Woodinville Firefighters Union Favors Merging With Bothell

The Woodinville firefighters union and the district’s board agree the future of Woodinville Fire & Rescue may be in regionalizing with one of its neighboring fire departments, and the union prefers Bothell.

In a letter to Woodinville Patch, union president Tony Woods wrote, “Woodinville Firefighters support BOFC Chairman Osgood’s suggestion that now is the time to consider regionalization of the fire district. Public agencies’ budgets have been reduced over the years but the needs of the community have not diminished. Regionalization offers an opportunity to meet this challenge through economies of scale and improved efficiencies in the delivery of fire and emergency medical services."

Osgood stated last week () that the sustained economic downturn has found Woodinville Fire & Rescue and all local fire departments in dire financial positions. “It is our Board’s sentiment, if now is not the time to seriously consider regionalization of services, it never will be. To that end, our Board has and continues to explore service delivery options with our local neighbors. We are trying to move beyond meetings to actions if there is mutual benefit.”

For its part, Bothell wants to . The proposed parcels (see map) are within Bothell’s sphere of annexation under the Growth Management Act. While the annexation itself represents removal of only 3 percent of land from the fire district’s coverage, it will mean an 8.6 percent loss in revenue, according to Interim Fire Chief Mark Chubb. That could result in a $1 million loss in revenue for the district.

Bothell first proposed the annexation back in August 2010. The District was not ready to consider it in wake of the . That annexation, completed on June 1 of last year, resulted in the loss of six firefighter positions and the closing of one fire station. Chubb said the District wants to avoid any similar losses in the Bothell Annexation.

In Snohomish County, voters in parts of the proposed annexation area voted against annexation in November of last year. But the city council voted last week to bring the issue back for a special election on April 17, according to the Bothell Reporter. In King County, the process doesn’t need a vote if the city and King County agree to the move.

Woods said that early analysis and the pending annexation of part of Woodinville Fire & Rescue reveal a unique and timely opportunity for such a partnership with the City of Bothell. “The stakeholders in Bothell - City Council, Fire Administration, and Firefighters - have shown a clear willingness to explore regionalization with Woodinville Fire & Rescue,” according to Woods. 

“Bothell and Woodinville fire departments are similar in size, structure and capabilities. Both agencies currently train for and respond together on emergency responses. A combined organization could benefit from cooperation in areas including, but not limited to, fire prevention, fire investigation, public education, training, purchasing, and maintenance,” he added.  

Local and regional agencies are embracing regionalization as a means to trim budgets and maintain valuable services to the community, according to Woods. “Regionalization between Woodinville Fire & Rescue and the City of Bothell could provide benefits from a stable fire service entity that strives to improve fire and emergency medical services benefiting the citizens of both communities.”