Edmonds moves station-use and fire-prevention agreements to consent; mayor to appoint RFA liaison

Edmonds city staff told the Committee of the Whole on May 20 that work required by the pre-annexation agreement with the South County Fire RFA is underway and recommended forwarding two updated documents to next week’s consent agenda.

The station-use agreement for Station 17, and the fire-prevention interlocal agreement, were discussed in detail. “There is apparently only 1 electrical meter that serves both the fire station and the public safety complex,” City staff said during the presentation, adding the draft Station 17 agreement did not account for shared systems and other city infrastructure inside the station. Staff asked the council to forward a revised Station 17 use agreement to the May 27 consent agenda so the mayor can execute it shortly after council approval. The committee agreed and moved the item to consent.

City staff warned some technical cleanups remain: the revised Station 17 agreement is intended as an interim acknowledgement that the parties will return with a fully resolved agreement by Aug. 1. Staff also said deeds for Stations 16 and 20 are already in process and require no further council action. The fire-prevention interlocal, which was included as an exhibit to the pre-annexation agreement, has not changed since the council last saw it but still requires council authorization for the mayor to sign.

Councilmembers then discussed selection of the city’s liaison to the RFA board. Staff said the city needs either an elected official or a city employee to serve; scheduling conflicts mean the council’s elected members likely cannot consistently attend RFA meetings. Staff proposed giving the mayor authority to appoint the liaison, with council confirmation or the option for brief finalist interviews; several councilmembers asked for an open application or a mayoral appointment subject to council confirmation. Staff noted the appointment term could be two to four years and that redistricting timing for the RFA elections remains uncertain.

The committee also discussed a fee schedule referenced in the fire-prevention interlocal. Staff said they have not yet received the RFA’s mutually agreed fee schedule and therefore could not discuss its content; the schedule will be included in next week’s packet if it arrives in time, and councilmembers agreed they could pull the item from consent if concerns arise.

The committee voted by consensus to forward the Station 17 use agreement and the fire-prevention interlocal to next week’s consent agenda.