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Any updates on the merger/forming of the new Fire Authority with Auburn, Algona and Pacific ? Last I had heard, all 3 councils had approved. What happens next?

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I generate Board Warnings

Yep, the new fire authority, which will be called the Valley Fire Authority, will be created only if the citizens in the three cities vote to accept it.

The new authority will levy a $1.00/$1,000 of assessed valuation and also impliment a Service Benefit Charge, which calculates the fire flow requirements of houses and buildings. The formula then produces a certain rate in addition of the base levy rate. This is how the new authority will be funded.

The measure will be on the November ballot.

Hopefully this is the start of something bigger. Regional delivery of Fire and EMS is the way it should be. I anticipate that more fire departments in South King County will consolodate or merge in the near future.

I wonder that if residents in Algona vote yes, Pacific votes yes and Auburn votes no what will happen then.

Or if Auburn and Pacific vote yes but Algona votes no then what happens.

Nick

That's what lawyers and courts are for.

The fire authority passed and will start January 1.

Nick

I believe Pacific FD is volunteer. Will have an effect on their volunteer status?
Gampawayne

Yes it will have an effect on the volunteers. The fire authority will be all career personnel and the Pacific station will be manned 24/7.

Nick

Will current Auburn personnel be manning station 38 until new firefighters can be hired by the fire authority and trained. What other immediate changes do you see coming?

I sent an email to the fire authority and am waiting to hear back.

I know that Pacific has some career personnel already which I imagine they will keep their jobs and be employed by the fire authority.

Nick

I appreciate that. Is there a webpage with more information on the Valley Fire Authority?
Wayne

not yet

This is the response I got from Mike Gerber who is Auburn' s deputy chief.

Mr. Welch,



Your inquiry regarding the Valley Regional Fire Authority was forwarded to me for a response. I appreciate your questions and will try to answer them as best as possible. The Pacific Fire station will remain staffed as it is in 2006 for the 2007 calendar year. Specifically Pacific has four fulltime fire fighters that provide coverage to the community during the weekly daytime hours. In the evenings and weekends the fire station is staffed with volunteer/reserve fire fighters. This means that usually there are at least two personnel to staff one fire engine or medical aid unit in Pacific. Occasionally they are unable to provide adequate staffing and Auburn has covered their jurisdiction to ensure that 911 services were met. The three fire stations in Auburn will also remain unchanged in the staffing model for 2007. This results in the staffing of 3 fire engines, 2 medical aid units and a supervisor (Battalion Chief) on duty 24/7/365. This requires a minimum of 14 career firefighters every day to meet that standard. Pacific had been considering adding full time staff for awhile and the VRFA will be assessing how to provide that in 2008 during our 2007 strategic planning and work load analysis. It is anticipated that the regular use of volunteers to staff fire services in Pacific will end after 2007 and they are all aware of that condition. As a resident of Algona you will likely see a combination of service providers in 2007 from the VRFA. Units in Pacific and Auburn will respond to your 911 calls based on the closest available resource. Previously your 911 calls were routed directly to Auburn units due to our contract for fire services. Because we are all one resource under the VRFA the current Pacific resources can be added to our dispatch protocol. I hope this adequately addresses your questions and feel free to contact me if you need further information. It is also important to note that although the VRFA is formed on January 1st 2007, the funding mechanism for the VRFA approved by the voters is not collected until 2008. The three Cities agreed to continue their 2007 status quo funding for fire services from their general fund revenue in 2007 resulting in no added revenue for enhancing any services. The communities will be kept informed of the planning work being done in 2007 to ensure we are meeting their expectations. The Governance Board of the VRFA, made up of the three Mayors and two council members from each jurisdiction, will be meeting regularly to discuss these matters and provide direction. There regular meetings are open to the public and will occur on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM in the Auburn City Council Chambers


Nick