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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFire EMS 2022-01-04 Agenda Packet Tukwila Future Fire/EMS Service Community Advisory Committee Meeting 3 Tuesday, January 4, 2021| 4:00 PM –6:00 PM The meeting will be conducted on Zoom. The phone number for the public to listen to this meeting is: (253)215-8782, Meeting ID 755 884 0726; passcode 482717. Click here to join meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7558840726?pwd=d3NDRjhIQ0hYckpUUGNzRndpK2hqUT09 Agenda 1.Welcome, Introductions, Review of Agenda (10 min.) Karen Reed, facilitator 2.Action: Review and approval of meeting summary from the December 14 Committee meeting (3 min.) Karen 3.Response to questions asked at previous meeting (10 min.) Staff Team 4.Recap of Meeting 2 Presentations (15 min.) Staff Team 5.Committee Roundtable: (35 minutes) Part 1: Enhanced Services Thoughts about enhanced services? Should all or some be a priority to o fund/provide in Tukwila? Why or why not? Part 2: Financial Sustainability How do you define financial sustainability? o -- break (5 min.) – 6.Presentation: Options for delivering fire/EMS service under state law: introduction to Regional Fire Authorities, Fire Districts, City fire departments, contracting, annexing – differences and similarities. (25 min.) Karen Reed Fire service providers in South King County (see Background section of CAC Binders) 7.Introduction: List of potential future fire/EMS service delivery options. (10 min.) Karen 8.IAFF Union Comment (3 min.) IAFF President James Booth 9.Next Agenda/Adjourn (2 min.) Karen City of Tukwila Future of Fire/EMS Services Community Advisory Committee December 14, 2021 Virtual Meeting due to COVID-19 Emergency 4:00 p.m. DRAFT MINUTES Present Committee members: Jim Davis, Katrina Dohn, Jovita McConnell, Peggy McCarthy, Andy Reiswig, Dennis Robertson, Verna Seal, Sally Blake, Ben Oliver, Hien Kieu (Absent: Ramona Grove, Abdullahi Shakul) City staff & consultants: David Cline, Laurel Humphrey, Norm Golden, Jay Wittwer, Vicky Carlsen, James Booth, Jake Berry, Karen Reed, Bill Cushman Welcome, Introductions, Review of Agenda 1. All attendees introduced themselves. Ms. Reed reviewed the meeting agenda. Review and approval of November 9, 2021 Committee meeting minutes 2. Ms. Dohn moved approval of the minutes and Mr. Davis seconded. The motion carried and the minutes were approved. 3.Confirming 2022 Meeting Dates Committee members reviewed and confirmed the proposed 2022 dates: 1/4, 2/1, 2/15, 3/8, 3/22, 4/5, 4/19, all from 4-6 PM. City staff will send meeting appointments; at this point, it is anticipated that all meetings will be conducted via Zoom. 4.Responses to questions asked at previous meetings Staff provided the station call data and an overview of the Center for Public Safety Management Report on the Tukwila Fire Department presented to City Council on March 8, 2021. Q&A: Is the 2019 data in the CPSM report still good? -The biggest change is the call distribution between Stations 51 and 52 due to the new locations. Out of service agency calls have also increased due to a new Zone 3 policy as of March 2021. Does the City track commercial vs. residential calls, and if so what is the ratio? -Only alarms and fires are tracked, although the City does track where EMS calls happen. This results in response types by district but sometimes multiple units go to these calls, not actual #s per unit. How can we compare numbers back to 2016 or 2019 when the response areas have changed? 1 -This is the most accurate representation we have since the stations moved. Station 52 moved in February 2021, Station 51 in September 2020. Does the graph represent the responding unit or the location of the incident? -The location of the incident. 5.Nominations for Committee Chair Ms. Reed reviewed the roles of Chair and Vice Chair and called for nominations for Chair. Mr. Robertson nominated Ms. Seal, who is willing to serve. No other nominations were made, and Ms. Seal’s nomination will be presented to the City Council in January for appointment. 6.Recap of Meeting 1 Presentations Staff summarized the presentations on the City’s budget and Fire Department. Q&A: What is in the 2021 budget amendment for the Fire Department? -$110K in contracts includes consultant work on Fire/EMS Community Advisory Committee; the $920K for overtime involves all four stations and includes daily operations, vaccination support and contract with Westfield. Do all City Departments rebalance their budgets? -The General Fund must be rebalanced every year and includes all departments. Highest priority services get funding. Information Requests: Provide information on how much general fund budget/property tax the cities of Renton & SeaTac were expending on fire before they joined a regional effort. Enhanced Services Deeper Dive 7. Staff provided an overview of three potential service enhancements that would be prioritized if funding were available: Public Education Program, participation in South County CAREs, and expansion of fire inspection/investigation staffing. Information Requests: How many inspections can one inspector provide in a year on average? Does the Fire Department and/or City have an order of preference for enhanced services? Would additional fire investigation and permitting/inspector staff pay for themselves through fees? What is the estimated annual revenue? Where would the money come from to fund enhanced services? What is the staffing model for CARES? 8.Committee Roundtable Committee members each shared responses to “What is important to you about the Tukwila Fire Department?” and “What is your perception of services provided by Tukwila Fire Department?” Responses that emerged included the importance of life safety, engagement with diverse community, public education, response times, community trust, adequate coverage in case a unit is out on call, appropriate tools and funding. Participants shared that TFD are highly skilled, well trained, prompt, respectful, caring, professional, and part of the community. One area mentioned as needing improvement is in permitting/staffing; others mentioned concern about the ability to maintain and sustain the Department’s services. 2 9.Fire Department Financial Forecast/Strategic Plan Mr. Cushman presented the Strategic Financial Plan for the Tukwila Fire Department 2021-2028. Q&A: With the model showing that the Fire Department currently expends 82% of all City property taxes, what happens to the remainder? All property tax and sales tax, business tax, all other general City taxes are deposited into the City’s general fund and used to support general fund departments (parks, police, streets, administration, fire, etc.). The 82% number is intended to help benchmark the Fire Department’s funding level in comparison to other fire agencies which are reliant on property taxes for their funding. Explain what is meant by Fire Depts/RFAs needing to ask for more money. Has every RFA done this? -Fire agencies must ask voters to increase or restore their property tax levy rates periodically because they are extremely dependent on property taxes the collection of which can only increase 1% per year plus the value of taxes on new construction—this limit means their primary revenue source fails to keep up with the cost of doing business. Yes, every RFA and Fire District has had to ask their voters for more money. Is the goal to keep fire expenditures within the confines of property tax revenue? -Property tax is one example but not the only way to fund fire services in the City. Information Requests: Provide financial planning spreadsheet Union Comment 10. Captain Booth offered no additional remarks. 11.Next Agenda/Adjourn Ms. Reed reviewed the January 3, 2022, preliminary meeting agenda. The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 P.M. by unanimous consent. Minutes by LH 3 Future of Fire/EMS Services Community Advisory Committee (v. 12.22.21) Question QuestionResponse / Status Received 1 Meeting 1Calls by station district Provide number of calls by type (EMS vs Fire) per day, provided on 12/14. per station Note that 2 stations were recently relocated which impacts relevance of per-station call data from before the present locations were active. 2“Pending(will be presented Provide data/outcomes from other cities that joined a later) regional effort 3 Meeting 2 Attached Provide information on how much of their general fund budget/property tax the cities of Renton and SeaTac were expending on Fire before they formed an RFA (Renton) or contracted with an RFA (SeaTac) 4 Would additional fire investigation and Attached permitting/fire inspector staff pay for themselves through fees? Generally, what can we expect in terms of Fire Marshal office generated revenue? 5 Attached How many inspections does one inspector complete in a year on average? 6 Attached Does the Fire Department and/or City have a preference/priority in terms of these enhanced services? 7 This will be discussed in Where would the money come from to fund enhanced Meeting 4 (Feb 4) services? 8 What is the staffing model for a CARES unit? Attached 9 After A summary of project future City revenue streams We can provide a 6-year meeting 2 forecast. (Vicky Carlsen) (particularly sales tax) for the next ten years or so. 10 Definition of fiscal sustainability? This is a discussion item for the Committee 11 Can you provide comparables for total salary, total We will provide this data compensation cost (TCC), retirement benefits and for Renton RFA and Puget medial plan benefits in other fire service providers in Sound RFA when we South King County explore those service alternatives. 12 13 Response to Questions from CAC Meeting 2 Data provided by Chief Wittwer and Jake Berry Question 3: Provide information on how much of their general fund budget/property tax the cities of Renton and SeaTac were expending on Fire before they formed an RFA (Renton) or contracted with an RFA (SeaTac) A: Comparative data pending. Question 4: Would additional fire investigation and permitting/fire inspector staff pay for themselves through fees? Generally, what can we expect in terms of Fire Marshal office generated revenue? A: Fire investigation, permitting and inspection are not fully revenue backed from fees today. Staffing costs for 4 FTEs in the Fire Marshal Office are currently about $800K/year, and fees generated are about $120K/year. Question 5: How many inspections does one inspector complete in a year on average? A: For years 2016-2019, the Fire Marshal Office completed an annual average of 800 inspections; with two fire inspectors on staff, this translates to about 400 inspections per inspector per year. The Fire Permitting plans examiner averages about 1,000 plan reviews per year. Question 6: Does the Fire Department and/or City have a preference/priority in terms of these enhanced services? The Fire Departments service enhancements, in priority order, are: 1.CARES unit – staffing of one nurse and one FF/EMT (5 to 7 days a week at 10, 12 or 24 hr staffing) 2.Public Education – one full time employee 3. Increase staffing for Fire Marshal Office – 1 to 4 full time employees Question 8: What is the staffing model for a CARES unit? A: Staffing for a CARES unit is most often filled with one nurse and one Firefighter (FF)/Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). This is the recommendation of the Fire Chief. Other models use a social worker with one FF/EMT. A “Class One Firefighter” (a firefighter that has been on staff for at least 3 years) is needed on a CARES unit to ensure that safety of the unit is realized. The City’s Firefighter bargaining unit, Local #2088, supports staffing for a CARES Unit. Some additional training for the CARES Unit staff would be provided by the south King County fire agency consortium. municipalities: some combination of agency considerations for elected positions may be determined by the member other must include all the territory within only be created by joint action (and emergency medical services. It can municipal airports, or Indian tribes. year max. An RFA is a special purpose district terms, staggered. The governance rtain statutory agencies, documented in the “RFA 1 (v. 12.30.21) composed of elected, rather than vote separate unit of government ns, port districts, members is allowed; they can be or a mix of the The governance board structure The territory of a proposed RFA board may change its structure. voter approval) of at least two authorized to provide fire and fire districts, Regional Fire Authority (RFA) Plan.” Any number of board where the board is primarily - - large, member person, one - appointed, members). 6 the member agencies. above, subject to ce Comparing Fire Departments, Fire Districts and Regional Fire Authorities under Washington State Law adjacent/nearby – elected officials - , cities, tow provisions (one Title 52.26 RCW - districted, at RFAs and or establish a board government authorized to provide fire (creation is subject to voter approval), commissioners that maintains a fire department consisting wholly of paid basis, there shall be five fire ioners. district with an annual budget of ten the Council may elect to serve as the Voters must approve formation of a If a City creates its own Fire District time, and emergency medical services. (RCW million dollars or more may have A fire district is a special purpose commissioners. A fire protection In a fire protection district with year max. terms, of separately elected commiss - personnel employed on a full district and separate unit of ” fire commissioners. – governing board - . 6 Fire District fire district. Title 52 RCW staggered. 52.14.020) elected seven - fully “ board for the department; the Mayor mayor” form of large rove formation of a service and financial responsibilities year terms. unit of government; it is part of the A fire department is not a separate City government, controlled by the and authorities, including separate government) is the chief executive The City Council is the governance wide array of elected councilmembers, plus a - As a code city, Tukwila has 7 at A city is a separate unit of - large. Councilmembers have 4 Council and executive. City Fire Department - (in Tukwila’s “strong government with a - taxing authority. mayor elected at Voters must app (Code Cities) Title 35 RCW officer. city. Cities, Fire Districts and RFAs Voter approval is required to are units of local government authorities are controlled by establish any of these types and separate legal entities the state. They may only expressly granted by the exercise those powers Prepared by Karen Reed of local governments. General Description Statutory Authority whose powers and Governance state. funding/taxation authority as do Fire if the agency imposes a fire benefit charge, the costs away from single family homes to larger structures. The amount of the : The maximum fire levy allowed by state law is $1.50 per $1,000 of Structures requiring more fire resources to respond to a fire pay more under FBC imposed annually may not exceed 60% of the agency operating budget. ) A FBC is not a tax, it is a fee based on the fire risk 2 approved by construction. This typically fails to keep pace with growth in cost of service The fire levy is subject to state law capping growth in property taxes at 1% 2 resources. In practice, an FBC shifts achment delivery. To maintain purchasing power, fire districts typically seek voter ntially identical ts are Regional Fire Authority (RFA) approved annually by the board of commissioners. There is an appeal t $1.000 per $1,000 of assessed value. taxes on new After initial voter approval, the FBC formula and collection amoun Both the fire levy and FBC are subject to voter approval initially. Att - associated with the size and use of a physical structure. (See process. Six years after initial authorization, a FBC must be re voters, either for another 6 years, 10 years, or permanently. 6 years. RFAs have esse more than the prior year’s collections plus the value of - approval for a “levy lid lift” of their fire levy every 3 Districts. based approved excess levies a FBC than those that require less fire e Districts have several potential - funding sources (excluding EMS Fire benefit charge (risk Fire levy (property tax) maximum fire levy is capped a fee charged annually) provided that (to pay for bonds or (FBC): Fees for service Fire Benefit Charge operations) assessed value, Grants - Voter Fire District Fire Levy levies): Fir part of a fire protection district or fire operations. These include but are not services (allowed for but only to pay Property tax (including voter if current levy rate is $2.18/$1,000 AV. County Library levy (the Library levy Cities have a broad array of funding sources with which to support their “annexed since 2006 or is maximum rate is $0.50). The City’s The total property tax authority of is currently around $0.22, and the impose a fire benefit charge (FBC), conducting annexations of all or a for “enhancement of services” as the City is $3.60/$1,000 assessed Cities have statutory authority to approved excess levies) Real estate excise taxes value (AV), less the actual King Fire benefit charges various) (See Fees for service City Fire Department – protection districts” Fire Districts, RFAs). Utility taxes Impact fees Sales tax ( all ) Grants compared to Attachment 1 (Code Cities) limited to: a city has if the County imposes the tax, State law authorizes local fire provided that, a property tax of up to $0.50 of assessed value impose (with voter approval) nty local fire agencies in support approved a countywide EMS y, fire district of the medic 1 system/basic County Medic 1 system and In King County, voters have allocated by formula to the levy, proceeds of which are or RFA in King County may agencies and counties to other agencies in the Cou not impose an EMS levy. for Emergency Medical life support services. may not do so. Therefore, a cit (EMS) per $1,000 s ervices Finance S included in the financing plan of the The City Council can adopt a service the proposed boundaries may vote; simple majority requirement unless approval required. All voters within The RFA must first consent to allow voters can plan, in which case a 60% outlining the terms and conditions ). Fire agencies are then vote to annex into an RFA. A 3 the related RFA Plan Amendment approval of a ballot measure and – simple majority vote is required the City to annex. With Council Same as for a fire district: voter regardless of whether an FBC is There is no statutory level of service requirement, however, there are national standards that provide guidelines. jectives for a FBC is imposed as part of the Regional Fire Authority (RFA) of annexation, the City’s majority is required. specify performance measures applicable to response time ob 3 Attachment financing contract. RFA. Yes. ee allow the City to annex. Council would S certain major services. (RCW 35.92 (Code Cities), Ch. 52.33 Fire Districts, RFAs; simple majority requirement unless a regardless s part The Fire District must first consent to of the financing plan, in which case a A fire district can only be created by n FBC is included in the voter approval (all voters within the The City Council can adopt a service then place the annexation measure before the City’s voters. A simple financing plan of the fire district. proposed boundaries may vote; related services. fire benefit charge is imposed a – 60% majority is required.) majority vote is required issue an annual report evaluating services delivery. - e the same array of fire of whether a Fire District contract. Yes. State law requires each type of agency The City could contract with another creation ity cannot annex into another adjacent City operating its own fire establish its own fire department. contracting with Tukwila for fire of a city; after that, the City can Seattle, which is Each type of agency can provid city for fire services. The only reportedly not interested in Voters must approve initial . City Fire Department fire department department is (Code Cities) required to service. N/A. city’s The C annexed annexing agency and receives . Upon process by boundaries of a government is subject to the taxes of the include an adjacent/nearby Process to annex City into services from this type of Can the City contract for agency are expanded to or territory area which the territorial ) nnexation is the . agency? Process? Process to Create service from them annexation, the another agency jurisdiction Services A ( Attachment 1: City Fire Benefit Charges RCW35.13.256Fire protection services—Benefit charge—Resolution—Exemptions—Definitions. (1) A city or town that has annexed since 2006 or is conducting annexations of all or a part of a fire protection district or fire protection districts may by resolution, for the enhancement of fire protection services, fix and impose a benefit charge on personal property and improvements to real property that are located in the city or town, to be paid by the owners of the properties: PROVIDED, That a benefit charge shall not apply to personal property and improvements to real property owned or used by: (a) Any recognized religious denomination or religious organization as, or including, a sanctuary or for purposes related to the bona fide religious ministries of the denomination or religious organization, including schools and educational facilities used for kindergarten, primary, or secondary educational purposes or for institutions of higher education and all grounds and buildings related thereto, but not including personal property and improvements to real property owned or used by any recognized religious denomination or religious organization for business operations, profit-making enterprises, or activities not including use of a sanctuary or related to kindergarten, primary, or secondary educational purposes or for institutions of higher education; or (b) any entity exempt from taxation under RCW 35.82.210, 84.36.030(3), or 84.36.560. (2) A benefit charge imposed shall be reasonably proportioned to the measurable benefits to property resulting from the enhancement of services afforded by the city or town fire department. It is acceptable to apportion the benefit charge to the values of the properties as found by the county assessor or assessors modified generally in the proportion that fire insurance rates are reduced or entitled to be reduced as the result of providing the services. Any other method that reasonably apportions the benefit charges to the actual benefits resulting from the degree of protection, which may include but is not limited to the distance from regularly maintained fire protection equipment, the level of fire prevention services provided to the properties, or the need of the properties for specialized services, may be specified in the resolution and shall be subject to contest on the ground of unreasonable or capricious action or action in excess of the measurable benefits to the property resulting from services afforded by the city or town fire department. The city or town may determine that certain properties or types or classes of properties are not receiving measurable benefits based on criteria they establish by resolution. A benefit charge authorized by this section shall not be applicable to the personal property or improvements to real property of any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, organization, or association maintaining a fire department and whose fire protection and training system has been accepted by a fire insurance underwriter maintaining a fire protection engineering and inspection service authorized by the state insurance commissioner to do business in this state, but such property may be protected by the city or town under a contractual agreement. For administrative purposes, the benefit charge imposed on any individual property may be compiled into a single charge, provided that the city or town, upon request of the property owner, provide an itemized list of charges for each measurable benefit included in the charge. (3) The resolution establishing benefit charges shall specify, by legal geographical areas or other specific designations, the charge to apply to each property by location, type, or other designation, or other information that is necessary to the proper computation of the benefit charge to be charged to each property owner subject to the resolution. The county assessor of each county shall determine and identify the personal properties and improvements to real property which are subject to a benefit charge in each city or town and shall furnish and deliver to the county treasurer of that county a listing of the properties with information describing the location, legal description, and address of the person to whom the statement of benefit charges is to be mailed, the name of the owner, and the value of the property and improvements, together with the benefit charge to apply to each. These benefit charges shall be certified to the county treasurer for collection in the same manner that is used for the collection 4 of fire protection assessments for forestlands protected by the department of natural resources under RCW 76.04.610 and the same penalties and provisions for collection shall apply. (4) Each city and town shall contract, prior to the imposition of a benefit charge, for the administration and collection of the benefit charge by each county treasurer, who shall deduct a percent, as provided by contract to reimburse the county for expenses incurred by the county assessor and county treasurer in the administration of the resolution and this section. The county treasurer shall make distributions each year, as the charges are collected, in the amount of the benefit charges imposed on behalf of the city or town, less the deduction provided for in the contract. (5) Any benefit charge authorized by this section shall not be effective unless a proposition to impose the benefit charge is approved by a sixty percent majority of the voters of the city or town voting at a general election or at a special election called by the city or town for that purpose, held within the city or town. An election held pursuant to this section shall be held not more than twelve months prior to the date on which the first such charge is to be assessed: PROVIDED, That a benefit charge approved at an election shall not remain in effect for a period of more than six years nor more than the number of years authorized by the voters if fewer than six years unless subsequently reapproved by the voters. (6) The ballot shall be submitted so as to enable the voters favoring the authorization of a benefit charge to vote "Yes" and those opposed thereto to vote "No," and the ballot shall be: "Shall . . . . . . . . . . be authorized to impose benefit charges each year for . . . . (insert number of years not to exceed six) years, not to exceed an amount equal to . . . . (insert percentage amount not to exceed sixty) percent of its fire department operating budget? YES NO (7) A city or town renewing the benefit charge may elect to use the following alternative ballot: "Shall . . . . . . . . . . be authorized to continue voter-authorized benefit charges each year for . . . . (insert number of years not to exceed six) years, not to exceed an amount equal to . . . . (insert percentage amount not to exceed sixty) percent of its fire department operating budget? YES NO (8) Not less than ten days nor more than six months before the election at which the proposition to impose the benefit charge is submitted as provided in this section, the city or town shall hold a public hearing specifically setting forth its proposal to impose benefit charges for the support of its legally authorized activities which will maintain or improve the services afforded in the city or town. A report of the public hearing shall be filed with the county treasurer of each county in which the property is located and be available for public inspection. (9)(a) Prior to November 15th of each year the city or town shall hold a public hearing to review and establish the benefit charges for the subsequent year. (b) All resolutions imposing or changing the benefit charges shall be filed with the county treasurer for each county in which the property is located, together with the record of each public hearing, before November 30th immediately preceding the year in which the benefit charges are to be collected on behalf of the city or town fire department. (c) After the benefit charges have been established, the owners of the property subject to the charge shall be notified of the amount of the charge. (10) After notice has been given to the property owners of the amount of the charge, the city or town imposing a benefit charge under this section shall form a review board for at least a two-week period and shall, upon complaint in writing of a party aggrieved owning property in the city or town, reduce the charge of a person who, in their opinion, has been charged too large a sum, to a sum or amount as they believe to be the true, fair, and just amount. 5 (11) A person who is receiving the exemption contained in RCW 84.36.381 through 84.36.389 shall be exempt from any legal obligation to pay a portion of the charge imposed by this section according to the following: (a) A person who meets the income limitation contained in RCW 84.36.381(5)(a) and does not meet the income limitation contained in RCW 84.36.381(5)(b) (i) or (ii) shall be exempt from twenty-five percent of the charge. (b) A person who meets the income limitation contained in RCW 84.36.381(5)(b)(i) shall be exempt from fifty percent of the charge. (c) A person who meets the income limitation contained in RCW 84.36.381(5)(b)(ii) shall be exempt from seventy-five percent of the charge. (12) For the purposes of this section: (a) "Personal property" includes every form of tangible personal property , including but not limited to, all goods, chattels, stock in trade, estates, or crops, except that the term "personal property" does not include any personal property used for farming, field crops, farm equipment, or livestock; and (b) "Improvements to real property" does not include permanent growing crops, field improvements installed for the purpose of aiding the growth of permanent crops, or other field improvements normally not subject to damage by fire. \[ 2012 c 47 § 1.\] 6 Attachment 2: RFA Benefit Charge statute (authorization essentially identical for fire districts) 52.26.180Benefit charges—Exemptions—Annual review—Definitions. (1) The governing board of a regional fire protection service authority may by resolution, as authorized in the plan and approved by the voters, for authority purposes authorized by law, fix and impose a benefit charge on personal property and improvements to real property which are located within the authority on the date specified and which have received or will receive the benefits provided by the authority, to be paid by the owners of the properties. (2) A benefit charge does not apply to: (a) Personal property and improvements to real property owned or used by any recognized religious denomination or religious organization as, or including, a sanctuary or for purposes related to the bona fide religious ministries of the denomination or religious organization, including schools and educational facilities used for kindergarten, primary, or secondary educational purposes or for institutions of higher education and all grounds and buildings related thereto. However, a benefit charge does apply to personal property and improvements to real property owned or used by any recognized religious denomination or religious organization for business operations, profit-making enterprises, or activities not including use of a sanctuary or related to kindergarten, primary, or secondary educational purposes or for institutions of higher education; (b) Property of housing authorities that is exempt from property taxes under RCW 35.82.210; (c) Property of nonprofit entities providing rental housing for very low-income households or providing space for the placement of a mobile home for a very low-income household that is exempt from property taxes under RCW 84.36.560; (d) Property of nonprofit homes for the aging that is exempt from property taxes under RCW 84.36.041; (e) Property of nonprofit organizations, corporations, or associations providing housing for eligible persons with developmental disabilities that is exempt from property taxes under RCW 84.36.042; (f) Property of nonprofit organizations providing emergency or transitional housing for low- income homeless persons or victims of domestic violence who are homeless for personal safety reasons that is exempt from property taxes under RCW 84.36.043; (g) Property of the state housing finance commission that is exempt from property taxes under RCW 84.36.135; and (h) Property of nonprofit corporations operating sheltered workshops for persons with disabilities that is exempt from property taxes under RCW 84.36.350. (3) A limited benefit charge may apply to property or improvements owned by a Christmas tree grower as defined in RCW 15.13.250(4) so long as the property or improvement is located on land that has been approved as farm and agricultural land with standing crops under chapter 84.34 RCW. For such property or improvement, a benefit charge may not exceed the reduction in property tax that results from the imposition of a benefit charge, as required under RCW 52.26.240. (4) The aggregate amount of these benefit charges in any one year may not exceed an amount equal to sixty percent of the operating budget for the year in which the benefit charge is to be collected. It is the duty of the county legislative authority or authorities of the county or counties in which the regional fire protection service authority is located to make any necessary adjustments to assure compliance with this limitation and to immediately notify the governing board of an authority of any changes thereof. (5) A benefit charge imposed must be reasonably proportioned to the measurable benefits to property resulting from the services afforded by the authority. It is acceptable to apportion the benefit charge to the values of the properties as found by the county assessor or assessors modified generally in 7 the proportion that fire insurance rates are reduced or entitled to be reduced as the result of providing the services. Any other method that reasonably apportions the benefit charges to the actual benefits resulting from the degree of protection, which may include but is not limited to the distance from regularly maintained fire protection equipment, the level of fire prevention services provided to the properties, or the need of the properties for specialized services, may be specified in theresolution and is subject to contest on the grounds of unreasonable or capricious action or action in excess of the measurable benefits to the property resulting from services afforded by the authority. The governing board of an authority may determine that certain properties or types or classes of properties are not receiving measurable benefits based on criteria they establish by resolution. A benefit charge authorized by this chapter is not applicable to the personal property or improvements to real property of any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, organization, or association maintaining a fire department and whose fire protection and training system has been accepted by a fire insurance underwriter maintaining a fire protection engineering and inspection service authorized by the state insurance commissioner to do business in this state, but the property may be protected by the authority under a contractual agreement. (6) For administrative purposes, the benefit charge imposed on any individual property may be compiled into a single charge, provided that the authority, upon request of the property owner, provide an itemized list of charges for each measurable benefit included in the charge. (7)(a) At the annual review of the fire benefit charge mandated by RCW 52.26.230(2), if a fire service agency has identified: (i) A tax-exempt property under subsection (2)(b) of this section as having a substantial increase in requested emergency services over the previous year; or (ii) A new tax-exempt property that is similar in size, population, and geographic location as another such tax-exempt property as having an increase in requested emergency services; then the tax-exempt property and the fire service agency must work together, in good faith, to address the problem by implementing community risk reduction efforts. The community risk reduction plan may include but is not limited to wellness programs and community action plans. (b) At the subsequent annual review, if the heightened service requirements have not been reasonably addressed by the joint mitigation efforts, and the tax-exempt property owner has not acted in good faith: (i) The property is subject to assessment of the fire benefit charge in the subsequent year, subject to approval by the governing board of the authority as outlined in RCW 52.26.230(2); or (ii) The respective tax-exempt property shall pay the fire service agency a fire protection charge payment in lieu of a benefit charge. The fire protection charge shall be an amount equivalent to the benefit rates for similarly situated properties for that year. (c) All tax-exempt properties identified under subsection (2)(b) of this section and all local fire service agencies are encouraged to work collaboratively to develop and implement programs to address proper usage of fire service resources for residents of the housing properties. (8) For the purposes of this section and RCW 52.26.190 through 52.26.270, the following definitions apply: (a)(i) "Personal property" includes every form of tangible personal property including, but not limited to, all goods, chattels, stock in trade, estates, or crops. (ii) "Personal property" does not include any personal property used for farming, field crops, farm equipment, or livestock. (b) "Improvements to real property" does not include permanent growing crops, field improvements installed for the purpose of aiding the growth of permanent crops, or other field improvements normally not subject to damage by fire. \[ 2017 c 196 § 6; 2004 c 129 § 24.\] (additional statutes apply) 8 Attachment 3: Fire Service Agency Policies/Reporting on Service Delivery Objectives RCW 52.33.030Policy statement—Service delivery objectives(applicable to Fire Districts and RFAs) (1) Every fire protection district and regional fire protection service authority shall maintain a written statement or policy that establishes the following: (a) The existence of a fire department; (b) Services that the fire department is required to provide; (c) The basic organizational structure of the fire department; (d) The expected number of fire department employees; and (e) Functions that fire department employees are expected to perform. (2) Every fire protection district and regional fire protection service authority shall include service delivery objectives in the written statement or policy required under subsection (1) of this section. These objectives shall include specific response time objectives for the following major service components, if appropriate: (a) Fire suppression; (b) Emergency medical services; (c) Special operations; (d) Aircraft rescue and firefighting; (e) Marine rescue and firefighting; and (f) Wildland firefighting. (3) Every fire protection district and regional fire protection service authority, in order to measure the ability to arrive and begin mitigation operations before the critical events of brain death or flash-over, shall establish time objectives for the following measurements: (a) Turnout time; (b) Response time for the arrival of the first arriving engine company at a fire suppression incident and response time for the deployment of a full first alarm assignment at a fire suppression incident; (c) Response time for the arrival of a unit with first responder or higher level capability at an emergency medical incident; and (d) Response time for the arrival of an advanced life support unit at an emergency medical incident, where this service is provided by the fire department. (4) Every fire protection district and regional fire protection service authority shall also establish a performance objective of not less than ninety percent for the achievement of each response time objective established under subsection (3) of this section. \[ 2005 c 376 § 303.\] RCW35A.92.030Policy statement—Service delivery objectives (Code Cities) (1) Every code city shall maintain a written statement or policy that establishes the following: (a) The existence of a fire department; (b) Services that the fire department is required to provide; (c) The basic organizational structure of the fire department; (d) The expected number of fire department employees; and (e) Functions that fire department employees are expected to perform. (2) Every code city shall include service delivery objectives in the written statement or policy required under subsection (1) of this section. These objectives shall include specific response time objectives for the following major service components, if appropriate: 9 (a) Fire suppression; (b) Emergency medical services; (c) Special operations; (d) Aircraft rescue and firefighting; (e) Marine rescue and firefighting; and (f) Wildland firefighting. (3) Every code city, in order to measure the ability to arrive and begin mitigation operations before the critical events of brain death or flash-over, shall establish time objectives for the following measurements: (a) Turnout time; (b) Response time for the arrival of the first arriving engine company at a fire suppression incident and response time for the deployment of a full first alarm assignment at a fire suppression incident; (c) Response time for the arrival of a unit with first responder or higher level capability at an emergency medical incident; and (d) Response time for the arrival of an advanced life support unit at an emergency medical incident, where this service is provided by the fire department. (4) Every code city shall also establish a performance objective of not less than ninety percent for the achievement of each response time objective established under subsection (3) of this section. \[ 2005 c 376 § 203.\] 10 Attachment 4: Creation of a City Fire District by Action of City Council & Voters; Transfer of Fire Department Assets to the new Fire District RCW52.02.160 Petition alternative, resolution—Adoption requirements—Public hearing—Voter approval—General fund reduction. (1) As an alternative to the petition method of formation for fire protection districts provided in this chapter, the legislative authority of a city or town may by resolution, subject to the approval of the voters, establish a fire protection district with boundaries that are the same as the corporate boundaries of the city or town for the provision of fire prevention services, fire suppression services, and emergency medical services, and for the protection of life and property within the city or town. (a) Any resolution adopted by a city or town under this section to establish a fire protection district must, at a minimum: (i) Contain a financing plan for the fire protection district. As part of the financing plan, the city or town may propose the imposition of revenue sources authorized by this title for fire protection districts, such as property taxes, as provided in chapter 52.16 RCW, or benefit charges, as provided in chapter 52.18 RCW; and (ii) Set a date for a public hearing on the resolution. (b) The financing plan in the resolution adopted by the city or town must contain the following information regarding property taxes that will be imposed by the fire protection district and city or town subsequent to the formation of the district: (i) The dollar amount the fire protection district will levy in the first year in which the fire protection district imposes any of the regular property taxes in RCW 52.16.130, 52.16.140, or 52.16.160; (ii) The city's or town's highest lawful levy for the purposes of RCW 84.55.092, reduced by the fire protection district's levy amount from (b)(i) of this subsection. This reduced highest lawful levy becomes the city's or town's highest lawful levy since 1986 for subsequent levy limit calculations under chapter 84.55 RCW; and (iii) The estimated aggregate net dollar amount impact on property owners within the city or town based on the changes described in (b)(i) and (ii) of this subsection (1). (c) If a city or town proposes the initial imposition of a benefit charge as a revenue source for the fire protection district under (a) of this subsection, the resolution adopted by the city or town must comply with the requirements of RCW 52.18.030. (d) Notice of public hearing on a resolution adopted by a city or town must be published for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the city or town, and must be posted for at least fifteen days prior to the date of the hearing in three public places within the boundaries of the proposed fire protection district. All notices must contain the time, date, and place of the public hearing. (2)(a) A resolution adopted under this section is not effective unless approved by the voters of the city or town at a general election. The resolution must be approved: (i) By a simple majority of the voters of the city or town; or (ii) If the resolution proposes the initial imposition of a benefit charge, by sixty percent of the voters of the city or town. (b) An election to approve or reject a resolution forming a fire protection district, including the proposed financial plan and any imposition of revenue sources for the fire protection district, must be conducted by the election officials of the county or counties in which the proposed district is located in accordance with the general election laws of the state. If a resolution forming a fire protection district provides that the fire protection district will be governed by a board of fire commissioners, as permitted under RCW 52.14.140, then the initial fire commissioners must be elected at the same election where 11 the resolution is submitted to the voters authorizing the creation of the fire protection district. The election must be held at the next general election date, according to RCW 29A.04.321 and 29A.04.330, occurring after the date of the public hearing on the resolution adopted by the city or town legislative authority. The ballot title must include the information regarding property taxes that is required to be in the financing plan of the resolution under subsection (1)(b) of this section. (c) If a ballot proposition on the resolution is approved by voters, as provided in (a) of this subsection, the county legislative authority shall by resolution declare the fire protection district organized under the name designated in the ballot proposition. (d) Nothing contained in this chapter may be construed to alter a municipal airport fire department or affect any powers authorized under *RCW 14.08.120(2). If a question arises as to whether this chapter modifies the affairs of municipal airports in any way, the answer is no. (3) A city or town must reduce its general fund regular property tax levy by the total combined levy of the fire protection district as proposed by the district in accordance with subsection (1)(b)(i) of this section. The reduced levy amount of the city or town must occur in the first year in which the fire protection district imposes any of the property taxes in RCW 52.16.130, 52.16.140, or 52.16.160 and must be specified in the financing plan and ballot proposition as provided in this section. If the fire protection district does not impose all three levies under RCW 52.16.130, 52.16.140, and 52.16.160 when it begins operations, the city must further reduce its general fund regular property tax levy if the district initially imposes any of the levies in subsequent years, by the amount of such levy or levies initially imposed in a subsequent year. \[ 2017 c 328 § 1.\] NOTES: *Reviser's note: RCW 14.08.120 was amended by 2020 c 96 § 1, changing subsection (2) to subsection (1)(b). RCW52.02.180 Transfer of fire protection and emergency services from fire department to fire protection district—Procedure. (1) Except as provided otherwise in the resolution adopted by the legislative authority of a city or town establishing a fire protection district under RCW 52.02.160, all powers, duties, and functions of the city or town fire department pertaining to fire protection and emergency services of the city or town are transferred to the fire protection district on its creation date. (2)(a) The city or town fire department must transfer or deliver to the fire protection district: (i) All reports, documents, surveys, books, records, files, papers, or written material in the possession of the city or town fire department pertaining to fire protection and emergency services powers, functions, and duties; (ii) All real property and personal property including cabinets, furniture, office equipment, motor vehicles, and other tangible property employed by the city or town fire department in carrying out the fire protection and emergency services powers, functions, and duties; and (iii) All funds, credits, or other assets held by the city or town fire department in connection with fire protection and emergency services powers, functions, and duties. (b) Any appropriations made to the city or town fire department for carrying out the fire protection and emergency services powers, functions, and duties of the city or town must be transferred and credited to the fire protection district. (c) Whenever any question arises as to the transfer of any personnel, funds, books, documents, records, papers, files, equipment, or other tangible property used or held in the exercise of the powers and the performance of the duties and functions transferred to the fire protection district, the legislative authority of the city or town must make a determination as to the proper allocation. 12 (3) All rules and all pending business before the city or town fire department pertaining to the fire protection and emergency services powers, functions, and duties transferred must be continued and acted upon by the fire protection district, and all existing contracts and obligations remain in full force and must be performed by the fire protection district. (4) The transfer of powers, duties, functions, and personnel of the city or town fire department do not affect the validity of any act performed before creation of the fire protection district. (5) If apportionments of budgeted funds are required because of the transfers, the treasurer for the city or town fire department must certify the apportionments. (6)(a) Subject to (c) of this subsection, all employees of the city or town fire department are transferred to the fire protection district on its creation date. Upon transfer, unless an agreement for different terms of transfer is reached between the collective bargaining representatives of the transferring employees and the fire protection district, an employee is entitled to the employee rights, benefits, and privileges to which he or she would have been entitled as an employee of the city or town fire department, including rights to: (i) Compensation at least equal to the level at the time of transfer; (ii) Retirement, vacation, sick leave, and any other accrued benefit; (iii) Promotion and service time accrual; and (iv) The length or terms of probationary periods, including no requirement for an additional probationary period if one had been completed before the transfer date. (b) If a city or town provides for civil service in its fire department, the collective bargaining representatives of the transferring employees and the fire protection district must negotiate regarding the establishment of a civil service system within the fire protection district. (c) Nothing contained in this section may be construed to alter any existing collective bargaining unit or the provisions of any existing collective bargaining agreement until the agreement has expired or until the bargaining unit has been modified as provided by law. \[ 2017 c 328 § 5.\] 13 You about the Tukwila Fire Dept.? Listed in order from most to least frequently mentioned by CAC Ability to engage with variety of people in the community Committee Adequate coverage in case a unit is out on a call They have the tools and resources to do the job Providing education for a diverse community (language, culture, residents, businesses) : Response time, quality of service cap Life safety protection - Meeting 2 Re Community Trust members Perceptions of the Fire Department All my interactions have been good; they are caring, good skilled Nothing but good service, professional; permitting can be slow My dealings with them have been professional, great job Highly skilled, highly caring, do an exceptional job Fabulous interactions, prompt, respectful Concern about ability to sustain services Highly skilled, amazing response times All very quick, responsive interactions people Per FTE: $154K There are three priority items that the Department would like to add Total: $460K 3 FTE FMO - 1 Enhanced Total cost of all programs, 2022 est., full staffing model: $791 K Additional Fire Marshal Office Staffing (FMO) $123K 1 FTE PIO .3 FTE (contract with another provider)$100K in regional cap: contribution of Public Information Officer (PIO) $208K (reflects CAREs Unit if funding were available: funds) - Meeting 2 Re Staffing Required CAREs Unit Services 2022 Est Cost department operations over the next seven years, with a bond issue $1.64/$1,000 AV Strategic Planning Not modelled $18,552,633 The model shows the projected costs of maintaining current fire 2028 Stations 51and 53. The model assumes additional reserves are 97% in 2025 (taxes starting 2026) to fund remodel/replacement of 3.2% 22.1% excluding debt $1.80/$1,000 AV $14,440,220 service 2021 82% 2028) funding, above current levels. Meeting Recap: Equiv. City Property Tax Rate & % Percentage of City General Fund including reserves, debt service - (assuming no lid lift in period) Model (2021 Average annual growth rate Total Fire Dept. Expenses and operating expenses The key differences in the model, as compared to how the City currently The firefighter labor contract growth in salaries from year to year is tied that the strategic plan includes a level of overtime expense that reflects W June to June from 2020 to2021 which will apply in to local inflation rates; there was a significant 6.3% growth in that rate . The reserve Another difference between the City budget and the strategic plan is amounts reflect the actual expected expenditure over the planning Key Takeaways in the Financial Plan: reserve accounts no significant jumps in cost. budgets for fire are the addition of the Fire from year to year recent experience. - based on the CPI 2022. Average annual growth rate in status quo Fire Dept. operation costs over the next 7 years is projected at 3.2%/yr. (without enhanced depending on how much new construction is coming on the tax City general fund revenues grow 3% on average year to year. 3%, - Property tax collections grow at a rate of between 1 services) rolls. taxes. The share of property taxes going to the Fire Department will $2.00/$1,000 AV equivalent in taxes and benefit assuming the City does not ask voters for a in 2022, or 82% of all City property The model shows that the Fire Department currently expends the In comparison, most fire districts/regional fire authorities levy but this must be applied to support all city The maximum City property tax rate allowed under law is .). programs (police, parks, streets, etc $1.80/$1,000 AV grow to 97% by 2028 $3.60/$1,000 AV - between $1.40 general lid lift. equivalent of charges. 2021. ooo , the only way Most, if not all, fire districts and most fire departments, go out approved funding source every few service levels with the current operational model is through years for operations. Tukwila has never done that. ‘źƷŷƚǒƷ ƭĻĻƉźƓŭ ğķķźƷźƚƓğƌ ƩĻǝĻƓǒĻƭ ŅƩƚƒ ǝƚƷĻƩƭ cutting costs of other City departments. - to voters to secure a voter Meeting 2, Agenda Item 8 Should all or some be a priority to fund/provide in Thoughts about enhanced services? Committee Roundtable Part 1: Enhanced Services Why or why not? Tukwila? ooo define financial sustainability? Committee Roundtable Part 2: Financial Sustainability you How do o Provider Alternatives & How Cities receive services in King County See packet materials for matrix comparing the Agenda Item 6: Fire Service Regional Fire Authorities authorities related to: Fire Districts Cities 9 (including Tukwila) operate their own fire department (ranging in provides service by joint Of 39 King County cities: operation of cities and fire districts (Eastside Fire & Rescue) What choices have other cities 1 contracts for service with a fire district (Black Diamond) 1 contracts for service from an RFA (SeaTac) 6 contract for service from a city (Bellevue 13 have annexed into a fire district size from Seattle to Snoqualmie) made? Agenda Item 7: List of Potential Future Fire/EMS Service Delivery Options (V. 12.30.21) Option 1: Status Quo Service Providerʹ City of Tukwila Fire Department Option 2: Funding for enhanced services Service Provider: City of Tukwila Fire Department Option 3: Create a Tukwila Fire District, funded solely by property taxes (no Fire Benefit Charge) Service Provider: A new governmental entity and taxing district, authorized by the voters, with boundaries co-extensive with the City: Tukwila Fire District. Option 4: Create a Tukwila Fire District, funded by both property taxes and a Fire Benefit Charge Service Provider: A new governmental entity and taxing district, authorized by the voters, with boundaries co-extensive with the City: Tukwila Fire District. Option 5: Partner with another fire service provider to create a Tukwila Regional Fire Authority with a fire benefit charge Service Provider: Tukwila Regional Fire Authority, a new governmental entity and taxing district, created by voter approval to provide fire suppression and emergency medical response. Potential partners: adjacent fire districts Option 6: Contract for Service with Renton Regional Fire Authority (RRFA) Service Provider: Renton Regional Fire Authority (RRFA), a separate municipal government and taxing district created by voters to provide fire suppression and emergency medical response. Option 7: Contract for Service with Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority (PRSRFA) Service Provider: Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority (PSFA), a separate municipal government and taxing district created by voters to provide fire suppression and emergency medical response. Option 8: Annexation into Renton RFA (Note: the RRFA has indicated it is not willing to have the City annex directly into the RFA without first partnering in a service contract capacity for some number of years. However, because it would be very difficult to reconstitute the Tukwila Fire Department after entering into a service contract (or annexing), it makes sense to analyze what annexation might look like as a longer-term option Service Provider: Renton RFA (See Option 6) Option 9: Annex into Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority (Note: the PSRFA has indicated it may be willing to entertain direct annexation of the City without first entering into a service contract; further discussion would be required. Because it would be very difficult to reconstitute the Tukwila Fire Department after entering into a service contract, it is important to consider how annexation might look as a longer-term option Service Provider: Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority (See Option 7) Each of these Options primarily describe a service provider and funding mechanism. We will compare and contrast each, including the cost, service levels and implementation path. The Committee may identify additional options.