Council MIN 12-08-1997 Special
FEDERAL WAY CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting
Council Chambers - City Hall
December 8, 1997 - 5:30 p.m.
MINUTES
I.
CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor Priest opened the special meeting of the Federal Way City Council at 5:35 p.m., in Council
Chambers, City Hall, Federal Way, Washington.
City Council present: Mayor Mahlon "Skip" Priest, Deputy Mayor Hope Elder; Councilmembers
Michael Park, Phil Watkins, Jack Dovey and Mary Gates. Councilmember Gintz arrived at 5:42
p.m.
City Staff present: City Manager Ken Nyberg, Deputy City Manager Philip Keightley, City
Attorney Londi Lindell, City Clerk Chris Green and Deputy City Clerk Bob Baker.
II.
COUNCIL BUSINESS
EMS Levy/Resolution
Mayor Priest gave a brief recap on this subject and explained why the meeting was being held this
evening.
III.
CITIZEN COMMENT
Michael Wilson, a paramedic with 18+ years' experience, from Snohomish County, has faced
similar issues in the County for which he works. Tonight, however, he speaks as a Federal Way
resident who says this is a vital issue to the citizens of our City and is a "very cheap insurance
policy" to ensure his family is served.
IV.
FIRE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR'S UPDATE
District Administrator Jim Hamilton stated a resolution was developed by four of the five larger
suburban cities affected. He provided a copy of same and stated it represents the consensus of
opinions on the issue since the failure of the proposed levy in November. He informed Council
the levy funds the entire regional system. He stated the system is good; and noted the network of
the local providers is "world class."
Mr. Hamilton asked the Council to endorse the 3-year levy resolution allowing the item to be
placed before the voters in February.
ORIGINAL
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
MINUTES - DECEMBER 8, 1997 - PAGE 2
Mayor Priest explained that should the levy pass, the next six months of basic life support, BLS,
would be funded by King County Fire District #39 while Advanced Life Support, ALS, would be
funded by King County. After that, it is hoped that funds for the levy at .29 cents would be used
to maintain a .25 cent level of service and the other .04 cents would be used for (potentially)
funding tax anticipation notes for the second six months of 1998.
Councilmember Watkins MOVED ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION, APPROVING WITH
CONDITIONS, A COUNTY-WIDE BALLOT PROPOSITION FOR FUNDING
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PURSUANT TO RCW 84.52.069, AS AMENDED;
second by Councilmember Dovey.
Discussion ensued.
Councilmember Gates saw no reference to the emergency fund that King County has agreed to set
up for those fire districts who are at their levy maximum or for whatever reason cannot fund the
BLS for the first six months of 1998. She would like us to include that part of the discussion in
our acceptance of this resolution. She also saw no reference to the Chuck Booth Committee
suggestion that such funding was available to the districts.
Mr. Hamilton noted no objection; but informed Council criteria for such funding had not yet been
established.
The motion to approve the resolution, as presented carried as follows:
Priest
Gates
Gintz
Dovey
yes
yes
abstained
yes
Elder
Watkins
Park
yes
yes
yes
Councilmember Gintz abstained ITom voting due to the fact he was not present during the
discussion and did not have adequate time to review written materials.
v.
ADJOURNMENT
Having no other business to come before the Council at the special meeting, Mayor Priest
adjourned the meeting at 5:45 p.m.
M~i Ii. fuLA--
Robert H. Baker
Deputy City Clerk