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Governor's Fire Service Policy Council

Goals of the Council

The council is established to provide advice and guidance on issues of common interest, policies, and affairs that affect the fire protection and life safety of the people of Oregon. Advice is provided to the governor and the state fire marshal.

Member

Jason Servatius
Trish Connolly
Ben Stange, Vice Chair
Brandon Fowler
Travis Worthington
Claire McGrew
Karl Koenig, Chair
Jennifer Letz
John Powell
Phil Castle, ex officio
Dana Selover, ex officio

Representing

OVFA
LOC
OFCA
OFDDA
OFMA
OSFM
OSFFC
Public Member
Property & Casualty Insurance
DPSST
OHA

Term Ends

07-31-2026
09-30-2028
01-25-2028
01-09-2028
01-09-2028
05-28-2026
10-31-2026
09-30-2028
07-31-2026
N/A
N/A

Important Documents



Governor’s Fire Service Policy Council Charter

Click the tabs below to read each section of the charter. A print-online version is available here.

Governor’s Fire Service Policy Council
Mission Statement
To provide advice and guidance on issues of common interest, policies, and affairs that affects the fire protection and life safety of the people of Oregon.
Goals
• Provide an effective forum for the discussion of issues, matters, and affairs affecting the fire service and recommend policy and implementation strategies.
• Provide the Governor of Oregon an independent assessment that fire service personnel (paid or volunteer) in Oregon are adequately trained to appropriately, effectively, and safely prevent or suppress and investigate hostile fires and provide emergency services.
• Advise the Governor and the Superintendent of State Police on fire policy issues and serve in an advisory capacity to the State Fire Marshal on strategies for the implementation of fire and life safety issues.
• Provide a biennial report to the Governor and the Superintendent of State Police on the overall performance of the Office of the State Fire Marshal. This is not intended as a process whereby a subcommittee shall evaluate the performance and effectiveness of various programs according to established benchmarks.
Objectives
• Develop a unified Oregon Fire Services “Issues Management System”:
◦ Identify issues;
◦ Assess importance, priority, stakeholders;
◦ Explore alternatives, impacts (including capital and human resources), timing; and
◦ Prepare a “staff” report indicating proposed actions, including the potential need for the Governor’s involvement.
• Develop means and methods to provide a current situation analysis/assessment to the Governor and the Fire Service.
• Preferred strategy: seek sponsors for program objectives/initiatives (the Council should not regularly become involved in implementation) and collaborate with the Oregon Fire Associations to build consensus and support for these issues.
Customers/Beneficiaries
• Residents of and visitors to the State of Oregon
• Oregon’s Firefighters and public safety organizations
• Emergency Medical Services
• Business and Industry
• Building Code Officials and Organizations
Primary Stakeholders
• Governor
• Senior leadership of major Oregon Fire Service organizations, Superintendent of State Police, Oregon State Fire Marshal, and Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, Office of Emergency Management, Oregon Health Authority
• Oregon Fire Service
Success Indicators
• Reaching consensus on issues of common interest.
• The Governor indicates the Council adds value.
• The major Fire Service Organizations and others turn to the Council for advice, counsel, and support.
Scope
Oregon Fire Service, including paid, volunteer, combination, industrial, private, federal, state, municipal, suburban, rural, etc., Oregon State Fire Marshal, and affiliated training, inspection, and support services.
Limitations
• The council may not participate in the discussion of traditional labor relations issues.
• While the Council may take a “policy” position on certain issues, unless specifically requested to do so by the Governor or the Superintendent of State Police, the Council will not take an active role in legislation.
Opportunity or Issue Statement
A healthy unified fire service is important to the citizens and governmental leaders of Oregon. Services can be improved and efficiencies realized through collaboration and developing better partnerships.
Procedures/Meeting Frequency
• The Council shall meet at least quarterly.
• Meetings shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order.
• The Office of State Fire Marshal shall provide staff services to the Council.
• Attendance will be logged.
• Meetings will be held in Salem.
• Meeting notices will be sent to council members.
• The Council shall elect a chairperson and vice chairperson at the first Council meeting of each odd-numbered year.
• The council may recruit volunteers as needed.
• Agendas will be developed and followed. Approximately once per quarter, a representative from each group should provide an update (may be informal) on the issues and priorities of the group.
• Agendas shall include a “visitors comment” period during which time guests may address the Council. Otherwise comments from non-Council members shall be at the request of the chair.
Decision Ratifying Body
• The Fire Service Policy Council
• The Governor
Boundary Conditions to Decisions Made
• Oregon Fire Services focus.
• Council budget requests will be submitted to the Governor’s office.
How Decisions Are Communicated
• Minutes shall be transmitted electronically to members and posted on the State Fire Marshal’s web site.
• Position papers/staff reports (see Decision Making Process)
Policy Council Members
The Council shall include the following non-voting ex officio members:
• The Superintendent of State Police, or a designee thereof
• The Director of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, or a designee thereof
• The State Fire Marshal shall serve as executive director of the council, but not as a member
A member appointed by the Governor must be a representative of one of the following:
• The Oregon Fire Chiefs Association or a successor or other organization representing fire chiefs
• The Oregon Fire District Directors Association or a successor or organization representing fire district directors
• The Oregon Fire Marshals Association or a successor or other organization representing fire marshals
• Property and casualty insurance providers
• Employees of the Office of State Fire Marshal
• The Oregon State Firefighters Council or a successor or other organization representing professional firefighters
• The Oregon Volunteer Firefighters Association or a successor or other organization representing volunteer firefighters
• The League of Oregon Cities or a successor or other organization representing municipalities
• The general public
Per ORS 476.680(3), members appointed by the Governor shall be appointed to three-year terms, however, initial terms may be adjusted to ensure council stability. An appointed member may not serve more than two consecutive terms.
Annual Review Schedule
The Council will review the Charter Document for continued relevance and upgrade and develop an annual “Progress Report” identifying unresolved issues (July/Sept. of each year)



Contact

Sara Zavala, Board Administrator
sara.zavala@osfm.oregon.gov