Fire Sale "Huge Discounts"


Mayor Haakenson says the EMS Transport Fees (city's bill, if the paramedics take you to a hospital) go with the sale of the Fire Stations. Mayor's reasoning is that Mountlake Terrace didn't sell their Fire Station. Edmonds is selling 3 Fire Stations therefore the EMS transport fees go with stations.
Huh? What does this mean? Edmonds taxpayers will continue to pay for the purchase of these public assets for as long as the term of the contract. Currently Edmonds Property owners are paying a Public Safety Levy .12 per thousand property valuation, amounting to $840,000 per year to pay the bonds for fire station 17 and the public safety building. This tax will continue along with the EMS Transport Fees.

According to the September 1, 2009 Meeting Minutes, Fire District 1 is considering the option of floating bonds to be used for the 8 million dollar purchase and using Edmonds EMS Transport Fees to pay for the new public debt. This means Edmonds taxpayers will be paying this debt with our hard earned tax dollars, twice. First the Mayor has no intention to payoff the Bonds because of a punitive early payoff clause in the bond agreement. Secondly, using the Edmonds EMS Transport Fee for anything other than the actual EMS service would make the tax illegal.

The big questions is the worth of the EMS Transport Fees. New for 2009 the City budgeted revenue of $700,000 assuming 50% of the billed amount is noncollectable. Here are the 2008 figures calculated by myself using the 2008 Fire Department Annual Report.

BASIC LIFE SUPPORT NUMBER OF TRANSPORTS COST TOTAL $

1689 $475.00 = $802,275.00
ADVANCE LIFE SUPPORT NUMBER OF TRANSPORTS COST TOTAL $
597 $750.00 = $447,750.00

mileage charge

15.50 = $185,612.50

THE GRAND TOTAL $1,435,637.50


If the $700,000 budgeted amount is correct then Fire District 1 after the five year term of the contract will pay only 4.5 Million for the Fire Stations. What a incredible deal for the Fire District 1. If the First District collects 100% the final cost for the 3 Fire Stations will be 1 Million Dollars.


Ask the Mayor, where is the money? Tell Haakenson to go back to the bargaining table and bring back a credible proposal.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Edmonds City Council Again Violates the Open Public Meetings Act.

Edmonds City Council First Executive Session of May 26th 2020 The City Council may meet in executive (closed) session but only for one of the reasons specified in and in accordance with procedures identified in RCW 42.30.110. A personnel matter including a separation agreement is not specifically identified in RCW 42.30.110(1) and therefore is not a legally sufficient reason to meet in closed executive session. The Council discussed the Finance Director Scott James, Separation Agreement in the closed executive session under the guise of potential litigation. When in fact, any potential litigation ceased to exist on May 25 th , 2020, and the seven days from the date Mr. James signed the Separation Agreement, May 18 th , 2020, thus waiving all of his rights to pursue any civil action against the City of Edmonds. On May 26 th , 2020 during agenda item (4) Council President Adrienne Fraley-Monillas moved to add an Executive Session regarding “potential litigation” per RCW 42.30.1
Read more

Lighthouse Law Group's inferior legal representation

 Email to Jeff Taraday  PROVIDED FOR THE RECORD:   In Washington State there can be only one open public hearing.   The Hearing Examiner had 10 working days to make a decision. Any extension of that time requirement requires agreement from the applicant and the parties. Uniquely, the Edmonds City Code requires agreement from all parties. I testified at the hearing and was not asked to participate in this extension or provide any further testimony. In fact, my participation has been excluded because of the one open meeting. If there have been communications between the Hearing Examiner and the Applicant those communication would  be ex parte and needed to be provided to me.    Mr. Clugston testified that traditionally the Planning Staff posts the Agenda and Staff report at the Civic Center and Library. Then he stated that ECC 1.03.09 didn’t apply that was for City Council hearings. He stated the Agenda was posted on the City’s website 7 or 6 days prior to hearing. The City C
Read more

Skipper's Property

APRIL 20TH - 7:00PM Edmonds City Council Meeting Agenda Item: 9 Public Comment on possible purchase of Skipper's Property 102 Main St. Agenda Item: 10 Public Comment on Budget Cuts.
Read more