Lynnwood Fire Department Service Delivery Options Community Meeting October 14, 2015

Welcome Emergency fire and medical response, the readiness of our public safety responders, and fiscal responsibility is of utmost importance to the City of Lynnwood. 2

Overview of Today’s Meeting Community Service Needs Lynnwood Fire Department Operations Budget Services Service Delivery Options Partnership Opportunities 3

Our Community Vision Lynnwood Moving Forward: Our Community Vision The City of Lynnwood will be a regional model for a sustainable, vibrant community with engaged citizens and an accountable government. 4 Vibrant City Center Encourage economic development Promote high quality, sustainable development and design Protect residential areas from commercial use Continue to provide quality response times for fire, paramedics, and police

Future Projected Growth Actual Change Population35,86043,78254, % Employment24,22638,55042, % Housing Units14, , % Lynnwood’s population is estimated to increase by more than 50% by 2035

Regional Growth Center 6 Accommodate future population and employment growth Focus growth around transit, transportation Protect single family neighborhoods

City Center 7 City Center is a sub- area of the regional growth center City Center Plan is to create a compact, mix-use and lively City Center Two multi-family housing projects began this year

City Center 8 City Center Senior Apartments – under construction

City Center 9 CityCenter Apartments – under construction

Highway 99 / SWIFT Bus Service 10 Highway 99 Revitalization Strategies Mixed-use development encouraged Transit and transportation infrastructure

Fire Stations in Lynnwood & Fire District #1 Fire Stations Served by District #1 Lynnwood Fire Stations 11

Current Lynnwood Staffing: Fire Stations 14 & 15 12

Required Fire Response Staffing: Residential Equipment# Firefighters 3 Engines9 1 Ladders4 2 Battalion2 1 Ambulance2 Total17 13

Required Fire Response Staffing: Commercial Equipment# Firefighters 4 Engines12 2 Ladders8 2 Battalion2 1 Ambulance2 Total24 14

Apartment Fire on 40 th Ave W – Sept. 12, alarms 8 engines on scene, 1 Engine moved up to Lynnwood covering calls 28 FF’s 3 Ladders Companies 12 FF’s 2 Medic Units 4 FF’s 1 MSO 1 FF 3 Battalion Chiefs 3 =48 Lynnwood had 7 on scene

Lynnwood Fire Department Budget $6.26 Million increase 16

Current Situation Lynnwood’s level of fire service delivery does not meet current operational needs The cost of current fire service delivery is predicted to increase $6.2 million by 2020 Additional revenues will also be required to accommodate projected citywide growth How do we address this situation? 17

Fire Service Options 1.Status Quo: City Provides Services 2.Contract with Fire District #1 3.Annex Into Fire District #1 4.Create a Regional Fire Authority 18

Status Quo: City Provides Service Additional revenues are necessary to meet service demands The cost of fire service delivery is predicted to increase by $6.2 million per year by 2020 Property tax levy lift required to fund increased costs Levy lift requires voter approval $6.26 Million increase 19

City Contracts with Fire District #1 City Council and Fire District #1 approve inter-local agreement Fire District #1 provides service to the City Contract reflects cost of service City General Fund Pays the Contract Cost: Levy lift to fund increased cost of service Levy lift requires voter approval Cities contracting with Fire District #1: Edmonds, Mountlake Terrance, and Brier 20

Annexing Into Fire District #1 City Annexes into Fire District #1 Voter approval required Fire District #1 provides service City residents pay Fire District #1 property tax assessment The cost to the city’s General Fund is reduced 21

Cities Annexed Into Fire Districts Pierce County Lakewood 59,097 Puyallup 38,609 University Place 32,040 Bonney Lake 18,289 Edgewood 9,591 Sumner 9,589 Fife 9,421 Gig Harbor 7,798 Orting 7,023 Roy 804 Kitsap County Bainbridge 23,196 Port Orchard 12,959 Poulsbo 9,509 Spokane County Spokane Valley 91,113 King County Federal Way 92,734 Shoreline 54,790 Des Moines 30,687 Kenmore 21,611 Covington 18,830 Lake Forest Park 13,091 Enumclaw 11,479 Woodinville 11,318 Duvall 7,464 Normandy Park 6,557 Snohomish County Lake Stevens 29,949 Monroe 17,724 Snohomish 9,401 Granite Falls 3,438 Goldbar 2,084 Darrington 1,362 Index

Regional Fire Authority What is a Regional Fire Authority (RFA)? A Regional Fire Authority (RFA) is a special purpose district created by a vote of the people. State law provides the framework for cities, towns and fire districts to consider forming an RFA as a way to gain service efficiencies through consolidation while retaining local control. RFA funding source is a property tax levied by the RFA 23

It’s a Journey Discussions of including Lynnwood in a Snohomish County Regionalization in the past 43 years: Prop 747 was voted in 2001: 1% cap on property tax restricts City revenue to fund fire service from general fund 24

Washington State Legislature Findings - RFA Findings. The legislature finds that: (1) The ability to respond to emergency situations by many of Washington state's fire protection jurisdictions has not kept up with the state's needs, particularly in urban regions; (2) Providing a fire protection service system requires a shared partnership and responsibility among the federal, state, local, and regional governments and the private sector; (3) There are efficiencies to be gained by regional fire protection service delivery while retaining local control; and (4) Timely development of significant projects can best be achieved through enhanced funding options for regional fire protection service agencies, using already existing taxing authority to address fire protection emergency service needs and new authority to address critical fire protection projects and emergency services. 25

Partnerships Create Opportunity From the Association of Washington Cities: Forming Mutual Partnerships; A Practical Guide Improve Service Reduce Costs Cost Stabilization Cost Avoidance Service Enhancements Shared specialized Equipment and Personnel Solve Common Problems Better Match, Service Delivery Geographic Area 26

RFAs in Washington Kent Fire Authority Valley Regional Fire Authority South East Thurston Regional Fire Authority Riverside Fire Authority West Thurston Regional Fire Authority North County Fire Authority West Benton Regional Fire Authority North Mason Regional Fire Authority South Whatcom Regional Fire Authority 27

Creating a Regional Fire Authority City and Fire District #1 agree to create an RFA Request voter approval Citizens vote on the creation of an RFA City and Fire District #1 merge into the RFA RFA collects new property tax assessment from property owners within the RFA Boundary 28

Effects of Varying City Levy Rates to Average Home Owner’s Property Tax Bill DataCurrent Property Tax Rate Impact of Rate for RFA Maximum Rates Impact of Rate for RFA City Rate at $1.00 per $1,000 AV Rate to Keep Taxes Equal to Current Amount Paid by Homeowner City EMS Levy Rate$0.4657$0.00 General Operating$1.9847$1.60$1.00$.045 RFA Rate (Maximum) $0.00$2.00 Total Rate$2.4504$3.60$3.00$2.45 Property Tax on Average Home ($248,800) City: $610 RFA: 0 Total: $610 City: $398 RFA: 498 Total: $896 City: $249 RFA: 498 Total: $747 City: $112 RFA: 498 Total: $610 Revenue to the City Used to Fund Other Services $11,691,352$7,633,953$4,771,221$2,147,049

Next Steps 30 Public Outreach – Community Meetings Evaluating Financial Impacts – 3 rd Party Review Evaluate Service Delivery Impacts Council Review and Decision to Proceed Public Vote if Annexation or RFA Determined Appropriate

Thank you Questions & Comments 31