Firefighting Controversy: Behind the Numbers

On the eve of Kirkland’s annexation of Kingsgate, questions about the of King County Fire District 36- have been raised by community members and the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2950.

Union members protest that the layoffs of six firefighters (who were hired by Kirkland Fire Department as part of the annexation) correspond with the expansion of the fire district's administrative staff by six people in the last 18 months, since Fire Chief I. David Daniels arrived in Woodinville. In addition, the union questions the ability of the district to thoroughly protect the community with staffing plans taking effect on June 1.

In a to the editor, Local 2950 treasurer Paul Peterson wrote:

“Other fire departments in the county, state, and nation are consolidating districts to eliminate overlap and waste in administration in order to keep more firefighters on the street. The Woodinville Fire District is actually cutting firefighters while adding new administrative positions that have never even existed in this district. It’s well past time to re-prioritize the budget to reinstate the fire district’s focus on the delivery of fire and emergency medical services to the citizens of Woodinville.”

Requests by Patch to the fire district for financial statements on lost revenue from the annexation and basic staffing plans for the remaining fire stations were quickly answered.

With the Kirkland annexation, the district is expected to lose about $1.6 million in current cash assets, plus another $0.4 million in property tax revenue. The total impact of the annexation to the district is estimated to be about $2 million. The actual figures are currently being determined based on the District’s valuation as of the end of December 2010, according to Joan S. Montegary, the District’s Chief Administrative Officer.

The District will transfer the estimated amount of $1.6 million to the City of Kirkland as required under state law and an interlocal agreement signed by the City of Kirkland and the District relating to the annexation, according to Montegary.

“At some point in the annexation discussions, the decision was made that the asset transfer would be made solely in cash. The $0.4 million in property tax revenue to be transferred should be viewed as the annual reduction in the District’s overall revenue as a result of this annexation,” Montegary wrote in a letter to Patch.

It was necessary to close Station 34 because that area will be entirely within Kirkland city limits as of June 1. If the district kept Station 34, Woodinville taxpayers would effectively be paying for services that are the responsibility of Kirkland, Montegary explained.

The Local contends the loss of the six firefighters to Kirkland was not necessary. Originally, the district stood to lose 14 positions from the annexation, according to Montegary, stating that the Fire Commissioners asked to keep as many positions as possible.

“After absorbing as many positions as possible, positions that would cover for scheduled time off and reduce overtime spending, the fourteen positions became nine. As required by state law, the District and the City of Kirkland jointly declared the annexation impact as nine positions, all of which were slated for transfer to the City of Kirkland,” she wrote.

However, two employees took positions at other agencies and, unfortunately, the District suffered a line-of-duty death of Matthew Durham in late 2010. This brought the number of positions to be transferred to six, Montegary stated.

As of June 1, the district will have three fire stations, each with three shifts with a minimum of 13 firefighters on duty; each shift is 48 hours on, 96 hours off, according to the district. The staffing for each station is as follows:

Station 31, 17718 Woodinville-Snohomish Road NE, six firefighters on duty

Station 33, 19401 NE 133rd Sreet, four firefighters on duty

Station 35, 17825 Avondale Road NE, three firefighters on duty

 “We will maintain the ability to have at least four aid cars even after Station 34 is closed,” Montegary wrote. “The number of aid cars will not be reduced after the closure of Station 34. Medical aid calls are about seventy-five percent of our responses. We will have one less Engine Company.”

In addition, after June 1, there will be an extra lieutenant on duty on each shift, she explained. Originally, three lieutenants were slated to be demoted because of annexation. At the request of the Local, the lieutenants ranks were maintained and the Local and Districts agreed to keep the lieutenants as “floaters” and the Local released any claims to the Emergency Management position that the District was seeking to hire, according to Montegary.

It is important to note the fire district administrative headquarters are located at Station 31. Here is a list of the district’s current administrative positions:

Uniformed

Fire Chief/CEO I. David Daniels (non-represented)

Deputy Fire Chief of Safety/Risk Management Mario Acosta (non-represented)

Deputy Fire Chief of Response Operations Mark Chubb (non-represented)

Battalion Chief of Training & Development Greg Ahearn

Deputy Fire Marshal Cliff House

Public Educator/Firefighter Dave Leggett

All uniformed Chief Officers augment the on-duty crews in that they might also respond to incidents in the capacity of safety officer or incident commander.

Civilian

Chief Administrative Officer Joan Montegary (non-represented)

Finance Manager Nitin Chadha (non-represented)

Executive Assistant Margene Michael (non-represented)

Accounting Technician Jodi Michelman

Payroll Administrator Cindy Biggerstaff

Secretary/Receptionist Linda Lane

Division Secretary Pam Crawford

Division Secretary Kathi Jobe

Community Services Officer David Weed

Facilities Maintenance Technician Dan McCambridge

The District is currently recruiting to fill a full-time non-represented Emergency Manager position. That job post is closed. Additionally, the District has an internal job post for two part-time, seasonal employees for hydrant maintenance – positions that are filled every summer.