HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/02/2008 11 Emergency Medical Services Levy; Mandated Referendum Procedure BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
• YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. I I
For Meeting of December 2, 2008
ITEM TITLE: A Resolution amending Resolution No. R -2008 -136, adopted by a majority of the
City Council on October 7, 2008 concerning a City of Yakima Emergency Medical Services
(EMS) levy, by adding a mandated referendum procedure and making other housekeeping
language changes; Resolution No. R- 2008 -136 provided for submittal to the electors of the City
of Yakima, Washington, on the February 3, 2009 Special Election ballot, a measure to authorize
a City of Yakima dedicated EMS Levy of up to 25 cents per thousand dollars of assessed
property valuation, the generated revenue to be used to fund additional firefighters and
equipment, maintain fire engines, implement a non - transport Firefighter /Paramedic program, and
fund an additional emergency dispatcher, thereby enhancing fire protection services and
emergency medical care or services as authorized by RCW 84.52.069.
SUBMITTED BY: Cynthia Martinez, Senior Assistant City Attorney
CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE: Cynthia Martinez, 575 -6033
SUMMARY EXPLANATION: On October 7, 2008, a majority of the Yakima City Council adopted
Resolution No. R -2008 -136, placing a City of Yakima EMS Levy Authorization measure on the
February 3, 2009, Special Election ballot Further research revealed the State mandates a
referendum procedure for this type of measure. This Resolution allows the City Council to amend
• Resolution No. R- 2008 -136 to add the mandated referendum procedure and make other
housekeeping language changes.
The following language was contained in the October 7, 2008 agenda statement:
In the past 10 years, the Yakima Fire Department (YFD) has seen a 62% increase in call
volume and a decrease in firefighters per capita resulting in longer response times and a lack of
firefighter staff to respond to all 911 calls. These challenges led to a rating of 4 by the
Washington Survey and Rating Bureau (WSRB). Yakima is the largest City in the State with a
fully paid professional fire department to receive such a poor rating.
Pursuant to RCW 84.52.069 cities may ask for voter authority to levy a property tax of up
to 50 cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation to support emergency medical services
and /or emergency medical care. On August 6, 2008 the Public Safety Committee of the Yakima
City Council voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council take action to place an EMS
Levy measure on the February 3, 2009 Special Election ballot.
Continued on next page...
Resolution X Ordinance Other (Specify)
Contract Mail to (name and address):
Phone:
Funding Source (1
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL: 'l City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the Resolution.
•BOARD /COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
COUNCIL ACTION:
Summary Explanation Continued:
At the September 18, 2008 City Council Study Session regarding the EMS Levy, a
majority of the City Council directed staff to prepare a resolution placing a City dedicated, up to 25
cent per thousand of valuation, EMS Levy on the February 3, 2009 ballot.
The money generated from the EMS Levy will be used to correct the current YFD shortfall.
The proceeds will fund 12 new firefighter positions, an additional emergency dispatcher position,
eeded equipment, fire engine maintenance and a pilot "Paramedic
Engine" program. The staffing and equipment will allow for two additional fire engines in- service
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the "Paramedic Engine" program will place a paramedic
firefighter on every neighborhood fire engine. An approved EMS Levy will allow YFD to respond
to all 911 calls for help, reduce response times, improve emergency pre - hospital care, and raise
improve the WSRB rating. A higher WSRB rating should reduce fire insurance rates for citizens
and business owners in the City of Yakima.
Maintaining and improving public heath and safety is one of the Yakima City Council's top
strategic priorities. If approved by the voters, the proceeds of this EMS Levy will be used improve
emergency medical care and emergency medical services in the City of Yakima.
•
O
1
1 Yakima EMS Levy Fact Sheet
III
Why has a Yakima Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Levy been proposed?
N. In the last decade, the number of calls received by the Yakima Fire Department (YFD) has T
04 A
risen dramatically (by over 60 %) and today, more than 80% of all YFD calls are for EMS. _=
,
► Because of a lack of funding, the YFD has not been able to hire enough new firefighters to ' t 4 1, ,
keep pace with the growing demand for services. ,1 . '
Ill. Due to a shortage of firefighters, the YFD takes longer to arrive on scene now than in I i •' °: 7
the past and, sometimes, simply can't respond to all ongoing emergencies. `' .a.
What would the proposed Yakima EMS Levy pay for?
► i. The YFD would be able to hire 12 more firefighters. s ,
► The YFD would be able to add 2 fully- staffed engine companies. . '' '
,, i
► Every YFD neighborhood fire engine would have a cross - trained firefighter /paramedic "" v
on it to respond to critical care emergencies 24 hours a day. - . : ..141.4 ;
What would the proposed Yakima EMS Levy cost local property owners?
a•
Ill. The cost of the proposed Yakima EMS Levy would vary depending on assessed property values. ^4,( .4 VP
O The owner of a $150,000 home would pay about $3.13 per month
• The owner of a $250,000 home would pay about $5.21 per month ti A
▪ The levy would be permanent, but could not be increased and could be repealed by voter referendum. wil
Would both VFl) fire engines and private ambulances still respond to medical emergencies''
► Yes. YFD fire engines respond to medical emergencies because they carry medically - trained firefighters and,
since they are strategically located throughout Yakima, often arrive on scene before private ambulances do.
► As is the case today, private ambulance companies would remain responsible for transporting to A D 1
all emergency medical patients to local hospitals. The YFD would not be transporting patients.
4 '
6
When will the proposed Yakima EMS Levy be voted on?
iii ity of Yakima voters will begin receiving ballots for the proposed Yakima EMS Levy on January 14th, 2009.
ompleted ballots must be turned in or postmarked by February 3 2009.
O The proposed Yakima EMS Levy will require a 60% supermajority YES vote to pass. n v% This information was prepared by the City of Yakima in response to questions and to provide facts about the proposed Yakima EMS Levy. The City of Yakima does not support nor oppose the proposed EMS Levy. TtUE
• RESOLUTION NO. R -2008-
A RESOLUTION A Resolution amending Resolution No. R- 2008 -136, adopted by a
majority of the City Council on October 7, 2008 concerning a City
of Yakima Emergency Medical Services (EMS) levy, by adding the
mandated referendum procedure and making other housekeeping
language changes; Resolution No. R- 2008 -136 provided for the
submittal to the electors of the City of Yakima, Washington, on the
February 3, 2009 Special Election, a measure to authorize a
permanent City of Yakima dedicated EMS Levy of up to 25 cents
per thousand dollars of assessed property valuation, the
generated revenue to be used to fund additional firefighters and
equipment, maintain fire engines, implement a non - transport
Firefighter /Paramedic program, and fund an additional emergency
dispatcher, thereby enhancing fire protection and emergency
medical services or care as authorized by RCW 84.52.069.
WHEREAS, on October 7, 2008, the Yakima City Council adopted Resolution
No. R- 2008 -136, placing a City of Yakima EMS Levy Authorization measure on the
February 3, 2009 Special Election ballot; and
41, WHEREAS, further legal research has revealed the State mandates a
referendum procedure for permanent EMS levy measures; and
WHEREAS, this Resolution allows the City Council to amend Resolution No.
R- 2008 -136 by adding the mandated referendum procedure and make other
housekeeping language changes; and
WHEREAS, the rising call volume and the decline in Firefighters per capita have
diminished the Yakima Fire Department's ability to respond to emergencies over the
past ten years; and
WHEREAS, the Washington Survey and Ratings Bureau (WSRB) is an
organization tasked with rating the performance, such as response time and staffing
levels, of Washington State Fire Departments and their ratings do affect insurance
premiums; and
W HEREAS, the Yakima Fire Department has the distinction of receiving the
poorest rating from the WSRB for a fully paid professional fire department among
comparable sized cities; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to RCW 84.52.069 the City of Yakima may ask the voters
for authority to levy a property tax of up to 50 cents per thousand dollars of assessed
valuation to support emergencymedical services and emergency medical care; and
WHEREAS, a City of Yakima dedicated EMS levy of 25 cents per thousand
• dollars of assessed property valuation EM is estimated to generate 1.3 Million
Dollars per year; and
cim/amendedResolution EMS levy /page 1 of 4
WHEREAS, the revenue generated by a voter approved City of Yakima EMS
•
Levy would be used to hire 12 new firefighters and 1 new emergency dispatcher,
purchase equipment, maintain fire engines and phase -in a
"Paramedic Engine" program; and
WHEREAS, a permanent EMS Levy will provide the stable funding needed to
meet the current and future City of Yakima demands for emergency medical services;
and
WHEREAS, by approval of this resolution, the Yakima City Council authorizes
the City Manager to place on the February 3, 2009 Special Election ballot a measure
requesting voter authorization for a City of Yakima dedicated EMS levy in an amount up
to a 25 cents per thousand of assessed property value to fund emergency medical care
and emergency medical services as authorized in RCW 84.52.069; and
WHEREAS, the Yakima City Council finds that it is in the best interest of the City
of Yakima to request voter authorization for a City dedicated EMS Levy; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
Section 1. Resolution No. R- 2008 -136, adopted by a majority of the City Council on
October 7, 2008, concerning a City of Yakima Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Levy,
is hereby amended as follows:
410
Section 1. The City Council approves an EMS levy of up to 25 cents
per thousand dollars of assessed valuation EM yyy be submitted to the
electors of the City of Yakima, Washington, on a February 3, 2009 Special
Election ballot If approved, the City of Yakima shall levy each year, beginning
with taxes payable in 2010, an additional regular property tax in an amount up to
25 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value, to provide funds to enhance
emergency medical care or emergency medical services, pursuant to RCW
84.52.069.
Section 2. The Yakima County Auditor is hereby requested to place
the City dedicated EMS Levy Authorization on the February 3, 2009 ballot in
substantially the following form:
CITY OF YAKIMA
EMS LEVY AUTHORIZATION
The Yakima City Council passed
Resolution No. R -2008- concerning . a City
Dedicated EMS Levy. This proposition would
authorize the City of Yakima to impose a
permanent regular property tax levyies of up to •
cim/amendedResolution EMS levy /page 2 of 4
111 twenty -five cents per thousand dollars of assessed
valuation (.25/1,000.00), beginning January 1,
2010. The proceeds generated by the levy will be
used to fund additional firefighterse- engines and
equipment., maintain fire engines, implement a non-
transport Firefighter /Paramedic program, and fund
an additional emergency dispatcher, thereby
enhancing emergency medical care or emergency
medical services, pursuant to RCW 84.52.069.
Shall the City of Yakima be authorized to impose a
PERMANENT regular property tax levy of 25 cents
or less per thousand dollars of assessed valuation?
EMS Levy ❑ Yes
EMS Levy ❑ No
Section 3. The City Manager of the City of Yakima is hereby directed
to provide a copy of this resolution and any other necessary paperwork or fees to
the Yakima County Auditor for submission to the electors of the City of Yakima in
• conjunction with a February 3, 2009 Special Election.
Section 4. If the levy authorized by this amended resolution is
approved by the voters, pursuant to RCW 84.52.069(4) the following referendum
procedure shall apply:
A referendum petition may be filed at any time with the City Clerk.
Within ten days, the City Clerk shall confer with the, petitioner concerning
form and style of the petition, issue the petition an identification number,
and secure an accurate, concise, and positive ballot title from the City
Attorney. The petitioner shall have thirty days in which to secure the
signatures of not less than fifteen percent of the registered voters of the
taxing district, as of the last general election, upon petition forms which
contain the ballot title and the full text of the measure to be referred. The
City Clerk shall verify the sufficiency of the signatures on the petition and
if sufficient valid signatures are property submitted, shall certify the
referendum measure to the next election within the taxing district if one is
to be held within one hundred eighty days from the date of filing the
referendum petition, or at a special election to be called for the purpose in
accordance with RCW 29A.04.330.
Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
•
cim/amendedResolution EMS levy /page 3 of 4
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 2nd day of December, 2008. 410
David Edler, Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
•
cim/amendedResolution EMS levy /page 4 of 4