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.
This step is part of the process to explore the adoption of a
regional fire services model that started in April - in this scenario, Mercer Island would be served by a larger, regional fire agency instead of the City operating its own, smaller department. Mercer Island fire personnel would transition to the regional fire agency and both Island fire stations would remain open.
The Council’s direction progresses the City’s process to explore in more detail the ways Eastside Fire and Rescue would provide a fire service model that maintains or enhances current levels of service while balancing 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 for fire personnel.