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From: chris dennebaum To: GRP -City Council; MGR -Melissa Stevenson Diaz; Council -Diane Howard Subject: Temporary closure of Engine 9 Date: Monday, October 26, 2020 2:36:42 PM Hello, It has come to my attention that Redwood City plans to temporarily close engine 9 due to budget cuts. While I of course understand that times are difficult, and that adjustments need to be made, this reduction in service is not one that should be enacted. As a San Carlos homeowner with a young family, one might ask why we are writing to Redwood City officials. Quite simply it is because this decision results in a greatly reduced level of service and protection for my family. Taking one of the busiest engines in the county and replacing it with a truck company seems at first blush to be a good option. If you look deeper at what effect it will have, you might see things differently. If Truck 9 is to handle all the medical calls from this busy engine, it will not be regularly available to respond to our residence. In the case of a fire, any delay in search, rescue or ventilation can have a devastating effect. Another very real problem is the question of what coverage issues this move will cause. When Truck 9 is running medical calls in downtown, will Engines 13 and 16 (which respond to our home) be moved up to cover? If one of my children were choking or I suddenly collapsed in cardiac arrest, how much additional time would it take for the next engine company to arrive to render aid? Those additional seconds and minutes could be an eternity in a critical situation and cost my family greatly. Finally, this issue was addressed by Measure RR in 2018. As you know, that measure passed a 1/2% sales tax increase which was sold to the public as protecting rapid 911 response times. I'm not sure where that money was allocated, but if it was not to keep these resources on the street then why was this measure passed in overwhelming fashion? The people of Redwood City (and San Carlos) do not care about administrative positions, what they care about is the amount of time it takes to get the help we need. If the money voted for in measure RR is being used for anything but keeping public safety resources on the street, those things need to go before Engine 9 is closed. Please reconsider the decision to close Engine 9 and find another way. My family depends on it. Thank you for reading, Chris Dennebaum