New digs for AmCan police and fire | Napa Valley Register

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New digs for AmCan police and fire

Monday, March 05, 2007

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By KERANA TODOROV
Register Staff Writer

American Canyon’s new fire and police building, placing both agencies under one roof for the first time, could open this summer east of Highway 29.

Construction on the $8.5 million, one-story public safety building may be completed by June, said Keith Caldwell, the city’s fire chief. Construction on the 17,000-square-foot building began in February 2006 off East Donaldson Way, a new road in the Vintage Ranch residential subdivision.

“I think we’re right at 75 percent” done, said Caldwell.

Police officers could move from their station on Elliott Drive to their new quarters in July.

The Fire District’s move, however, will not take place until a new traffic signal is installed at the intersection of Highway 29 and East Donaldson, Caldwell said. The light will be outfitted with a system to turn traffic signals green when fire engines approach intersections and need to pre-empt the normal cycle.

Caltrans has not yet given the encroachment permit, said Ken Baki, project manager for Standard Pacific Homes, the developer paying for the traffic signal.

The public safety building will be home to about 20 sworn police officers and 37 firefighters and will feature a common reception area for the two agencies.

The police and fire personnel will work, eat and relax in separate wings, built on either side of the housing for four engines, a ladder truck, a water tender and a rescue vehicle.

Other rescue vehicles, including the district’s swift water rescue boat and an older fire engine, will be kept in a side building in the gated courtyard.

Caldwell said the main reason to house both agencies in one spot was the cost savings. The district plans to eventually build a second fire station at the Oat Hill area on the west side of Highway 29.

Caldwell said Piner’s Ambulance, which serves American Canyon from Klamath Court near Paoli Lane, could rent space at the existing fire station on James Road.

A future study will evaluate the possibility of renovating the Police Department building on Elliott Drive into a senior center.

5 comment(s)

Am Can Man wrote on Mar 5, 2007 7:22 AM:

" "The district plans to eventually build a second fire station at the Oat Hill area on the west side of Highway 29." Yesterday the register carried a story about American Canyon's insatiable appetite for growth and the Cities attempt to annex land near the Airport. According to Council member Garcia "The city does not wants to build houses all the way to Soscol Ridge, the hills east of town. Nor does it have plans to place homes near the airport, he added, or develop the Hess vineyard property" If this is the case, then why does the Fire Department have plans to build another fire station in the north end of town? The answer is simple, Garcia is lying. American Canyon City officials see no value in open space and there is specific plans to annex and develop every acre available. Keith Caldwell is trying to push the city and the fire district into every nook and cranny available. Caldwell sees the land near the airport as more tax money for more fire fighters and fire trucks. Growth, growth, growth, is all you will hear from American Canyon. "Come look at our new fire station". 'Now, we need a new one for the north end of town, so we can put more strip malls, industrial building, and housing tracts up here too" "

new am can resident wrote on Mar 5, 2007 7:30 AM:

" the city can spend MILLIONS for buildings but can't fix the streets. "

BobMac wrote on Mar 5, 2007 9:11 AM:

" Why did the city decide to put a police and fire station in the middle of a residential neighborhood? Speeding cars and trucks do not make a nice, quiet, safe place to raise kids. "

Be Gone! wrote on Mar 5, 2007 10:34 AM:

" Hey BobMac...when did anything the American Canyon City Council made sense? What a joke of a town...first thing when the real estate market is stable, I'm out of here! "

pot hole mad wrote on Mar 5, 2007 9:54 PM:

" pave napa junction road! "

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