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Home My WebLink About10/07/2008 09 EMS Levy [Emergency Medical Services] BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT q Item No. For Meeting of October 7, 2008 ITEM TITLE: A resolution concerning a City of Yakima dedicated EMS Levy; providing 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, purchase a fire engine,and equipment, implement a nontransport 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: Chief Charlie Hines CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE: Charlie Hines, Fire Chief, 576 -6747 Cynthia Martinez, Senior Assistant City Attorney, 575 -6031 SUMMARY EXPLANATION: 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 hat 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 �\ APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL: City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the Resolution. ,BOARD /COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: II/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, 0 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, an additional fire engine and equipment, 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 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. • RESOLUTION NO. R -2008- A RESOLUTION concerning a City of Yakima dedicated Emergency Medical. Services (EMS) Levy; providing for submittal to the electors of the City of Yakima, Washington, on the February 3, 2009 special election, 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, purchase a fire engine and equipment, implement a nontransport 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, 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 s levels, of Washington State Fire Departments and their ratings do affect insurance premiums; and WHEREAS, 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 emergency medical services and emergency medical care; and WHEREAS, a City of Yakima dedicated 25 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property valuation EMS Levy is estimated to generate 1.3 Million dollars per year, and WHEREAS, the revenue generated by a voter approved EMS Levy would be used to hire 12 new firefighters and 1 new emergency dispatcher, purchase an additional fire engine and equipment, 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 cim/Resolution EMS levy /page 1 of 3 WHEREAS, by approval of this resolution, the Yakima City Council 0111) 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. The City Council approves an up to 25 cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation EMS Levy be submitted to the electors of the City of Yakima, Washington, on a February 3, 2009 Special Election ballot. 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 410 The Yakima City Council passed Resolution No. 2008 - concerning a City Dedicated EMS Levy. This proposition would authorize the City of Yakima to impose regular property tax levies of up to 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 firefighters, fire engines and equipment, implement a nontransport Firefighter /Paramedic program, and fund an additional emergency dispatcher, thereby enhancing emergency medical care or emergency medical services, pursuant to RCW 84.52.069. Should this proposition be approved? • ❑ Yes -EMS Levy • ❑ No -EMS Levy Section 3. The City Manager of the City of Yakima is hereby directed to 411 provide a copy of this resolution and any other necessary paperwork or fees to cim/Resolution EMS levy /page 2 of 3 the Yakima County Auditor for submission to the electors of the City of Yakima in conjunction with a February 3, 2009 Special Election. ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 7th day of October, 2008. David Edler, Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk • - cim/Resolution EMS levy /page 3 of 3 CITY OF YAKIMA LEGAL DEPARTMENT 200 South Third Street, Yakima, WA 98901 -2830 (Phone) 509 - 575-6033 (Fax) 509- 575 -6160 PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL: COVERED BY THE ATTORNEY - CLIENT AND ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT PRMLEGES MEMORANDUM October 2, 2008 TO: David Edler, Honorable Mayor Yakima City Council Members Dick Zais, City Manager FROM: Cynthia Martinez, Senior Assistant City Attorney SUBJECT: EMS Levy question Councilwoman Coffey raised a question at the EMS Levy Study Session as to whether the City Council could take action, without voter approval, to either reduce the amount or revoke an EMS levy in the future. I answered that it was my belief that the City Council could take such action. At Councilwoman Coffey's request, I have researched this issue and consulted with Bob Meinig at the Municipal Research Service Center. RCW 84.52.069 requires the imposition of an EMS levy be authorized by the voters. There is no statute or case law on point regarding the process to reduce or revoke a voter approved levy. While voter approval is necessary for the imposition or increase of an EMS levy, it is not necessary for the reduction or revocation of the authorized amount. As the legislative body representing the citizens of the City of Yakima, the Yakima City Council may take such action in the form of a Resolution. It was Bob Meinig's position that such a Resolution would have to be passed on a yearly basis. cc. . Charlie Hines Jeff Cutter cim /EMS levy final.doc