Community members challenge Olympia's Legislative Agenda, citing concerns of 'circumventing voters'

Olympia community members showed their strong opposition to the city council's 2024 Legislative Priorities, specifically taking one item they believed was an attempt to "circumvent the voters" who rejected the creation of the Regional Fire Authority (RFA) in the April 2023 election.

At the city council meeting on Tuesday, Olympia Legislative Liaison Susan Grisham presented the draft 2024 Legislative Priorities, which outlines the city's top policy priorities that will be lobbied for at the state level next year.

Community members questioned one item regarding funding mechanisms related to the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) and Fire Services: "allowing jurisdictions in close proximity to form combined public safety department through councilmanic action."

Larry Dzieza attended the meeting as a private citizen and emphasized that the item on the draft legislative agenda proposed instructing the city's paid lobbyist to get the state legislature to make it legal for cities to create an RFA through council action instead of a vote of the people.

Larry Dzieza

"If that is correct, I'm appalled that the city council will propose circumventing the voters of Olympia and try to get the Legislature to give the council the power to do what two-thirds of their voters rejected just a few months ago," Dzieza said during the public comment segment.

Dzieza pointed out that existing laws allow cities to form interlocal agreements and contracts through council action. "It is highly unlikely you meant anything else…and you have this on your agenda ready for approval tonight without an opportunity for the public to have a hearing on it."

He criticized the city's attempt to take the voters' power by using their tax dollars to hire a lobbyist to advocate for the item in question at the state level.

Jim Lazar

Jim Lazar said the city's attempt to push the item in the legislative priorities that would allow cities to form combined public safety departments without a vote of their residents would undermine the public trust in the council.

He noted that the public voted against the RFA, and pushing this new item forward without public support will "increase mistrust of the council."

Tumwater and Olympia voters rejected the proposed regional fire authority in the April 25, 2023 election, with 11,396 votes (63.68%) against 6,500 (36.32%).

Lazar also questioned whether the item had been discussed in secret by councilmembers and staff, which he said could violate the Open Meetings Act.

"To my knowledge, this issue has not been on any advisory committee agenda. That tells me that this item has come onto your legislative agenda as a result of secret discussions among the council members, the city manager, and perhaps other staff. The city manager cannot talk to four of you about a single agenda item," Lazar warned.

Like Dzieza, Lazar asked the council to remove this item from the legislative priorities.

Former Olympia Mayor Bob Jacobs offered his two cents that legislative priorities should involve significant public input and involvement in their development.

"I'm sure this would result in a better legislative package,” Jacobs said. “Think about tapping into the expertise of hundreds of local residents who have experienced developing state legislation."

Jacobs felt this draft item undermined that principle. Jacobs characterized the proposal as "beyond cynical" and reinforced that "if the public won't vote the way we want, we'll just do an end run to the legislature."

Jacobs said it conveyed the message that "if elections are just window dressing" and "we know best." Jacobs urged the council to drop the item from the legislative agenda.

Mayor Pro Tem Clark Gilman: "Allowing jurisdictions in close proximity to combine to form Public Safety Department is exactly what the RFA was."

No action taken

Olympia City Manager Jay Burney acknowledged concerns about the wording of the item and clarified that it was not intended to circumvent the RFA vote process or make RFA formation a councilmanic decision.

Burney said the intent was to highlight shortcomings in public safety funding from the state legislature and explore opportunities for other partnerships. He agreed that the wording needed revision, given the public feedback.

Revising language

The city manager added that the staff would revise the language to make clear that it was not meant to override the will of voters.

While no action was taken on the draft legislative priorities, the councilmembers engaged in a lengthy discussion on prioritizing the various initiatives under consideration.

Councilmember Dani Madrone said she was uncomfortable approving the current language in the funding mechanisms related to EMS and Fire Services, saying, "I don't know what this means if it is not an RFA. I feel uncomfortable voting on that one without knowing what a clear ask from the Legislature would be."

Madrone wanted to take the item off the legislative priorities unless there was clear language around it.

Councilmember Lisa Parshley also advocated removing the funding mechanisms for EMS and Fire Services from the legislative priorities. She clarified that she is not opposed to funding mechanisms that would help with fire stations or apparatus.

"We should pull it off until we have the new fire chief and then we can redefine our legislative," Parshley said.

Parshley wanted to see the new fire chief's strategic and funding plans over the next five to 10 years and how that might impact the most appropriate legislative funding mechanisms or approaches.

Parshley felt it was best to consult with the new fire chief before determining the legislative priorities and language related to emergency services funding.

Councilmember Jim Cooper: "It is not about RFA. It is about having tools."

“Not RFA”

Councilmember Jim Cooper stressed that the local government needs to fund EMS and Fire Services. "It is not about RFA. It is about having tools."

Cooper found it "bizarre" that the proposed RFA imposes a high voting threshold for critical public safety services, in contrast to the state government's funding approach to other services like Parks and Recreation with separate taxing districts and lower voting requirements established.

"We want that for our fire department, and we shouldn't have to go out to a general operating levy lid lift to pit the core service of fire and EMS against other things every single day. That, to me, is a really important conversation that we need to continue to have our legislature understand and help us design policy that will work for us," Cooper said. He asked for broader language in the legislative agenda.

Mayor Pro Tem Clark Gilman also wanted a broader bullet about the EMS and Fire Services.

"Allowing jurisdictions in close proximity to combine to form Public Safety Department is exactly what the RFA was," Gilman said, adding that he strongly opposed advocating that item to be councilmanic. 

Councilmembers also discussed prioritizing various initiatives under consideration. Housing affordability, climate action, tax reform, and funding for mental health services were particularly important issues raised.

The legislative process will continue as Grisham said she will again present the 2024 legislative agenda, which reflected the city council's preferences, on December 5.