Changes to Staffing in Fire District 34-PRESS RELEASE

Due to revenue shortfalls in King County Fire District 34 that are close to $1 million dollars in 2012, the District and the Redmond Fire Department have developed a new staffing plan for Fire Station 13, 8701 208th Ave. N.E.  After reviewing several options for meeting the budget shortfall, it was determined jointly by the Fire Commissioners and the City of Redmond that the best viable approach is to reduce staffing for 2012 in one of the District's Fire Stations.  The new plan will take effect on January 1, 2012.

Fire District 34 contracts with the City of Redmond to provide the personnel and equipment to protect the district's area.  The funding for these two services is derived from a property tax levy.  The funding shortfall is due to two major factors; 1)Assessed values for properties in the District have fallen during the last two years, and 2) A sizeable annexation from the District to the City of Kirkland has further reduced revenues needed to pay for services.  Due to this situation, a new staffing plan is necessary to allow the District to stay within its budgetary constraints.

Fire Station 13 serves the Union Hill neighborhood within Fire District 34 and the northern portions of the Avondale corridor within the City of Redmond (Redmond's Bear Creek neighborhood).  The new staffing plan will provide 24-hour emergency medical aid car service to the area from Station 13, with added fire and rescue services coming from the District's two other stations and Redmond Fire Station 16, 6502 185th Ave. N.E.  This station is located in southeast Redmond and houses the department's aerial ladder truck, providing ventilation, search and rescue, and salvage work at fire incidents as needed.

"Our long-standing goal is to provide quality services to the people of Fire District 34," states Peter Lucarelli, District chair.  "This commitment has not wavered with this needed change in staffing.  Our partnership with the City of Redmond ensures we will continue to be one of the leading service providers in the region."

"NEW" Request for Proposal-Website Design Services

Scope: The District currently has and maintains it's website but would like to upgrade and enhance it's internet presence.  This will involve both web programming and graphical design skills.  In addition, the District would like to develop a common look and feel for its web presence and written communications and will require the help of a graphic artist in design of logos and letterhead materials.

The District is a public entity and contracts for all of emergency services provided to its citizens through the City of Redmond, WA.  The District serves approximately Twenty thousand residents.  The project will involve working with the District's administrative staff, elected officials, consultants and government partners as well as project oversight, design and construction of the new website.

Further Request for Proposal details may be obtained at RFPWebsite.pdf

Specification information may be obtained at Functional Specification v2.pdf.

Please direct any technical questions to Commissioner Thomas Johnston at t.johnston@kcfd34.org.

All proposals are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 17, 2012.  Please submit to

Bridget Weaver, District Secretary
8450 161st Ave. N.E.
Redmond, WA  98052

Address Signs

Many of you have noticed the blue reflective address signs that have been popping up all over the district. This is a program that the Fire District provides to help residents mark the location of their homes.  If you would like to have one of these signs, drop off a completed form at any of the District Fire Stations.  The signs are provided at no cost to District Residents only.

It is very important that you have your address clearly marked in contrasting colors.  In the event of an Emergency, it is vitally important that our personnel be able to find your home quickly.

Fire Department Access to Your Property

Please take some time and look at the entrance to your property.  Do you think a large moving truck could gain access ?  Or are there low-hanging branches and encroaching plants and shrubs that may cause a problem ?  One thing many people comment on after having called the fire department is how large the trucks are.  Please make sure that your property is well marked (the blue address signs are available to district residents free of charge) and that easy access can be made to your house.  Also, if you see any fire hydrants that are obscured by brush, please let the department know about it.  All of these things play an important part in providing you with safe, fast service in case of an emergency.

Emergency Access Corridors

The Fire Commission has achieved one of its major goals for improving response times in the District by completing the construction of emergency access routes.  This program identified areas where dead end or blocked roads and/or locked gates were impeding emergency vehicle response times, and in some cases causing fire and emergency medical units to take longer, more circuitous routes to arrive at calls for help.  The closing of Fire Station 15, due to the large annexation of Fire District service area and property by the City of Sammamish, was also a driving factor in developing and implementing this program.

In total, four electronic gates were installed and road repairs made in completing the project.  The gates were installed or upgraded in the Union Hill Estates and the area north of old Fire Station 15.  This allows fire resources to utilize 227th NE, between Union Hill Rd and NE 60th.  Fire crews are now able to open and close these gates automatically, utilizing electronic sensors installed on fire or medical vehicles as they approach and/or leave the location of the gates.  This greatly improves response times in these areas.  With some of the older gates, crews had to manually unlock and remove chains to open the gate and then reverse the process before continuing on their response.  The Commission wishes to thank homeowners associations and neighbors who provided the support and input into the program.  If you have questions about the project, please contact Commissioner Peter Lucarelli at p.lucarelli@kcfd34.org.

2012 Commissioners' Board Meeting Schedule-Times & Locations

The Board of Commissioners now meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m., except as noted. All meetings are held at Redmond City Hall, 15670 N.E. 85th St, Redmond, WA 98052 in the Trestle Room, 1st FL.

Upcoming Meetings