Because it previously failed to get at least three votes to pass, the Ceres City Council on Monday approved actions needed to proceed with building a tower at the regional fire training facility on Service Road.
The council was expected on Nov. 12 to approve a resolution outlining how a number of neighboring agencies are to contribute in the costs of building a $1.19 million fire training tactical tower at the Ceres fire station yard. That resolution failed to obtain the minimum three votes because Councilwoman Rosalinda Vierra abstained, Daniel Martinez was absent and James Casey voted no, thus the vote was 2-1 vote. Vierra declared a conflict of interest and abstained from voting since she is employed by Modesto Junior College, part of the Yosemite Community College District, which is a partner agency.
When the matter was taken up on Monday, the council voted 3-1 in favor of the agreement, which needed to be in place before the city builds a four-story tactical training tower comprised of large shipping containers. In June the city awarded the contract to build the tower to American Fire Training Systems, Inc., but could not be executed until full appropriations have been made, said City Engineer Michael Beltran.
In 2019 the city of Ceres formed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with partners to create a new training facility at the Service Road fire station, to train firefighters from Ceres, Modesto, Salida and Stanislaus Consolidated. Later Turlock was added to a new five-year MOU. Since 2019, the city of Ceres began contracting for fire service through Modesto Fire Department.
The agreement calls for the cities of Turlock and Modesto and the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District to chip in $67,900 apiece, while the Yosemite Community College District (YCCD) will pay $250,000; and the Stanislaus County Regional Fire Authority to pay $325,000.
Ceres has already allocated $400,000 for the project and the council was asked by staff to approve another $131,358.20 to cover contingency and construction support services. City Engineer Michael Beltran said the additional budget request was due to the city spending $165,000 to pour the foundation for the four-story tower.
Ceres resident John Warren opined that there is no need for Ceres to train firefighters since the city contracts with Modesto and training responsibilities should fall to them. He said if the other partners want to use the Ceres site for training they should fund it entirely.
City Manager Doug Dunford disagreed with Warren and said Ceres will still own the facility which he called a “huge asset.”
One of the Modesto fire chiefs in attendance reminded the council that all the agencies are on a mission to provide the best service possible and that requires training personnel and use of a tower that replicates real life scenarios. He added that firefighters in other jurisdictions often provide mutual aid help in fighting fires in neighboring cities and that the tower in Ceres would be an “incredible benefit” to Ceres residents. If Ceres ever ends its contract with Modesto, Ceres would still retain the facility.
Councilman Daniel Martinez said the tower at Modesto Junior College was built in the 1990s and that science has changed. He said the entire county will benefit and Ceres Police will also likely get some use out of the tower
“That training facility trains a lot of firefighters that will go out there and save your life – it’s called public life safety,” said Mayor Javier Lopez. “But let’s just not forget that.”
Casey once again voted against the financial arrangement, but this time three votes carried the motion.
The Service Road station was mothballed in 2018 due to budget cuts so it was ideal for a training facility. Metal shipping containers donated by Salida and Modesto departments have been remodeled and installed so that firefighters may receive training for fires in structures, including ventilation, forcible entry and search and rescue tactics. The facility will allow firefighters to practice above ground hose stretching, and practicing taking hoses up staircases into units and rescue of victims trapped inside. Hook companies can also practice aerial attacks.
Chief Kevin Wise said a modular training tower is durable, can be reconfigured to training needs, requires minimal maintenance and can be fitted with interchangeable doors, windows and walls. It will have interior and exterior stairways.
