Resolution 1563RESOLUTION NO. 1563
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS,
WASHINGTON, CALLING FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION CONCERNING
ANNEXATION INTO THE SOUTH SNOHOMISH COUNTY FIRE & RESCUE
REGIONAL FIRE AUTHORITY.
WHEREAS, SCF and its predecessor, Snohomish County Fire District No. 1, have provided fire
and EMS rescue services to the City of Edmonds through an Interlocal Agreement since January
1, 2010; and
WHEREAS, on December 19, 2023, SCF notified the City of its intent to terminate the Interlocal
Agreement for Fire and Emergency Medical Services effective December 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, on June 3, 2024, Fitch and Associates submitted their final report, entitled "City of
Edmonds Emergency Services Analysis" providing comparisons of fire and EMS services
options for the city to consider and
WHEREAS, on May 28, 2024, following a public hearing of options on May 7, 2024 the city
council adopted Resolution 1547, stating their preferred alternative for fire and emergency
medical services was joining the RFA via annexation, and authorizing the mayor to pursue next
steps regarding this alternative; and
WHEREAS, on June 11, 2024, the city council adopted Resolution 1549, expressing the intent of
the city to pursue annexation to SCF; and
WHEREAS, the City is a fire protection jurisdiction as defined in RCW 52.26.020(3); and
WHEREAS, Chapter 52.26 RCW authorizes two or more fire protection jurisdictions to
participate in a regional fire services authority commonly known as a regional fire authority or
"RFA"; and
WHEREAS, the City of Edmonds ("the City") and the South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue
Regional Authority ("SCF") share a contiguous border; and
WHEREAS, RCW 52.26.300 sets forth the procedure for elections concerning the annexation of
a city into a regional fire protection service authority; and
WHEREAS, on December 17, 2024, the Governing Board of SCF adopted Resolution No.
12172024-31, amending its Regional Fire Authority ("RFA") Plan to provide for the annexation
of the City of Edmonds subject to the approval by the voters of the City of Edmonds pursuant to
RCW 52.26.300(3); and
WHEREAS, the City and SCF believe that the public health and safety of the citizens they serve
will benefit from City annexation into SCF; and
Section 4. The City Clerk is authorized to file any necessary documents with the
Snohomish County Auditor to fulfill the purposes of this Resolution.
hereon.
Section 5. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect upon passage and signatures
RESOLVED this 71h day of January, 2025.
CITY OF EDMONDS
MAYOR, MIKE ROSEN
ATTEST:
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C CLERK, PASSEY
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: January 2, 2025
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: January 7, 2025
RESOLUTION NO. 1563
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the stable funding source provided by
annexation will allow SCF to be able to continue to deliver the current level of fire/EMS services
over the long term to City taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, on December 17, 2024, the Edmonds City Council adopted a motion to approve the
updated RFA Plan Amendment (Edmonds Annexation) and Pre -Annexation Agreement and
direct the City Attorney to draft a resolution placing the RFA Annexation on the April 22, 2025
ballot; and
WHEREAS, notification of intent to annex is being transmitted to the Snohomish County
Auditor; NOW THEREFORE,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, HEREBY
RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Pursuant to RCW 52.26.300, the City of Edmonds requests that the Snohomish County
Auditor place a proposition on the special election ballot to be held on April 22, 2025, for the
voters in the City of Edmonds to approve or reject the annexation of the City of Edmonds to be
part of the SCF effective June 1, 2025, substantially as follows:
Name of Jurisdiction: City of Edmonds
Proposition Number: Proposition 1
Short Title: Edmonds Seeks Voter Approval to Annex into South
Snohomish County Fire & Rescue Regional Fire
Authority
Ballot Title: Shall the City of Edmonds be annexed into and be a part
of the South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue Regional
Fire Authority, effective June 1, 2025, per Edmonds City
Council Resolution No. #####?
Yes
No
Section 2. A local voters' pamphlet is requested and language for the explanatory
statement is attached as Exhibit 1.
Section 3. The City Attorney is authorized to make such minor adjustments to the
formatting and/or wording of the ballot measure and/or the explanatory statement as may be
recommended or required by the Snohomish County Auditor, as long as the intent of the measure
remains clear and consistent with the intent of this Resolution as approved by the City Council.
The City Attorney is further authorized to update the resolution number in the ballot title and the
URL in the explanatory statement.
Exhibit 1
Explanatory Statement
This proposition seeks approval to annex the City of Edmonds into South County Fire ("SCF"),
which currently provides Edmonds with fire/EMS services by contract. This contract terminates
December 31, 2025. Annexation provides a known stable funding source, allowing SCF to
continue delivering the current level of fire/EMS services within Edmonds. Alternatively,
contracting for services in 2026 would cost similar to SCF's revenue from Edmonds property
owners if annexation is approved, but without the funding source.
If approved:
• City's regular property tax levy will not be reduced;
• City's EMS levy will be eliminated;
• SCF's property tax levy and fire benefit charges will be paid directly to SCF by Edmonds
property owners, providing a known stable funding source for fire/EMS services;
If not approved:
• City would not have a known stable funding source to contract for fire/EMS in 2026 and
beyond;
• No changes to property taxes or fire benefit charges would result from this election;
• City would need to raise taxes and/or implement drastic reductions in City operations to pay for
the fire/EMS contract;
• City's ability to maintain current level of service is jeopardized.
More information: www.edmondswa.gov/[url pending]