7:00 PM: Call to Order

Jeff Granlund & Chief Tim Lemon

Jeff Granlund is one of three Fire Commissioners elected to this area.  He is a policy maker, and then he hands policy off to the Chief.  He represents the citizens to make sure the department is meeting the needs and demands.  80% of their calls are EMS calls, and they have 6 operating stations.  In 2005 they saw a need to acquire some new property.  They have acquired a piece of property by the middle school that will someday be used to serve the areas of Lake Francis and Lake Webster.  With the assessed values on homes decreasing, they will receive less revenue in the future.  Dave and Warren are participating on the citizen’s advisory committee.  They talked about the level lift lid, and the benefits service charge which is not a tax.  The Spring Glen District has been doing this as well as Kenmore, Woodinville, Eastside, Fairwood, and the Auburn regional authority.  The maximum you can get is 60 percent of the Fire Departments operating budget.  November 2010 is when they plan on having the next levee.  The biggest impact on the benefits service charge will be with commercial and in very dense areas.  The benefits service charge is in addition to the levee, but the amount of the levy decreases.   The benefits service charge is not levied on vacant land.  The people in the district determine what the percentage is, and in some cases 60% of the budget would come from the benefits service charge.  The question was asked, "If one of the criteria is how far you are from water, how will this impact the rural citizens?"  They will be checking into this as well as how non-profits are impacted.  Michael Scott and Brian McGee are the other commissioners. 

The department looks at the surrounding communities when determining salaries and wages.  Our District is somewhere in the midpoint in terms of what the firefighter makes.  Benefits have gone up significantly, and they are looking at changes in benefits.  Instead of full benefits they are now getting 90/10. 

The benefits cover the person and the entire family.  The commissioner meetings are the 1^st and 3^rd Thursdays at 6 p.m. at Station 80.  In terms of budgeting and doing with less they did not fill 6 positions for 6 years.  If the engine is not staffed correctly, then they can’t go into the house.  They have to sit on the outside, and hose down the house.  They have cut out the mapping of roads, and the Chief said to do all their tasking at once.   They have to look at their call volume when determining their staffing.  They will also be looking at trying to get grants. 

Steve asked what the constraint is on the budget.  The Chief said that the public determines what level of service that they want.  Gordon asked if there were public meetings to discuss the budget.  The budget has increased an average of about 4%.  The volunteer program now is pretty much non-existent because of the training involved.  There are impact fees that are in place to offset capital expenditures.  Maplevalleyfire.org. 

Camille Walls made the comment about looking at the raises management received.   5.2 to 5.8 increases are what the non-union staff received.  

8:00 PM:  Council Business

Elections/Advisory issues – Bulk mailing was suggested, and we will need to look at whether or not to provide the postage.  Steve will get in touch with Dave to see if the election is something that he can lead.   

Cedar River Council – Steve will check to see if Susan is still able to attend. 

Maple Valley Reporter – It was decided that Gordon will call Donna to see if there is any conflict. 

Rural Economic Strategies -  We decided to form a committee on this Bev, Rob, & Gordon volunteered to be on the committee. 

County wide meeting – July 28 at the River Rock at 6:30 p.m. there will be a meeting on the strategic plan.  The Executives office is sponsoring this.   There is a meeting at the Preston Community Center at 6:30.

Fire Sprinkler Systems – We need to contact our State Fire Marshal officials, and really give our input.  Glenn Anderson, Cheryl Plug, and Jay Rodne will be contacted. 

Ravensdale 98051 Voices – Susan Harvey and Jenny Nunnan are the organizers, and they would like to link to our website.  Everyone will think about it.  

9:30 PM:  Adjourn