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City of Seattle
Seattle City Council
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Compton, Drago Unveil Fire Facilities Legislation
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
7/2/2003 5:02:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nancy Roberts (206) 684-8146
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Compton, Drago Unveil Fire Facilities Legislation
Two bills to be introduced prior to July 7 public hearing
SEATTLE - Seattle City Councilmembers Jim Compton and Jan Drago will
introduce new legislation on Monday to fund $157 million in construction and
renovation of fire stations and emergency facilities in the City. If passed, the
measure would go to the ballot this November.
Compton and Drago will introduce two pieces of legislation at the 2 p.m.
Council meeting on July 7, both identical except for the financing mechanisms.
One bill proposes a nine-year graduated tax levy, which would cost $98 a year
for a median homeowner in year one, declining over subsequent years. Over the
nine years, the levy would cost an average of $68 each year to a median
homeowner. The other legislation proposes a 20-year bond measure, with an
average cost of approximately $50 each year for a median Seattle homeowner.
The plan differs from an earlier $229 million proposal submitted to the
Council that would have cost a median homeowner about $100 each year for seven
years.
The Compton-Drago plan targets about half the City's 33 fire stations. It
would fund the construction of 12 replacement fire stations for outdated
facilities needing to be torn down, and fund renovation of six fire stations to
expand capacity and make seismic retrofits.
The plan would create a new state-of-the-art joint training facility in
southwest Seattle, a new City emergency operations center and fund the purchase
of a large saltwater boat to enhance marine fire response. Under the plan, a
health and wellness center would be built within a renovated Fire Station 2 in
Belltown, while the Fire Alarm Center will be moved from Fire Station 2 to a
newly constructed Fire Station 10 in Pioneer Square. Fire Department
headquarters and the Fire Marshall's Office would remain in the their current
locations.
"Ten weeks after 9/11 the Council passed a budget making emergency
preparedness a top priority," said Drago. "The Fire Facilities ballot
proposal prioritizes emergency preparedness and provides our firefighters with
safe, modern equipment and facilities to protect Seattle citizens."
"We are in a recession, and there are serious questions about the
public's willingness to pay for a huge package this year, but the cost thus far
has come down dramatically and the time to act is now," said Compton.
Once the legislation is introduced on Monday, the Council's Committee of the
Whole will take it up in discussion at 2:30 p.m. A public hearing on the
proposals, and fire facilities updates in general, will be held at 5:30 p.m.
that day in Council Chambers.
The Compton-Drago legislation will be available by noon tomorrow on the City
Council's Web site, www.cityofseattle.net/council,
or can be obtained by calling 206 684-8888.
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City
Council
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