Some Mercer Island City Councilmembers butted heads at their June 20 virtual meeting over the city’s potential adoption of a regional fire services model.

The elements of control, safety and cost were put under the lens following council’s two-hour executive session, which focused on collective bargaining and potential litigation relating to regional fire services.

When council returned from the closed session, the members joined City Manager Jessi Bon and attorney Bio Park in a 13-minute open discussion and ultimately voted 5-2 in favor of directing Bon to commence negotiations with Eastside Fire and Rescue (EF&R) for regional fire services. The city received proposals from EF&R and the Bellevue Fire Department.

“This step is one among many in a long-term process; it does not commit the city to a final decision or represent a final recommendation regarding fire regionalization,” reads a city report.

At council’s April 4 meeting, Bon noted that she believes adopting a regional model “will provide opportunities for a more cohesive, efficient and cost-effective fire service on Mercer Island,” adding that safety remains the city’s top priority, according to a previous Reporter story.

Councilmembers Craig Reynolds and Ted Weinberg cast the two dissenting votes on the June 20 motion. Reynolds voiced concerns regarding control (of the fire system itself and not having an effective voice in future contract negotiations with the union), safety (staff possibly not being familiar with the Island) and cost, and Weinberg said that more time is required to discuss the potential change with the public.

Councilmember Lisa Anderl firmly disagreed with Reynolds’ concerns and believes that EF&R will adequately staff its team with trained personnel, and safety will not be diminished. Deputy Mayor David Rosenbaum and councilmember Wendy Weiker feel that enhanced training to increase safety is a plus, and councilmember Jake Jacobson has unshakeable confidence that Bon will negotiate a plan that meets the best interest of the city.

At the commencement of the open session, Weinberg voiced a point of order that council had not followed its rules of procedure by giving 48 hours advance notice to review the most recent fire services motion.

Attorney Park noted that Mayor Salim Nice had the discretion to rule against the point of order. If that initial ruling was challenged, council could vote to determine the validity of the order. Nice ruled against the order, Weinberg appealed and council voted 5-2 in favor of the mayor’s decision. Weinberg and Reynolds voted against the decision.

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