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Home My WebLink AboutRES 4271 CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON KING COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 25 CITY OF RENTON RESOLUTION N0. 4271 KING COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT N0. 25 RESOLUTION N0. 394-16 A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, AND THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF KING COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 25, PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION TO QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CITY AND THE DISTRICT, A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON APRIL 26, 2016, PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 52.26 OF THE REVISED CODE OF WASHINGTON, OF A ', PROPOSITION THAT APPROVES A PLAN TO FORM A REGIONAL FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE AUTHORITY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY AND THE DISTRICT, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2016, TO BE FUNDED BY A PROPERTY TAX LEVY AND A NEW SIX-YEAR BENEFIT CHARGE. WHEREAS, the ability to respond to emergency situations by fire protection and emergency medical service agencies has not kept up or progressed with community needs and special service demands. Providing an effective fire protection and emergency medical service system requires a collaborative partnership and responsibility among local and regional governments and the private sector; and WHEREAS, the delivery of core emergency services and timely development of significant projects can best be achieved through stable funding options for regional fire protection and emergency services; and WHEREAS, the City of Renton ("the City"), through its Fire and Emergency Services Department, and King County Fire Protection District No. 25 ("the District") have had a cooperative partnership, striving to provide the highest level of fire and emergency medical services to their citizens within the confines of available resources. This cooperative partnership 1 CITY OF RENTON RESOLUTION NO. 4271 KING COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT N0. 25 RESOLUTION N0. 394-16 began with an interlocal agreement in 1993, when the district transferred its employees to the City and the City started providing fire and emergency medical services in the District; and WHEREAS, in 2014,the City and the District formed the Regional Fire Authority Planning Committee ("Planning Committee") to review the creation of a regional fire authority and associated service delivery and financing plan to provide fire protection and emergency services within the boundaries of the City and the District. The members of the Planning Committee include three District Commissioners, and three City of Renton Councilmembers. Also invited to the Planning Committee are representatives from Fire District 20, Fire District 40, and union representatives of International Association of Firefighters Local 864. The Planning Committee met between September 2014 and October 2015 and recommended the creation of the "Renton Regional Fire Authority," and the adoption of a business plan to govern and finance its operation (the "Plan"). The Plan was approved by the District on November 17, 2015, and the City on November 23, 2015, and is formally adopted by each entity pursuant to this joint resolution. Copies of the Plan are available from the administrative offices of the City and the District; and WHEREAS, the City and the District are authorized to form a regional fire protection service authority by Chapter 52.26 RCW, which requires that in the order to create a regional fire protection service authority, the Plan must be approved by the voters of the area affected by the Plan. Therefore, in accordance with the Plan and state law, it is appropriate to place before voters within the proposed service boundaries of the regional fire authority, a proposition for approval to form the Renton Regional Fire Authority, to be funded by a new six- year benefit charge and existing property tax levy, and the approval of the Plan; 2 CITY OF RENTON RESOLUTION N0. 4271 KING COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT N0. 25 RESOLUTION NO. 394-16 NOW,THEREFORE,THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, AND THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF KING COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 25, DO HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION I. Adoption of the Plan for the Renton Reaional Fire Authoritv. The City Council of the City of Renton, Washington, and the Board of Commissioners of King County Fire Protection District No. 25 hereby formally adopt the Plan of the Renton Regional Fire Authority, a true and correct copy of which is attached as Exhibit A and incorporated by this reference. SECTION II. Findinps of Citv Council of the Citv of Renton, Washinaton, and the Board of Commissioners of Kina County Fire Protection District No. 25. The City Council of the City of Renton, Washington, and the Board of Commissioners of King County Fire Protection District No. 25 hereby find that it is in the best interest of the City and the District to submit to the qualified electors of the City and the District at a special election to be held on April 26, 2016, a proposition to adopt the Plan creating the Renton Regional Fire Authority, which if approved will be funded by a six-year benefit charge not to exceed 60% of the Renton Regional Fire Authority's operating budget, and property tax not to exceed $1.00 per $1,000 of assessed value during such time as the benefit charge is collected, and not to exceed $1.50 per$1,000 of assessed value if the benefit charge is not being collected. If approved by 60% of the voters within the boundaries of the authority as provided in Chapter 52.26 RCW, the authority will be called the "Renton Regional Fire Authority," with boundaries coextensive with the boundaries of the City of Renton and King County Fire Protection District No. 25, effective July 1, 2016. ' SECTION III. Submittal of Proposition for Voters. There shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the District and the City for their ratification or rejection, at a special 3 CITY OF RENTON RESOLUTION N0. KING COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT N0. 25 RESOLUTION NO. election on April 26, 2016, the question of whether or not the Renton Regional Fire Authority should be created in accordance with the Plan and funded with a six-year benefit charge and property tax levy. The Board of Commissioners of King County Fire Protection District No. 25 and the City Council of the City of Renton, Washington, hereby request the Director of Elections ' of King County, as ex-officio supervisor of elections to call such election and to submit the following proposition at such election, in the form of a ballot title substantially as follows: PROPOSITION NO. 1 The City of Renton and King County Fire Protection District No. 25 have adopted a Joint Resolution approving the Renton Regional Fire Authority Plan ("Plan") to create the Renton Regional Fire Authority ("Authority") with an effective date of , July 1, 2016. If approved, this proposition would create the Authority, in accordance with the Plan, to provide fire protection and emergency medical services in the City and the District. The Authority will be funded by a six-year fire benefit charge (not to exceed 60% of the operating budget) and property tax (not to exceed $1.00 per $1,000 of assessed value). This funding would replace the District's existing property tax rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value, and would reduce Renton's property tax capacity by the tax rate collected by the Authority. Should the Plan to create a Regional Fire Protection Service Authority be approved? YES [ ] NO [ ] SECTION IV. Authorize Continued Acts of the Repional Fire Authority Planninq Committee. The City Council of the City of Renton, Washington, and the Board of Commissioners of King County Fire Protection District No. 25 herby authorize the Renton Regional Fire Authority Planning Committee to continue operating on an as needed basis until the effective date of the Authority. The Regional Fire Authority Planning Committee shall be 4 CITY OF RENTON RESOLUTION NO. 4271 KING COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 25 RESOLUTION NO. 394-16 considered the governing board for the purposes of RCW 52.26.230 and shall be responsible for conducting a public hearing on the benefit charge consistent with the requirements of RCW 52.26.230. The Planning Committee shall function as the governing board for the purposes of carrying out the requirements of Chapter 52.26 RCW until such time as a new governing board is established on July 1, 2016, pursuant to the Plan. SECTION V. Pro and Con Committee Aaaointments. The City Council of the City of Renton, Washington, and the King County Fire Protection District No. 25 Board of Commissioners hereby assign to the Renton Regional Fire Authority Planning Committee the ' task of appointing members to a committee to advocate voters' approval of the proposition and to a committee to prepare arguments advocating voters' rejection of the proposition. SECTION VI. Severabilitv. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this resolution is declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution. SECTION VII. Ratification. Any act consistent with the authority and prior to the effective date of this resolution is hereby ratified and affirmed. SECTION VIII. Effective Date. This resolution shall take effect and be in force immediately upon its passage. SECTION IX. Triplicate Oriainals. Three originals of this resolution are signed by the City of Renton and King County Fire Protection District No. 25. 5 CITY OF RENTON RESOLUTION No. 4271 KING COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 25 RESOLUTION No. 394-16 PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 14th dayof December - 2015. APPROVED BY ,�this 14th dayof December 2015. 8 110 01. 0 0 4 -'wr 1\8\1 I/Ok" --k Cr -Ma- 1= SEAL Deni's Law, yor AN ADOPTED by th' �Aj�gkftl5mmissioners of King County Fire Protection District No. 25, King County, Washington, at a regular open public meeting of such Board on the 15th day of December 2015, the below commissioners being present and voting. Lawrence J. Warren, City Attorney RES.1688:12/2/15:scr M COMMI'55IONER COMMASIONER No. 25 SEGRETARY r