Kirkland Fire Chief Outlines November Ballot Measure

Lucas Combos
Updated ·1 min read

KIRKLAND, WA — Kirkland Fire Chief Joe Sanford starred in a short video released this week, walking voters through exactly what a proposed levy would fund if approved in November. The Fire and Emergency Medical Services ballot measure would add a property tax, estimated to cost roughly $171 annually for a median-valued home.

Sanford says that money would help the fire department boost response times in more neighborhoods, and shore up its resources against future health crises.

"We want to thank you for your unwavering support of Kirkland's first responders during the COVID-19 outbreak," Sanford said. "Protecting our community during the pandemic is one of the reasons I'm speaking to you."

Here's what the levy would pay for:

  • Replenishing and stockpiling of personal protective equipment, including N95 masks, gloves and gowns.

  • Hiring 20 additional firefighter EMTs, allowing for the department to fully staff the new Fire Station 24, activate a new aid unit at Fire Station 22 and provide an additional EMT position at Fire Station 26.

  • Construction for the new Fire Station 27 in Totem Lake, establishing Kirkland's second station east of Interstate 405, which will improve neighborhood response times and ensure uninterrupted service during catastrophic events, like if an earthquake collapsed the freeway.

  • Seismic renovations at fire stations 21, 22 and 26.

Each investment was recommended in a report from the city's Community Safety Advisory Group, comprised of more than 30 residents representing their neighborhoods and businesses.

Voters can learn more about the levy on the city of Kirkland website.

Related: King County Aims For 90 Percent Voter Turnout In November

This article originally appeared on the Kirkland Patch