City of Ferndale and Pleasant Ridge to Consider Shared Fire Services Agreement

(City of Ferndale Press Release, issued Feb. 9, 2012, The Ferndale 115 News Feb. 15, 2012 ed)

UPDATE: The proposed agreement was passed by City Council on Feb. 13, 2012.

The City of Ferndale and Pleasant Ridge are one step closer to continuing shared fire services. The City of Ferndale will be bringing forward a request to approve a contract with Pleasant Ridge for a continuation of the current agreement to provide fire protection and ambulance service at the Ferndale City Council meeting on Monday, February 13, 2012 and Pleasant Ridge will follow the day after on Tuesday, February 14 at their commission meeting.

“We are excited to continue our 90 year fire service partnership with Pleasant Ridge,” stated Mayor Dave Coulter of Ferndale. “Resolving this agreement with our neighbors was a high priority for Council,” On June 15, 2011, Pleasant Ridge elected to give notice that they were exploring Public Safety with the City of Berkley. “We were disappointed to hear that announcement, but it has been an opportunity to talk with Pleasant Ridge and become a stronger partner,” said Coulter.

“We still want to have a strong healthy relationship with our neighbors,” said Mayor Ralph Castelli of Pleasant Ridge. “Considering alternatives to our relationship with Ferndale was a difficult thing to do, but we felt we needed to explore our options as it relates to fire services and the contract required an extensive notice provision.” The current contract required the Pleasant Ridge provide two years notice before a formal cancellation could occur. “We didn’t know what our research would find, so we felt that with the noticing requirements that we needed to acknowledge that timeline.”

“Our continued partnership with Ferndale is important and I feel these last few months working with Mayor Coulter, that he feels the same way,” stated Castelli.

Terms of the new contract include a cost allocation of $250,000 for 2014, which is down from $265,000 in 2013. Annual increases will be based on the Inflationary Rate Multiplier which is authorized by the Michigan Department of Treasury.  Another term includes a termination date no sooner than 2016, however, will continue in perpetuity absent termination by either party.

“I’m pleased we were able to work together in a way that provides important benefits for both communities,” Coulter said, “and I think it represents the beginning of an even stronger relationship with our friends in Pleasant Ridge as we both face the challenges of an uncertain economic future.”

“Both Cities have some challenges ahead,” stated Castelli, “but I believe we will work together and do what’s best for our Cities.