Shoreline council backs Proposition 1 to create Shoreline Fire Department Regional Fire Authority

The Shoreline City Council on Monday approved Resolution 538, formally supporting Proposition 1 on the February 11, 2025 special election ballot. The proposition would establish the Shoreline Fire Department Regional Fire Authority (RFA) by formalizing the current joint operations between the Shoreline and North Shore fire departments.

City Manager (staffed in the presentation) reminded council that Shoreline Fire Chief Matt Cowan presented the RFA concept in December and that the proposition requires a supermajority of voters for establishment. Staff also noted the city’s public comment process would include equal opportunities for opposing views on the ballot measure.

Public commenters and first-responder representatives spoke in favor of the RFA. Philippa Casover, a Lake Forest Park resident and former Lake Forest Park council member, said the interlocal agreement was “the first step in a transition to a regional fire authority” and praised joint operations during mutual aid events. Eric Ingram, representing Shoreline Firefighters Local 1760, said the departments have worked as one team under the interlocal agreement since 2022 and that the merger already produced operational improvements such as a peak-hour aid car and upgrades to technical rescue and mobile integrated health services.

“As firefighters, we believe every residence deserves the same high level of emergency service regardless of which neighborhood they live in,” Ingram said, urging council support.

Supporters told council the RFA would provide governance stability that an interlocal agreement does not guarantee and could help maintain or improve Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB) ratings and lower insurance premiums over time. Several neighboring jurisdictions’ councils have already endorsed the measure, and supporters said state and regional elected officials and local institutions had offered endorsements.

Opponents and some council members raised questions about governance: the proposed 10-member commission (five appointed by North Shore, five by Shoreline) creates an even-numbered board and does not reflect Shoreline’s larger population, critics said. Council discussion focused on whether the commission composition could or should be changed after an RFA forms and how to ensure equitable representation. Staff and the chief explained that governance changes (such as commissioner districts or altering board size) would generally require voter approval and that the underlying fire districts would remain in name until any further vote to alter district governance.

Councilor Scully and others argued the RFA offers long-term stability for shared regional services and equipment purchases that are difficult to sustain under separate, smaller districts. The council adopted the resolution supporting the RFA; the clerk recorded a final vote of 5 ayes and 1 abstention (Mayor Roberts abstained). That vote registers the city’s formal endorsement of Proposition 1 for the ballot, but any RFA formation still depends on voter approval in the February election.