HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg 2022-03-21 Item 4C - Update - Future of Fire/EMS Community Advisory CommitteeStatus Briefing
Future of Fire/EMS Community
Advisory Committee
Presentation to Tukwila City Council
March 21, 2022
Presenters:
Verna Seal, Committee Chairperson
Hien Kieu, Committee Vice -Chair
Karen Reed, Facilitator
Committee Mission
Provide findings and recommendations to the Mayor and City Council on the following
items:
1. Sustainability of the Fire Department service levels within existing City revenues.
2. Any additional Fire Department programs and staffing services that should be
priorities to fund in the near-term (0-6 years). "Enhanced Services"
3. Criteria for evaluating the City's options for future fire/EMS service delivery.
4. Recommendation as to the preferred option or options for ensuring future
provision of high-quality fire/EMS service in the City at a sustainable cost.
5. Public engagement strategies for the City to consider as part of deliberations
following delivery of the Advisory Committee's report
Committee Members,
Timeline
MEMBERS
Verna Seal, Chair Peggy McCarthy
Hien Kieu, Vice -Chair Jovita McConnell
Sally Blake Ben Oliver
Jim Davis Andy Reiswig
Katrina Dohn Dennis Robertson
Ramona Grove Abdullahi Shakul
• Committee has met 6 times so far
• 10 meetings planned (1 added)
• First meeting November 9, 2021; last scheduled meeting: May 3
• Target to report back to Council in May
CO
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Committee Work to date
• Committee Charter approved
• Reviewed strategic financial plan projecting Fire Department Cost for 2022-2028
• Reviewed differences between city fire departments, fire districts and regional
fire authorities
• 5 out of 9 options developed by Staff Team presented — Options 1-5 focus on
Tukwila as a service provider.
• Several discussions of Enhanced Services
• CARES unit contract
• Public Education program
• Additional Fire Marshal's Office staffing
• Several discussions of criteria for evaluating options, and what constitutes Fiscal
sustainability
Fire Dept. Strategic Financial Plan 2022-2028
• Current Fire Department Operation, plus:
• Additional reserve funds to fund predictable expenses
• Additional bond issue for Stations 53 and 54
• Some key findings:
• City General Fund expenses growing faster than City general fund revenues
• Fire Department in 2022 expends equivalent of $1.80/$1,000 AV in property
taxes.
• Total city levy rate in 2022 is $2.18/$1,000 AV
Financial Sustainability
• Based on discussion to date, the Committee would define "financial
sustainability" for fire/EMS services as follows:
Afire agency is considered fiscally sustainable if it can maintain
service levels within available revenues — in the City's case (as a
government providing many services), this means maintaining
fire/EMS service levels without negatively impacting services in
other City departments competing for the same funding.
• Based on information provided, a strong majority of the committee agree
that the city's fire department operations are not financially sustainable.
Enhanced Services
• The staff team has brought forward 3 proposed Enhanced Services
(presented here in priority order for the Fire Department):
• CAREs unit--- sharing a unit with other agencies
• Adding a Public Education program/staff
• Increasing Fire Marshal Office Staffing by up to 4 FTE
• Based on discussion to date, most committee members support the
addition of at least some of the proposed enhanced services and
would prefer that new funding be secured for these services, rather
than cutting into other departments.
Criteria important to the Committee for making a
recommendation on future fire/EMS service
include:
• Ability of provider to meet needs of diverse community
• Ability of provider to meet needs of large business community
• Total costs, considering both costs to residents and businesses
• Impact on labor force, recruitment and retention
• Control over operational and financial decisions
• Overall quality of services (response times and more)-
• Accountability for outcomes/ ability to measure outcomes
• Sustainability of funding
Options 1-9
• Staff Team has identified these as
potentially workable options.
• To date, the committee has
discussed Options 1-5, all of
which have Tukwila as the
service provider.
Green Cells are options where Tukwila
partners with other agencies
Option 1: Status Quo
Option 2: Status Quo "Plus" — Funding for enhanced
services
Option 3: Create a Tukwila Fire District, funded solely by
property taxes (no Fire Benefit Charge)
Option 4: Create a Tukwila Fire District, funded by both
property taxes and a Fire Benefit Charge
Option 5: Partner with another fire service provider to
create a Tukwila Regional Fire Authority—with a Fire Benefit
Charge
Option 6: Contract for Service with Renton Regional Fire
Authority (RRFA)
Option 7: Contract for Service with Puget Sound Regional
Fire Authority (PRSRFA)
Option 8: Annexation into Renton RFA
Option 9: Annex into Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority
Next steps for committee
• Complete briefings on Options 6-9 (RFAs)
• Identify strategies and tactics to communicate these issues to the
Tukwila community after the committee's work is finished.
• Develop recommendations and report to the city council
Questions? Comments?
Thank you!
You can also follow up with staff or Karen by phone or email
Karen Reed
Task Force Facilitator
kreedconsult@comcastonet I (206) 932-5063