HomeMy WebLinkAbout3197 Stating the Intent of the City Council to Annex into and Join Jefferson County Fire Protection District No. 1 DBA East Jefferson Fire Rescue in Accordance with RCW 52.04.061 through .131Ordinance 3197
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ORDINANCE NO. 3197
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND, JEFFERSON COUNTY,
WASHINGTON, STATING THE INTENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO ANNEX INTO
AND JOIN JEFFERSON COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 1 DBA EAST
JEFFERSON FIRE RESCUE IN ACCORDANCE WITH RCW 52.04.061 THROUGH
.131 TO CONTINUE PROVIDING FOR FIRE PREVENTION, FIRE SUPPRESSION,
EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND HAZARDOUS MATERIAL INCIDENT RESPONSE
SERVICES WITHIN THE CITY
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Port Townsend finds that it is essential and
necessary for the protection of the health, life and property of the residents of the City and that it
is in the public interest of the residents of the City that the City annex to and become part of East
Jefferson Fire Rescue ("EJFR") in accordance with RCW 52.04.061 through .131; and,
WHEREAS, the City qualifies to annex to East Jefferson Fire Rescue since the City is
adjacent to East Jefferson Fire Rescue and the City presently has a population of less than
300,000 persons; and,
WHEREAS, On July 5, 2011, Council adopted Ordinance 3058, which requested that
East Jefferson Fire Rescue consider annexation. East Jefferson Fire Rescue Board adopted
Resolution 11-05, concurring in the City's request, and Resolution 11-07, which called for an
election on the annexation question. However, shortly thereafter the City decided not to pursue
annexation because of challenges related to the impact of unanticipated property tax valuations,
which would have created a funding disparity between taxpayers within and without the City.
Therefore, the East Jefferson Fire Rescue Board adopted Resolution 11-08 on August 16, 2011,
which rescinded the request for an election authorized by 11-07; and,
WHEREAS, because of the desires expressed by the District to seek levy measures in
the near term, City staff believes that it is appropriate for Council to reconsider whether
annexation is in the best interests of the City at this time to avoid another joint levy process that
could be a repeat of the last joint attempt; and,
WHEREAS, having considered the costs of contracting with East Jefferson Fire Rescue
to provide services to the City, and the advantages of having a consolidated governance structure
for East Jefferson Fire Rescue, Council believes that annexation is in the City's best interests;
NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Port Townsend do ordain as
follows:
Section 1, It is hereby declared to be the intent of the City Council as legislative authority of the
City to join East Jefferson Fire Rescue and to be annexed to such Fire Protection District in accordance
with RCW 52.04.061 through .131. The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to notify the Board
of Commissioners of East Jefferson Fire Rescue of its above stated intention and to request its
concurrence in the annexation.
Ordinance 3197
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Section 2. If the Board of East Jefferson Fire Rescue shall concur in the proposed annexation of
the City of Port Townsend, the City Clerk and the Clerk of the Board shall transmit thereof to the
Jefferson County Commissioners per RCW 52.04.061 and RCW 56.04.071.
Section 3. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect five days after passage, approval and
publication according to law.
ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend, Washington at a special meeting
thereof, held this 15th day of October, 2018.
Attest:
0160NOW-7 -'L� ---- ---- ---------
Joanna Sanders, MMC
City Clerk
D
ebc� SFS �Stiiiscm
Mayor
Approved as to form:
As Gree -en to) od
City Attorney