Edmonds favors joining South County Fire – but isn't ready to commit

EDMONDS — The Edmonds City Council has taken a step toward annexation by the South County Fire Department as a solution to the looming loss of the city's fire and emergency services.

On Tuesday, the council voted 5-2 on a resolution to show the city's “desire to continue to join” South County Fire.

The resolution does not require the city to pursue annexation, council member Neil Tibbott said. Instead, he directs Mayor Mike Rosen to focus on the South County option, while two other options — contracting with Shoreline or reestablishing the city's fire department — remain on the table.

Vivian Olson and Michelle Dotsch voted against the resolution.

This is expected to cost the city $17.8 million per year, which equates to about $77 per month in property taxes for the average homeowner. Annexation is the cheapest and quickest solution to implement, according to an assessment by an external consulting firm, Fitch & Associates.

That same night, the council voted 4-3 to postpone another resolution that would have formally directed South County Fire to proceed with the annexation, a move some council members said was too soon. The resolution was pushed back to “an uncertain date,” Tibbott said.

The decision comes after the South County Fire Department informed the council that it would end its current contract with the city at the end of 2025. In a December 2023 letter, Fire Chief Bob Eastman wrote that Edmonds was paying less than other cities in the region as demand for fire and emergency services continues to increase.

The Fitch report evaluated three options at a board meeting in April:

• Be annexed by the South County Fire Department. This option would take 18 to 24 months.

• Reestablish the Edmonds Fire Department that was disbanded in 2009. That option would take about 36 months, the report notes. Estimated cost: $19.2 million per year, $79 per month for an average household.

• Or contract services with the Shoreline Fire Department. This option would take 24 to 36 months. Estimated cost: $24.9 million per year, $93 per month for an average household.

Restoring the Edmonds Fire Department would take time, as the city would have to purchase all new equipment, which could take between 20 and 36 months, according to the Fitch report.

With the contract terminating just 19 months away, City Council member Jenna Nand said annexation was the only option that fit the city's timeline. The other two options are “largely theoretical,” she said at Tuesday’s meeting.

“When we look at realistic timelines, it behooves us to seek annexation now,” Nand said.

Other council members felt uneasy about committing to annexation at this time.

In Edmonds' contract with South County Fire, the city has the option to purchase its old equipment from the fire department, which could make the Edmonds Fire Department's recovery faster and less expensive. The Fitch report says only that the city would need to order new equipment to restore the department.

Council member Dotsch said after learning this new information, she wanted to refrain from pursuing annexation with South County Fire until the city fully understands how the equipment buyout could affect the cost and timing of the three options.

“I think it would be confusing to pass this resolution while we are in the process of gathering new information,” Olson said.

Nand said South County Fire's equipment is old and will likely need to be replaced anyway.

If the city goes down the annexation path, voters will likely have the final say on a ballot measure.

Council members stressed the need to put the question to voters as quickly as possible.

“We can't have an answer until we ask the voters,” said council member Susan Paine.

Mayor Rosen said he would expect an annexation measure on the April 2025 ballot, if the city continues down this path.

“In case they decide not to join South County Fire,” said council member Will Chen, “as a city we need to come up with a plan B.”

Jenelle Baumbach: 360 352-8623; [email protected]; Twitter: @jenelleclar.