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Home My WebLink AboutRes 2070 - Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority Annexation - Proposition on Primary Election Ballot on 8/1/2023City of Tukwila Washington Resolution No. t)q A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, CALLING FOR KING COUNTY ELECTIONS TO PLACE A PROPOSITION ON THE PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOT ON AUGUST 1, 2023, CONCERNING ANNEXATION OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA INTO THE PUGET SOUND REGIONAL FIRE AUTHORITY TO MAINTAIN CURRENT FIRE AND EMS SERVICE LEVELS. WHEREAS, the City has a long history of providing professional and responsive fire and emergency medical services ("EMS") since the Tukwila Fire Department was formed in 1969; and WHEREAS, the City desires to continue providing sustainable fire and EMS services and has explored available options for fire and EMS services since 2010; and WHEREAS, the City Council in October 2021, appointed the "Future of Fire/EMS Community Advisory Committee" and tasked it with recommending how fire/EMS services should be provided in Tukwila in the future; and WHEREAS, in May 2022, the Future of Fire/EMS Community Advisory Committee submitted its final report and recommended annexation into the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority ("PSRFA"), or a short-term contract that would lead to annexation, due to the sustainability of funding, quality of services, and total costs to residents and businesses; and WHEREAS, the City Council in June 2022, reviewed the final report from the Advisory Committee, agreed on the recommendations, and directed staff to enter into contract negotiations for a short-term contract that would lead to annexation with the PSRFA; and WHEREAS, the City Council in October 2022, approved an Interlocal Agreement with PSRFA beginning in January 2023 that would lead to annexation and included enhanced services for the Tukwila Community; and WHEREAS, the City Council in November 2022, adopted the 2023-2024 biennial budget that included direction to initiate a long-term fiscal sustainability planning effort, including an advisory committee of residents and stakeholders to be completed by the Second Quarter of 2024 to provide long-term fiscal solutions to inform the 2025-2026 biennial budget; and CC:\Legislative Development\Annexation to PSRFA for ballot 3-29-23 Kari Sand: Review by Andy Youn Page 1 of 3 WHEREAS, RCW 52.26.300 sets forth the procedure for elections concerning the annexation of a city into a regional fire protection service authority; and WHEREAS, on December 5, 2022, the Tukwila City Council adopted Resolution No. 2060, expressing intent to annex into PSRFA subject to voter approval consistent with the provisions of RCW 52.26.300(3); and WHEREAS, the City Council appointed two of its members to serve on the Annexation Plan Oversight Committee which worked from January to March 2023 to create an Annexation Plan that met the needs of both the City and the PSRFA; and WHEREAS, on April 5, 2023, the Governing Board of PSRFA adopted Resolution No. 196, amending its Regional Fire Authority ("RFA") Plan to provide for the annexation of the City of Tukwila into the RFA subject to the approval by the voters of the City of Tukwila pursuant to RCW 52.26.300(3); and WHEREAS, the Tukwila City Council finds that it benefits the public health and safety and it is in the City's best interest to approve annexation of the City of Tukwila to be part of the PSRFA, effective January 1, 2024, and approve the RFA Plan amendments as required by RCW 52.26.300(3); and WHEREAS, notification of intent to annex is being transmitted to King County Elections; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Pursuant to RCW 52.26.300, the City of Tukwila requests that King County Elections place a proposition on the primary election ballot to be held on August 1, 2023, for the voters of the City of Tukwila to approve or reject the annexation of the City of Tukwila to be part of the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority, effective January 1, 2024, as follows: Name of Jurisdiction: City of Tukwila Proposition Number: Proposition No. 1 Short Title: City of Tukwila Seeks Voter Approval to Annex into the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority to Maintain Current Fire and EMS Services Ballot Title: Should the City of Tukwila be annexed into and be a part of the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority to maintain current fire and emergency medical service levels, effective January 1, 2024, per City of Tukwila Council Resolution No. 2070? YES ❑ NO ❑ Section 2. The explanatory statement approved by the City Attorney's Office is attached hereto as Exhibit A. CC:\Legislative Development\Annexation to PSRFA for ballot 3-29-23 Kari Sand: Review by Andy Youn Page 2of3 Section 3. The City Attorney is authorized to make such minor adjustments to the wording of the ballot measure and/or the explanatory statement as may be recommended by King County Elections, as long as the intent of the ballot proposition remains clear and consistent with the intent of this Resolution as approved by the City Council. Section 4. The City Clerk or designee is authorized and directed to file a copy of this resolution with the King County Department of Elections no later than 4:30 p.m. on May 12, 2023. Section 5. Pursuant to RCW 29A.32.280, the names of committee members appointed by the City Council to prepare arguments advocating both approval and rejection of the annexation shall be provided to the Director no later than 4:30 p.m. on May 12, 2023. Section 6. This resolution shall take effect and be in force immediately upon its passage. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at a Regular Meeting thereof this 0411 11 day of kvf , 2023. ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED: v,a..eamlo^.cDoc .com �Ldc�Gy OQ(aJce4tty Lor: s,aoob15btPa45.a.ar4r-r,nc Is.73 Christy O'Flaherty, MMC hia Delostrinos Johnson City Clerk Council President APPROVED AS TO FORM BY: ....-- Key,.17c4'^.",-,8 +C14.9 bP= 4 areae, e - Office of the City Attorney Attachment: Exhibit A, "Explanatory Statement" CC:\Legislative Development\Annexation to PSRFA for ballot 3-29-23 Kari Sand: Review by Andy Youn Filed with the City Clerk: it -I( -2 3 Passed by the City Council: 4 - 17 -23 Resolution Number: 2 &? Page3of3 EXHIBIT A — EXPLANATORY STATEMENT Should the City of Tukwila be annexed into and be a part of the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority, effective January 1, 2024, to maintain current fire and emergency medical service levels per Tukwila City Council Resolution No. 2070? YES NO Tukwila Resolution No. 2070 seeks voter approval to annex the City of Tukwila into the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority ("PSRFA"). Previously, the City's Fire Department provided fire protection and emergency medical services ("EMS") to the City of Tukwila. On January 1, 2023, PSRFA began providing fire protection and EMS to the City, pursuant to an interlocal agreement. The Tukwila City Council has determined that annexing into, and being a part of, the PSRFA will ensure the Tong -term sustainability of funding to maintain the current fire protection and EMS service levels. PSRFA currently serves the cities of Kent, Covington, SeaTac, and Maple Valley, as well as unincorporated areas of King County Fire District No. 37 and King County Fire District No. 43. If this annexation is approved, City representatives will be on the Governing Board of the PSRFA, and the PSRFA will continue to provide fire and EMS services to the City. If this annexation is rejected, the City must seek a second annexation vote. If a second annexation vote fails, the City would need to negotiate a new agreement with PSRFA or another agency, or reconstitute the City Fire Department. More information is available at www.pugetsoundfire.orq.