In south Everett there are a number of what are know as “Islands” where unincorporated Snohomish County juts into the City of Everett boundaries and vice-versa. In the parts of south Everett that are in unincorporated Snohomish County, Fire and Emergency Medical Services are provided by South County Fire (formerly Fire District 1). In 2017 voters in the affected areas approved a Regional Fire Authority. The next phase of that plan is the formation of a directly elected board with five commissioner districts. Here’s more information on the plan from Leslie Hynes at South County Fire.
If you live in the unincorporated areas of south Everett you are being asked to give your thoughts on the proposed district boundaries.
South County Fire wants to hear from the public on a proposal to establish five commissioner election districts.
Establishing commissioner election districts is required under the Regional Fire Authority (RFA) Plan approved by voters last year. Under that plan, Snohomish County Fire District 1 and the Lynnwood Fire Department combined to form South County Fire with an initial governing board of seven commissioners: all five elected Fire District 1 commissioners and two members appointed from the Lynnwood City Council. The RFA Plan calls for transitioning to a directly elected board beginning in 2019 with five commissioner districts. Two at-large commissioners will be directly elected in 2021.
The first step in this transition is establishing commissioner election districts. South County Fire hired an independent consultant to draft a proposal for five districts with balanced population. The RFA Plan required that at least two of these districts include a portion of the City of Lynnwood. Three of the proposed districts meet this requirement.
Additional information, maps of the proposed district boundaries and comment cards are available:
- Online at www.southsnofire.org/electiondistricts
- At all 14 fire stations in the South County Fire Service area:
o Keeler’s Corner Fire Station 10, 3922 156th St. SW, Lynnwood.
o Mariner Fire Station 11, 12310 Meridian Ave. S, Everett.
o Hilton Lake Fire Station 12, 3525 108th Str. SE, Everett.
o Silver Firs Fire Station 13,13611 Puget Park Dr., Everett.
o Lynnwood Blue Ridge Fire Station 14, 18800 68th Ave. W, Lynnwood.
o Lynnwood Civic Center Fire Station 15, 18800 44th Ave. W, Lynnwood.
o Edmonds Maplewood Fire Station 16, 8429 196th St. SW, Edmonds.
o Edmonds Downtown Fire Station 17, 275 Sixth Ave. N, Edmonds.
o Brier Fire Station 18, 21206 Poplar Way, Brier.
o Mountlake Terrace Fire Station 19, 5902 232nd St. SW, Mountlake Terrace.
o Edmonds Esperance Fire Station 20, 23009 88th Ave. W, Edmonds
o Martha Lake Fire Station 21, 16819 13th Ave. W, Lynnwood.
o Hilltop Fire Station 22, 20510 Damson Rd., Lynnwood.
o Lake Serene Fire Station 23, 4323 Serene Way, Lynnwood.
- At Lynnwood City Hall, 19100 44th Ave. W.
Materials are also available for review in binders available at:
- Lynnwood Library, 19200 44th Ave. W.
- Mariner Library, 520 128th St. SW, Suites A9-10, Everett.
All comments must be submitted by Dec. 3, 5 p.m.
Informational Open Houses
The public can also learn more and share comments at an open house with elected officials and staff:
- Saturday, Dec. 1, noon to 2 p.m., Lynnwood Fire Station 15, 18800 44th Ave. W.
- Tuesday, Dec. 4, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., South County Fire Headquarters, 12425 Meridian Ave. S., Everett.
Public Hearing
A public hearing on the proposal will take place during the Board of Commissioners meeting on Dec. 4. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at South County Fire Headquarters.
After the hearing and a review of public comments, the Board of Commissioners will determine how to proceed and set a date to vote on adoption of commissioner election district boundaries.
Commissioner election districts are for election purposes only. These districts will not change or impact 911 responses or the delivery of fire and emergency services.
The election districts do not include the cities of Brier, Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace, which receive emergency services under contract with South County Fire, but are not part of the regional fire authority.
November 22, 2018
Everett