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Home My WebLink AboutCOW 2016-07-25 Item 3A - Powerpoint Presentation Shown at Meeting - Public Safety Bond on November 8 General Election BallotPublic Safety Plan Follow up from Public Hearing July 25, 2016 How we got here • Two efforts converged; Public Safety prioritized • Identifying how to fully fund fire services in Tukwila has been an ongoing effort since 2010, and included two lengthy processes investigating whether joining the Kent Regional Fire Authority was the best option. • At the direction of the City Council in 2012, the City has also engaged in a comprehensive review of City facilities, which included fire facilities, resulting in the City of Tukwila Facilities Plan for Essential Government Services. • Public Safety was the top priority identified and, at the direction of the City Council, the Public Safety Plan was developed in 2016 to address both fire and the broader public safety facilities deficiencies identified by the Facilities Committee. Details of the Public Safety Plan • 20 -year voter - approved Public Safety bond to pay for: • Replacing three seismically- deficient fire stations • Guaranteed funding for fire equipment and apparatus for the life of the bond • New Justice Center the house Tukwila's Police Department and Municipal Court • Consolidated Public Works shops facility to be paid for with an equal mix of General Fund and Utility Funds, within the existing rate structure Themes heard from the community • Model of fire service • Oversight committee • Impact to tax payers • Community involvement in siting and design • Certainty of use of funds • Funding for Public Works shops • The future of City Hall and long -term facilities planning • Potential impacts of facilities Model of Fire Service • Average response time in 2015 was 5:59 • Finance and Safety presentation on different service model options • Tukwila is unique — geography, building types, critical infrastructure • Time is critical when responding to both fire and EMS • 67% of the calls are for aid; not unique nationally or regionally • Slightly higher calls for fires than other counterparts at 7% of total calls • An engine is the only piece of equipment that can respond to both fire and EMS; all firefighters are trained EMTs • Changing to a model that relies more on aid cars than fire engines will increase fire response times significantly • Full presentation available on website TukwilaWA.gov /PublicSafetyPlan — see Impacts to Service Levels Oversight Committee • Council will determine scope and makeup • Proposed language reads minimum of five • Goal of non - profit representative is to enhance voice of all communities • Terms can be changed; staff concerned that more than a two -year commitment could be a deterrent for some people • Proposed language provides a separate process for Council to develop the purpose of the oversight committee • Similar process used by other jurisdictions • Ultimately, per state and municipal law, the Council is the final oversight Impact to Taxpayers • A homeowner assessed at $250,000 would pay an average of $116 per year • Rate is $0.47 per $1,000 of assessed value based on current assumptions • Commercial property owners currently pay 80% of the property taxes in the City of Tukwila, and they will also pay 80% of the costs associated with the Public Safety Bond • Low income seniors and disabled who qualify for the existing property tax exemption program are also exempt from this tax Community Involvement with Siting & Design • Council and Administration share desire for robust public engagement around siting and design of the three fire stations, Justice Center to house the Tukwila Police Department and Municipal Court, and Public Works Shops • Community advisory council to be created • Community meetings, charrettes and other visioning events planned • Siting and design will incorporate staff input Certainty of Use of Funds • RCW 84.52.056 restricts how voter - approved (UTGO) bonds can be spent • Ordinance is specific about the ballot language and projects • Bonds can only be spent for what is included in the ballot • City Council has the ability to defease (void future) bonds early in the event of an underspend • City cannot issue additional UTGO bonds in excess of what is stated in the ballot title without going back to the voters Funding for Public Works Shops • Half of the funding comes from Water, Sewer and Surface Water Funds • Must be spent on utility - related issues • Will be achieved within the existing rate structure • Reserves in the funds and other debt service sun setting allow this to happen • Debt service payments for the shops represent 5.6% of all funds on an annual basis • Half coming from the General Fund through councilmanic (LTGO) bonds • Achieved by efficiencies, continuing today's level of service Future of City Hall & Facilities Reserves • Facilities steering committee recommended City Hall campus funded through councilmanic (LTGO) bonds, paid back by the General Fund • Current proposed timeline for City Hall campus is outside the six -year planning window • Not contemplating any other voter - approved facilities measures • Public Safety Plan provides the City the opportunity to begin a facilities reserve program to address future needs Potential Impacts of Facilities • Both the Justice Center and Public Works Shops are limited by zoning as to where they can go • Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center a good example — Kent welcomed it as a revitalization tool for its downtown • Feedback from open houses indicates community wants to use the siting of these facilities to enhance existing neighborhoods • Siting and design committee effort would review any potential impacts to a neighborhood Next Steps • Public Safety Bond — Council must act by August 1 to make the November 8 ballot; must also decide pro /con committee makeup • Public Works — 2017/2018 Budget process • Bond Oversight Committee scope and representation to be finalized by the Council this summer