he had a fire boat at least the department could access the river to get more water directed at the flames.
It seemed to become a priority and the town was on track through a complex multi agency grant structure involving departments in other cities to get a working fire boat back in service here. Then this week it all fell apart.
The Port of Astoria was involved in what those commissioners thought was the beginning of a partnership with the city to address the need. That fell apart as well.
The process had been underway for nearly two years. After all that work, staff time, and planning it all came down to a 48 hour deadline on a Wednesday that put the Mayor in the position of saying no to the city signing on to the grant request because he can't decide to buy a fire boat without the city council's consideration. It's just not the way this city government functions.
The majority of the Port Commission expressed astonishment. The Port executive Director said he found out about it when he saw the grant documents and the city was not part of it. If it was a "partnership" then one wonders what happened to the communication between the parties. Did the opportunity slip between the cracks for a Port staff that is loaded with projects to track and an Executive Director who hasn't taken a vacation in three years? Or did the retirement of Astoria's Fire Chief and the decision to replace him with the Police Chief running both departments result in an impossible juggling act that demanded a change in priorities?
If it turned out that this desire to provide fire coverage from the riverside just wasn't feasible for the city, why did it come as a surprise to the Port? Why didn't the city council have the discussion months ago? Why didn't the City Manager have this on his to do list along with the myriad projects he oversees. How could he not be aware of something as simple as a deadline.
Someone clearly dropped the ball. The sad part is that it's too late to do anything about it.
I'm not ashamed to admit it either.
Two years ago come December Astoria lost two historic waterfront buildings that had been restored by the owners to house active businesses including a cafe everyone loved. We became less confident in our ability to fight a big waterfront fire with good reason. At the time Astoria's Fire Chief Hanson told me that if he had a fire boat at least the department could access the river to get more water directed at the flames.
It seemed to become a priority and the town was on track through a complex multi agency grant structure involving departments in other cities to get a working fire boat back in service here. Then this week it all fell apart.
The Port of Astoria was involved in what those commissioners thought was the beginning of a partnership with the city to address the need. That fell apart as well.
The process had been underway for nearly two years. After all that work, staff time, and planning it all came down to a 48 hour deadline on a Wednesday that put the Mayor in the position of saying no to the city signing on to the grant request because he can't decide to buy a fire boat without the city council's consideration. It's just not the way this city government functions.
The majority of the Port Commission expressed astonishment. The Port executive Director said he found out about it when he saw the grant documents and the city was not part of it. If it was a "partnership" then one wonders what happened to the communication between the parties. Did the opportunity slip between the cracks for a Port staff that is loaded with projects to track and an Executive Director who hasn't taken a vacation in three years? Or did the retirement of Astoria's Fire Chief and the decision to replace him with the Police Chief running both departments result in an impossible juggling act that demanded a change in priorities?
If it turned out that this desire to provide fire coverage from the riverside just wasn't feasible for the city, why did it come as a surprise to the Port? Why didn't the city council have the discussion months ago? Why didn't the City Manager have this on his to do list along with the myriad projects he oversees. How could he not be aware of something as simple as a deadline.
Someone clearly dropped the ball. The sad part is that it's too late to do anything about it.
Fireboat ….. What Me Worry?
ReplyDeleteAre we going to delay and procrastinate on getting a fireboat until we lose all our waterfront buildings built on pile fields?
It is irresponsible for the City of Astoria to be gung-ho about building new structures on pile fields (the existing, but new, Cannery Pier Hotel and the planned 10 Columbia Ave Condominiums, Englund Condominiums, and River Park Land Condominiums) without a fireboat to protect these structures.
How about assessing a fee on any new riverfront construction to support a fireboat?
With the City of Astoria claiming ignorance and pointing fingers away from their failure to stay on this issue, one has to wonder how this important item slipped by City Manager Benoit. I guess Benoit is not familiar with a ticker file, to do list or other means that allows time-sensitive projects or deadlines to be tracked.
All involved are to blame. This screw-up results from one, or all, of the following: incompetence, ignorance, lack of concern, and feuding by the entities and individuals involved.
BTW, what is the deal with the position of Astoria’s Fire Chief? Is Police Chief Curzon going to continue as fire chief? Can you imagine Curzon directing the action at the 6th Street Pier and Number 10 Sixth Street building fire? Besides Curzon not being a firefighter, he has never really moved to Astoria … his home, and probably his heart, is in California.