HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC AG PKT 2009-09-14 #SAGEtV®A STAFF REP®RT
DATE: e. ~ry~ ~~+ , n~ ~nno September 14, 2009
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THRU: David Carmany, City Manager
FROM: Jill R. Ingram, Assistant to the City Manager
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF PLACEMENT OF HONORARY
PLAQUE AT FIRE STATION 48 IN MEMORY OF
FORMER SEAL SEACH FIRE CHIEF RONALD E.
ADAMS
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
That the City Council consider the placement of an honorary plaque upon
completion of the newly-constructed Fire Station 48 in memory of former Seal
Beach Fire Chief Ronald E. Adams.
BACKGROUND:
Ronald E. Adams was appointed as the Fire Chief for the Seal Beach Fire
Department in June 1966, and had a long, distinguished career, and was
respected for his fairness, innovative leadership and for his devotion to fire
service in our community. After leaving Seal Beach in 1981, Chief Adams served
as Fire Chief for the City of Laguna Beach until his retirement in 1985. The
accomplishments of Chief Adams were many, and included serving as president .
of the California State Fire Chief's Association and president of the Orange
County Fire Chiefs' Association, and as a teacher of fire science at Santa Ana
Community College and Mount San Antonio Community College.
Ronald E. Adams passed away on August 8, 1992, at the age of 59, and the City
Council at that time respectfully paid tribute to his memory at the August 24,
1992 City Council meeting for his many years of dedicated service to the
residents of Seal Beach.
The family of Ronald E. Adams is requesting that the City Council consider
honoring his memory with a plaque affixed to Fire Station 48 upon the completion
of construction as a tribute to his innovative leadership to fire service in our
community.
Agenda Item S
Page 2
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The estimated cost for a plaque is approximately $300.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council authorize the placement of an honorary plaque upon
completion of the newly-constructed Fire Station 48 in memory of former Seal
Beach Fire Chief Ronald E. Adams. '
SUBMITTED BY:
~•
'II .Ingram,
Assistant to the City Manager
NOTED AND APPROVED:
®-~
David N. Carma y, City Manager
Attachment:
A. Letter to the City Council dated June 22, 2009 from Dorothy Adams
June 22, 2009
Seal Beach City Council
Mayor Gordon Shanks
Mayor Pro Tem David Sloan
Councilman Charles Antos
Councilman Mike Levitt
Councilman Gary Miller
In 1966, Seal Beach City Council authorized the construction of a new fire
station near Leisure World. This station would protect not only Leisure
World, but the surrounding areas including Boeing and the 405/605
freeways interchange, and response to old town Seal Beach. The plans for
this station and the architecture was directed to the newly hired Fire Chief
Ronald E. Adams. Prior to building of this new fire station, the sole fire
protection was housed in a small garage inside the walls of Leisure World.
This "station" had one very outdated fire pumper and only one firefighter on
duty at a time. Back-up manpower was from the volunteer firefighters that
responded out of old town Seal Beach. Also, the city council authorized the
modernization of the fire station located across from the Seal Beach City
Hall on 8th and Central Avenues.
The construction of the new fire station was completed and housed a new
fully equipped Crown pumper, an Office of Emergency Services rig, and a
small van that was later adapted to a paramedic unit. At this time additional
firefighters were hired to staff and operate the updated equipment. At a later
date, our own paramedic system was put. into service under the direction of
Chief Adams.
In April, 1981 the Seal Beach Fire Department proudly had a complete staff
of 45 paid firefighters, an office secretary, a staff consisting of a Fire
Prevention Officer, Assistant Fire Chief and a Chief Officer. The
department was on a three platoon system and the Seal Beach and Leisure
World were completely protected with a short response time.
At the time of the construction of the Leisure World fire station, there was
no secretarial help for the department. I was able to lend a helping hand in
typing the specifications for not only the new station construction, but also
the specifications for the ordering of the new fire pumpers and other
equipment.
At the present time, a much larger fire station is under construction at the
site of the former Leisure World fire station. It will house at least three fire
pumpers and other equipment, in addition to more personnel as needed.
I propose honoring Chief Ronald E. Adams for his innovative work in the
early days of implementing modern fire protection for the City of Seal
Beach. Honoring his memory with a plaque affixed to the front of the new
building would be a living remembrance to all.
Thank you for considering the suggestion to name the new fire station in
honor of my late husband, Chief Ronald E. Adams. His children,
grandchildren and I will be proud to see his memory carried on to those who
loved and admired him as a person as well as a very special man to work
with as a firefighter.
Sincerely,
~„4.~,~ ads
Dorothy Adams
13180 Nassau Drive, 210-D
Seal Beach, California 90740
562-493-3799
Attachments
Cc: Sun News
Dennis Kaiser, editor