Council will hold a study session on fire service options on June 4 and a business meeting on secondary suites

The Edmonds City Council will consider two topics with major implications at meetings on Tuesday, June 3: First, at a special work session at 5:30 p.m., the council will discuss in more detail how the City of Edmonds should receive fire and emergency services. (EMS). Second, at its regular business meeting at 7 p.m., the council will revisit a proposal to amend the city code regarding accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

The first item comes after the City Council on May 28 voted 4-3 to delay a resolution directing the city to begin negotiating terms of annexation into the South County Fire Regional Fire Authority. Instead, the council agreed to hold a work session to further discuss the implications of the draft resolution, which expresses the city's intent to proceed with annexation from the RFA. (The council did, however, pass a related resolution, which identifies membership in the RFA as the preferred alternative for Edmonds.

The council's debate over fire and emergency medical services (EMS) comes as costs continue to rise under the city's current contract with RFA, also known as South County Fire. In late 2023, the city received notice that South County Fire intended to terminate its current 20-year contract with Edmonds, effective December 31, 2025. (For more, see our previous article here. )

In response, Edmonds retained consulting firm Fitch and Associates to analyze its options. In his report discussed at the May 14 Edmonds Council committee meeting, Fitch presented three alternatives: an annex to the RFA, a contract with the Shoreline Fire Department for services or restarting the department's own Edmonds Fire Department. (Edmonds disbanded its fire department in 2009 when the city began contracting fire departments.) Fitch's analysis compared costs, benefits, tasks and implementation timelines, as well as the advantages and disadvantages.

Among the issues that will be discussed at Tuesday's work session are revisions Fitch made to its report in late May at the board's request. The original Fitch report assumed that the city would have to procure all new fixtures and equipment, estimating an initial capital investment of $6,751,000. “This investment would contribute to the total annual debt service estimated at $2.2 million per year…and suggested a timeline for delivery of new equipment that could take 36 months,” says the memo on the council agenda for the June 4 meeting. However, on May 28, Fitch provided additional analysis of equipment costs, based on an amended fire service contract approved in 2017. This amended contract states that “as assets purchased by and transferred to the [South County Fire] The neighborhood as part of the deal will be purchased by the city” at fair market value. This includes all rolling stock and equipment used in fire stations at the time of acquisition.

“The revised (equipment buyout) analysis indicates an estimated initial investment of $3,375,500, a reduction in equipment-related debt service from $811,749 to $405,875, and the acquisition schedule of this equipment would be immediate, upon termination of the contract,” the council’s agenda note states. added. “Assuming the device and equipment are halfway through their 10-year useful life, Fitch indicated that this equipment is expected to be replaced within five years and suggested allocation options or creation of a replacement fund.”

Based on this new information, board staff modified the side-by-side comparisons of fire service options. (See table above.)

No decisions on fire department options are expected at the 5:30 p.m. work session, which will take place in Brackett Room on the third floor of Edmonds City Hall, 121 5th Ave. N You can watch this meeting via Zoom at this link: Or join by phone: USA: +1 253 215 8782. The webinar ID is 957 9848 4261. You can view the full agenda for this meeting. here.

During the 7 p.m. business meeting, the council will continue its discussion of proposed updates to the Edmonds city code that would allow detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs) throughout the city. Several people testified at a May 21 public hearing on the code changes, recommended by ccity ​​staff and the Edmonds Planning Board.

DADU’s draft recommendations — approved by the planning board on April 24 — are being considered as part of the city’s plan. Global plan 2024 update. The City of Edmonds currently only allows attached ADUs, but under new state legislation – House Bill 1337 – it must allow up to two ADUS per lot (attached or detached) by June 2025. The city has taken steps to implement the regulations sooner so that they can be included as part of the comprehensive plan update.

The council business meeting will also include the following presentations:
– Proclamation of LGBTQ+ Pride Month
– A resolution highlighting Public Transit Month
– Annual presentation of the Edmonds Youth Commission and recognition of seniors.

The 7 p.m. meeting will be held in Council Chambers, Public Safety Complex, 250 5th Ave. N., Edmonds. You can attend virtually via this Zoom meeting link: or by phone: +1 253 215 8782. The webinar ID is 957 9848 4261. Or view the meeting live on the Council meeting webpage (where you can see the full agenda), or on Comcast channel 21 and Ziply channel 39.