[music] Hello everyone and welcome to the council update. I am Phil Jentz, your communications manager and this month we are here with council member Monnique Garza. Monnique, welcome. >> Thank you. It's great to be here. Thank you. Well, Council Member Garza, right now the Cottage Grove Fire Department is undergoing a standard of cover and community risk assessment. What can you tell us about it? >> Yes. Well, it's a really great question and a very important topic. Um, the fire department is currently performing a fire and EMS evaluation study called a standard of cover or SOC and community risk assessment. The SOC evaluates how fire, EMS, and rescue services are delivered to our community. The SOC also evaluates needs such as station placement and fire truck and ambulance replacement plans. And the goal of the SOC study is to help improve how fire and EMS are delivered to our community. >> And what are some of the things that this study is looking at? >> Well, Phil, the study evaluated response times, types of responses, and GIS data to identify recommendations to improve fire and emergency services. The department and the consultant conducting the study recently gave an initial briefing to the city council on October 15, 2025 on the initial results during a council workshop to engage and receive community feedback about fire and EMS services. The consultants facilitated a community member focus group. The focus group involved community members and members from city commissions. The focus group was held on October 20th, 2025. >> And what are the next steps regarding the study? Well, the next steps is to take feedback from the city council, the community focus group, and to use that to develop recommendations to improve our fire service delivery. A draft of the SOC will be presented to the city's public service commission in November, where it will receive feedback from the commission members in advance of a final draft for the city council to receive in December. So, staying on the topic of the fire department, uh I heard that you recently participated in the fire ops 101 training. So, tell us a little bit about that. >> I sure did. Yes. Yes. Uh city council members had the opportunity to step into the boots of firefighters. On October 18th, city council members and other locally elected officials learned what firefighters do and how they deliver exceptional service to our community. Elected officials had the opportunity to wear turnout gear. We wore SCBAs or air packs and we engaged in real life scenarios such as searching a smoked filled room, auto extractions, cardiac arrest, and using a hose line to put out a fire in a live fire simulator. It was a fantastic and educational experience. And I want to thank all of Cottage Grove, the local IAFF2570 and the Cottage Grove Fire Department for allowing us to have that incredible opportunity to learn about the department. >> That is really great to hear and what a great it sounds like a really great experience to go through and very educational. So, thanks for sharing. Uh, and thank you again, Council Member Garza, for joining us today. And that'll do it for this month's council update. Thank you as always to True Lens Community Media for producing this video and we will see you all next time. Thanks everyone. >> [music]