South County Fire Board delays bond vote to June 9 after hearing call for more outreach, options

Key takeaways:

• South County Fire Board delays to June 9 a decision on whether to put bond issue before voters.

• Commissioners agree fire stations need to be fixed but split on whether to seek more input.

• Staff recommends repayment plan that would add about $190 to the annual tax bill for a $700,000 home.

The South County Fire Board of Commissioners voted Monday night to postpone a decision on placing a $420 million capital bond before voters, agreeing to a three‑week delay after several commissioners pressed for more public outreach and discussion of alternatives. On a 5–1 vote, with one abstention, the board moved to push the bond resolution decision to a special meeting on June 9, with Commissioner Mark Laurence voting no and Commissioner Micah Rowland abstaining.

If approved by voters, the proposed bond measure funding would be used to:

• Replace six aging fire stations serving Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mill Creek and unincorporated Snohomish County.
• Complete essential renovations and seismic upgrades at four existing fire stations in Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and unincorporated Snohomish County.
• Build four additional fire stations to meet growing service demands and maintain response times.
• Address additional facility needs essential to daily operations and emergency readiness.

See complete text of the proposed resolution here.

Public testimony urges restraint

Preceding the 45-minute discussion leading to the vote, the Board heard public testimony from Edmonds resident Roger Pence and Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen.

Pence urged fire commissioners to slow down and broaden public outreach before moving ahead with the bond issue, calling for “more discussion with your voters, more community engagement, more civic conversation.” Noting that the district announced the bond effort in December but included no public process until April, Pence said an issue of this size — affecting “14 different stations” — warrants a series of open forums before going to voters. 

“I would urge you to take that time, hold three or four or five community meetings where you can explain the issues, the needs to the voters and hear from folks,” he said, adding that he is retired and willing to volunteer his time to help organize such events.

Speaking via Zoom, Mayor Rosen backed the district’s mission but pressed commissioners to pare back the proposal and focus on the most urgent facility needs. Acknowledging that “every public institution is being asked to do more with less,” Rosen said some South County Fire facilities “absolutely are in immediate need,” but residents are also facing “a lot of competing demands.” 

He urged the board to “triage your needs” and “reduce the bond amount to address that specific list of immediate priorities.” 

Board divided on need for further discussion vs. immediate vote

The discussion began with Fire Chief Shaughn Maxwell providing context, noting that the capital facilities plan has been in development for roughly a decade and is aimed at ensuring operational continuity and disaster resilience.

“We’ve spent 10 years and a tremendous amount of work on this plan,” Maxwell said, adding that trying to “triage and recraft” the proposal in two weeks would be a “pretty complex lift.” 

“I want to bring to the Board something that’s defendable,” he said, “and I don’t know if [we] could create something with that amount of research in two weeks.”

Board Chair Jim Kenny acknowledged the agency has been working toward a bond measure for years but said he was willing to support a brief delay if it helps build a stronger consensus on a key public safety issue.

“We have been actively talking about this for years,” Kenny said. “I disagree with the comment that we haven’t had an adequate discussion but I can’t disagree with [the value of having] some more on this important…issue. A large majority is…better than a small majority.”

Commissioner Joseph Wankelman, the newest board member, led the push to delay. 

He said he fully supports the need to repair and replace aging fire stations but argued the board must better account for the financial strain on residents and give cities and constituents more opportunity to weigh in.

“First and foremost, I support fixing these stations. I have no doubt [about] the need. It’s real, and it’s urgent,” Wankelman said.

He pointed to recent problems at Lake Serene Station 23, where a sink was shut down because of iron in the water. He questioned how long firefighters should be expected to live and work in deteriorating facilities. “That’s a station that our service members, our first responders, are living in,” he said.

At the same time, Wankelman pointed to residents who are facing rising costs for basics like fuel and utilities.

“We are living in uncertain times,” he said. “It costs so much to live in this community.” 

Noting that the board has until July 7 to act, Wankelman moved to postpone the vote until June 9 to allow more meetings with cities and community members.

“I’m asking that we take a step, we take a breath,” he said. “Let’s hear from our constituents. I’m not saying take all that time, but I am saying let’s take a deep breath.”

Commissioner David Chan, who seconded the motion, said he supports the bond concept but believes both local elected officials and the public have not had enough direct communication from the Regional Fire Authority about the proposal.

“From November until [now], we did not give them [the public] any information at all until two weeks ago when you presented the whole plans,” Chan said, noting that this came as “kind of a shock” to many. 

Chan referenced concerns raised by Rosen and other city officials, saying that the delay is “about aligning the board’s message and strategy.”

“We should contact all the other cities because we treasure their opinion,” Chan said, noting that this will lead to a better decision on June 9. 

Others on the board agreed that additional input is valuable but warned that delaying the vote could slow staff and communication work already underway.

Commissioner Micah Rowland said he doesn’t oppose hearing more from the public but emphasized that the underlying need for new and upgraded stations will not change.

“This is a need that is not going to go away,” Rowland said. “We have a community that’s growing. We have the need for new stations. We have the need for fixing stations that are 50 years old. We have the need for making sure these stations are standing when the earthquake comes.

“I personally would prefer just to move forward tonight because I don’t think that there’s a very high chance of anything substantive coming along in the next two weeks that would change our direction,” he said. “Otherwise, we are setting our staff back weeks, and every week counts when it comes to crafting and communicating to the public once the decision has been made.”

Rowland also invited critics and city leaders to be specific about any changes they want.

“Look at the plan. Read it. Tell us what you think we should cut. Tell us what you think we should change,” he said. “Come to us with ideas. That’s the only way that this is going to change.” 

Commissioner Ed Widdis raised a procedural concern, noting that without a board decision, staff and bond counsel cannot finalize materials for public outreach.

“Without us taking a step as a board member to pass it, it just delays that,” Widdis said. 

Kenny noted that South County Fire has been working on the capital facilities plan since around 2015 and argued it is designed to address declining buildings, population growth and the need for earthquake‑resilient stations over a 10‑year construction horizon.

“Buildings decline, and also our service needs increase,” Kenny said. “We have all of these buildings, and we have to maintain them.”

Kenny also framed the bond as giving “the bosses” — the voters — the final say.

“This [putting it on the ballot] doesn’t impose anything. It’s asking the voters [to say yes or no],” he said. “I’m good with asking the bosses. And if the bosses say no, we’ll regroup. If the bosses say yes, that’s great.”

At the same time, Kenny acknowledged timing constraints tied to future levy lid lifts and elections, saying this year was chosen because it does not compete with other measures.

“Sometimes we just have to take the plunge,” he said, while conceding that in this case granting the requested delay “is probably our best route to try and develop the most consensus.”

Taxpayer impact

Although the board postponed action on the bond resolution itself, commissioners also heard a presentation on two alternative potential financing structures from Communications Director Christie Veley, speaking on behalf of the chief financial officer. (See a quick comparison of the two plans here)

Veley said staff recommends a 20‑year “all‑level” repayment plan, which would front load payments and reduce interest costs over time for taxpayers. (See full details here). 

“The impact to taxpayers over time would create the least interest and it would reduce over time,” she said. “The largest amount is paid in the first year of repayment, and then over time that amount reduces.”

For a home valued at about $700,000 — roughly the average in the South County Fire service area — Veley said the estimated cost would be about $190 a year, or roughly $16 a month, under that plan.

The alternative, a “level levy” approach, would keep the levy rate flat but result in higher total payments from homeowners over time due to increased interest costs (see full details here).

Veley and Maxwell both cautioned that staff is effectively in “limbo” until the board provides clear direction on whether and how to proceed.

“Staff is waiting for that green light to have a clear and concise plan to share with the constituents of the board’s direction, and we don’t feel like we can move on that until you’ve made your final decision,” Maxwell said.

Kenny said the bond resolution, related financing plan and options analysis will be on the board’s agenda at its June 8 retreat and then brought forward for a formal vote at the June 9 special meeting.

“We do need to bring this issue to fruition,” he said.

Watch the full meeting on video here. Read the full agenda packet here.