Why spend funds on Ruston Way fire station that blocks views?

When the project was put into motion, there were no budget problems in the City of Tacoma.

There were no threats of layoffs of police officers and fire fighters. No plans to dissolve four engine companies, to close two fire stations, to reduce service in two others.

There was, however, money available from the federal government for projects that could be tied to homeland security. The city succeeded in winning federal grants to match local money from recent bond sales.

It made some sense six years ago to start work on what would be a $3 million project to rebuild the old fireboat station on Ruston Way as a joint fire-police marine security station. It even made sense to build an addition to create a new full-service fire station.

But does it make sense any more?

Tacoma has asked for a shoreline development permit to rebuild the piers, floats, gangway and headquarters of the 1981-built station, which moves and shakes during storms.

The station was abandoned 12 years ago during another budget crisis. The boats were moved to the Foss Waterway and are staffed only when called by cross-trained fire fighters stationed at the nearby Tideflats station.

But the permit application also calls for the “addition of an apparatus bay upland” to “allow a fire department apparatus to be stationed.” This structure would be 40 feet deep, 20 feet wide and more than 20 feet high. It would partially block views of the water from the walkway between Katie Downs and Duke’s restaurants.

This piece of land is not just any city-owned property. It’s within the shoreline, which is protected by state law and local ordinances. Only water-dependent, water-related or water-enjoyment uses are allowed. Nothing in the application makes the case that the shed, unlike the fireboat station itself, would be water-dependent or water-related.

Fire Department spokesman Joe Meinecke said the bay would be used in the short term to park trucks that are used to carry boat crews to the dock. In the long run, however, the vision is to have a full-service fire station there capable of responding to both land-based calls and marine emergencies.

Cheryl Miller lives on the hillside above the station. She’s very protective of the Ruston Way parkway and the shoreline.

“It’s not a water-related use,” she said of the apparatus bay. “It’s not like they’re going to put the boat in it.”

Miller said she would file a formal protest of the shoreline development permit by the time the comment period ends at 5 p.m. today.

Even without the new structure and the shoreline issues it raises, there are other issues with the project. Most involve the city’s need to carve tens of millions of dollars from its operating costs.

Construction of the joint marine security center is unrelated to saving fire fighter jobs now threatened by city budget cuts. The federal and city money set aside for the project are capital funds, so they couldn’t be used to pay salaries.

Fire Chief Ron Stephens told News Tribune city hall reporter Lewis Kamb he still hopes to save fire fighter jobs through negotiations with the fire unions. That could preserve the four engine companies and perhaps the threatened stations as well.

But Stephens said the city probably couldn’t staff the new fireboat station full time no matter what happens with the budget. It would continue with the same solution used now  – moving cross-trained staff from a regular station when the boat is needed. That would likely be station No. 14 at North 41st and Gove streets, about two miles away.

Stephens also said that because the Ruston Way shoreline is exposed to winter storms, the boats may have to be moved back to the Foss – for part of the year, anyway.

There’s also an issue of ownership. The city years ago was given the uplands area where the shed and parking would be, but it leases the tidelands beneath the fireboat station and the floats from the state.

Actually, it used to lease that property but somehow has let it expire and is trying to negotiate a new lease with the state Department of Natural Resources.

I’m less concerned about the restored fireboat station, even though it won’t be fully used or fully staffed for some years, if ever. I’m more concerned that the city is moving ahead with plans made several years ago to open a new upland fire station it might not need and do so on protected waterfront.

Comments on the shoreline permit can be sent to cheutinck@cityoftacoma.org.

Peter Callaghan: 253-597-8657

peter.callaghan@thenewstribune.com

blog.thenewstribune.com/politics

Twitter: @CallaghanPeter