Council forms RFA planning committee, appoints three elected officials for study of regional fire authority

The City Council on June 2 voted to form a planning committee to study a potential regional fire authority (RFA) with King County Fire District 38 and approved city appointments to that committee under RCW 52.26.030.

Martin Shaw, the city’s finance director, said the planning committee will include three elected officials from each partner (six total) and will prepare a plan addressing governance, service levels, and funding options including whether to use a fire-benefit charge. "Once the plan is completed by the planning committee, the plan will be submitted to both agencies for review," Shaw said, adding the study is expected to take 18 to 24 months and, if approved by both agencies, would proceed to a community ballot measure.

Council discussed time commitments, statutory checkpoints, and whether the city should name an alternate for the committee seats. Legal counsel advised that RCW 52.26.030 requires three elected officials and that naming an alternate can help ensure the city has representation if a member is absent. After an unsuccessful amendment to remove the named alternate, council appointed Councilmembers Jocelyn and Rustic and named Mayor Mary Miller as an alternate to the city's three seats.

Council members stressed the exploratory nature of the committee and emphasized that any plan produced by the committee could recommend not moving forward; a ballot measure would be required to create an RFA and would need majority approval from voters in the affected jurisdictions.

The motion to establish the planning committee and appointments carried unanimously.