Council Passes Motion to Begin Negotiations with Eastside Fire and Rescue

At the June 20 City Council meeting, the Council met in Executive Session to discuss collective bargaining and potential litigation on matters related to regional fire services. The Council reconvened in an open session and passed a motion to direct the City Manager to begin negotiations with Eastside Fire and Rescue for regional fire services, as part of the process to explore the adoption of a regional fire services model that started in April.

Council’s direction progresses the City’s process to adopt a regional fire service model that will maintain or enhance current levels of service while balancing the shared responsibility for long-term cost-effective fire and emergency medical service delivery. In addition to improved services, a regional collaboration would allow the City to provide more consistent leadership as well as a deeper bench of resources, specialty services, and growth opportunities.

As this process continues to unfold, there will be further opportunity for community members to ask questions and comment on this shift, including when the City Manager returns to City Council at a future council meeting to present a full recommendation.

This step is one among many in a long-term process; it does not commit the City to a final decision regarding potentially adopting a regional fire service model, nor does it represent a final recommendation by the City Manager on the best course of action for the City regarding fire regionalization.

As has been the case throughout this process, the safety and wellbeing of Mercer Island residents will remain the top priority for City Council and the City of Mercer Island.

Additional information on the consideration of a regional fire services model is available on the full Let’s Talk page.