Meeting summary of Edmonds RFA Discussion with
South County Fire Commissioners (04/11/2025) 

Northwest Washington Civic Circle’s Discussion

The Northwest Washington Civic Circle hosted a discussion on the Edmonds - South County Fire, Annexation. This is the fourth and final part of a series featuring Fire Commissioners from South County Fire. Jim Kenny, Micah Rowland, and Ed Widdis introduced themselves, sharing their backgrounds and experience. Jim Kenny, who has been a Fire Commissioner since 2003, explained the role and functions of the Board of Fire Commissioners, which include overseeing policy, strategy, intergovernmental issues, and high-level human resources matters. He notes that the board has evolved over time, expanding from 5 to 7 members, with additional non-voting city liaisons, resulting in more diverse opinions but longer meetings.

Edmonds Fire Station Expansion Plans

Jim and Ed discussed the capital facilities plan, which involves analyzing future response needs due to increasing traffic and density. They are planning for new fire stations, replacements, and in-fill stations to meet response times, with six stations needing replacement and four in-fill stations to be built in the next 10 to 20 years. The construction process is challenging, and the board is involved in funding and decision-making. Micah added that they are in the process of purchasing property near Swedish Edmonds Hospital to build a fourth fire station in Edmonds to provide better service to the citizens of Edmonds. The Edmonds contract was terminated because it failed to pay the full cost to run the three Edmonds fire stations.

Fire Department Contract Renegotiation Discussion

Ed and Jim discussed the evolution of South County Fire and the increasing costs of providing enhanced services. They highlighted the need for renegotiation in contracts and the issue of inequitable payment rates among different areas. Jim emphasized the fairness of having all residents pay the same amount, regardless of their location. Micah added that the original contract formulas could have been revised to account for unforeseen circumstances like Covid and state programs, but the time was not right due to the pandemic. 

Non-Voting Members' Role in Board Meetings

Jim clarified the role of non-voting members on the board, stating they are either city elected officials or city employees, and they are expected to have a direct connection to the city administration. These members have a voice in all meetings and are influential in shaping decisions. The non-voting members are a temporary measure until the city has a chance to elect its own residents after the board redistricting process. Jim also mentioned that the board is designed to be an odd number to avoid ties.

Redistricting Process and Timing Explained

Alicia asked about the redistricting process if Edmonds decides to join the RFA. Micah explained that redistricting occurs after a city joins, and they try to keep the board districts fair by not radically changing the landscape. Micah added that they cannot draw a commissioner out of their district in the redistricting process to try to unseat them. Alicia asked about the timing of the redistricting process, and Jim clarified that they could redistrict this year if Edmonds annexes, but it is too close to the May filing week for candidates running for fire commissioner this year. They can do it for the 2027 election. Alicia asked if someone could force the issue, and Jim said it depends. Micah clarified, via the revised code of Washington (RCW), that you cannot redistrict within 120 days before a general election or 20 months after the districts have been altered.

New Services and Redistricting Discussion

Micah and Ed discussed the addition of new services to the RFA areas without renegotiating for more money. They also mentioned the community resource paramedic program as beneficial for residents. Jim clarified the redistricting process, stating that the board would consider public input and aim for equal population distribution among districts. Alicia asked about the recent Washington DC trip, which Ed explained was a new opportunity for the Western Fire Chiefs Association to discuss regional issues with their federal legislators.

Fire and EMS Service Allocation

The meeting involved a discussion about the allocation of funds to smaller agencies, including tribal agencies and rural districts, and the importance of the National Fire Academy for staff training. The attendees at the DC conference also discussed the potential impact of the recent shutdown of the National Fire Academy. The conversation then shifted to the topic of fire and EMS services in Edmonds, with a focus on the potential privatization of EMS services. The panelists explained that privatization could lead to cost savings for taxpayers but might not be the most efficient or effective approach for providing quality service. They emphasized the importance of maintaining a high level of service, including a high cardiac save rate, and the need for a sufficient number of firefighters to respond to emergencies. The panelists also addressed the question of whether Edmonds should pay for both fire and EMS services, arguing that it is necessary to provide comprehensive emergency services.

Edmonds Fire Service Challenges Discussed

The meeting focused on the challenges of providing fire services in Edmonds, a city with unique geographic realities. The discussion highlighted the need to balance costs with human factors and the importance of considering regional specifics. The comparison with Shoreline was brought up, but it was noted that their situation was different. The current contract with Edmonds is set to end, and the community needs to decide if they want to continue paying for the service. There was also a discussion, brought up by Alicia, about the trust issue between the city leadership and the residents, which is affecting the decision-making process. The conversation ended with a call for residents to understand the efforts being made by the city to provide the best services for them.

Edmonds Tax Increase Discussion

In the meeting, Micah and Ed discussed the financial situation of the city of Edmonds and the need for a tax increase to cover service costs. They explained that South County Fire has been providing more services than has been paid for, and that the increase in taxes is necessary to make the situation fair for all citizens, regardless of their location. They also mentioned that South County Fire has been fiscally responsible and has a history of being efficient. Ed added that the negotiation process with the City was fair, and that South County Fire has done extra things for Edmonds that other cities did not get. They emphasized that the decision is ultimately up to the residents of Edmonds to vote on the tax increase.