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closeCouncil moves forward with fire annexation
Chris Albert
The Puyallup City Council is moving forward with putting a measure on the November ballot that would merge the Puyallup Fire Department into Central Pierce Fire and Rescue.
The council unanimously approved at the May 12 council meeting to direct city staff to prepare an ordinance that would put the measure on the ballot.
Before Central Pierce and Puyallup department representatives could provide information about the topic, the city council jumped right into the issue when Deputy Mayor George Dill made a motion to move forward with putting the fire district annexation on the ballot.
“I can’t think of a better group of people to decide than the citizens of Puyallup,” Dill said.
Councilmember John Knutsen said he was concerned how the Puyallup department got to the point of looking at a merger as a best possible solution. He wanted to know what options there were to retain a city-run fire service, but look at other options if that was the will of the public.
“At the end of the day I will vote to put it on a ballot if that’s what the fire department wants,” Knutsen said.
Knutsen said he would like to see an advisory committee formed with council appointed representatives, representatives from each fire department and appropriate union representatives to further explore the pros and cons of the merger.
Councilmember Kathy Turner agreed that such a committee would be a benefit and moved to amend Dill’s motion.
“I think educating the citizens is really important,” Turner said.
The council approved the amendment, but did not approve Dill’s motion to direct city staff to prepare an ordinance that if approved would put the Puyallup Fire Department’s annexation into Central Pierce up to voters in November. Dill and Councilmember Mike Deal voted to approve the motion.
Like most of the council, Turner, Hansen and Mayor Don Malloy said they voted against the motion because they hadn’t heard the presentation from the fire departments yet.
“I will be voting no,” Malloy said. “That’s not because I’m against it. It’s because I want to hear the presentation.”
In March, a report was completed by each fire district’s representative, union reps and city staff.
Central Pierce Fire and Rescue Chief Jack Andren presented to the council what some of the outcomes of a merger could look like. There are two main goals in mind, he said. Central Pierce would retain all Puyallup personnel and push for improving service response times.
“That’s our top objective,” Andren said. “It’s not considered by any means a takeover.”
The Puyallup Fire Department would also retain its name, he said. A liaison from the city would be placed on the fire commission with county council approval of a resolution to do so.
Central Pierce would add a medic unit and maintain a fire protection contract with North Puyallup.
As a sole entity the fire district also has resources that allow it to take care of such things as training, maintenance, supply, hiring and finance. Central Pierce also has an extensive public education program with local school districts.
Projected cost to fund fire service for the Puyallup area within Central Pierce with the addition of a second medic unit is estimated at about $10.3 million per year, Andren said.
For Puyallup to provide that service independently, the cost would be about $10.6 million.
Puyallup Chief Ruth Obadal presented to the city council what it would take to maintain independent service.
“This is not necessarily a pro and con, a for and against,” she said.
Central Pierce does have a lot to offer, Obadal said.
The biggest problem Puyallup has had is finding the funding to get to a staffing level they would like, she said. Adding a second medic unit would cost more for Puyallup to do compared to Central Pierce.
The city could maintain an independent fire district, but it would depend on a number of levy lid lifts, which would need voter approval.
The firefighter union made up of Puyallup firefighters have shown support for the merger. At a recent union meeting 44 of 49 members in attendance voted to support the merger as a November ballot measure.
There are still more questions to be answered, city council members stated repeatedly, but moving forward could lead to a clearer picture of what fire service in Puyallup will look like in the future.
The council approved directing the staff to put an ordinance together that with approval would put the fire district merger on the November ballot.
Central Pierce’s Fire Commission would also have to approve the proposal for it to appear on the ballot.