Public encouraged to attend meeting on future of fire service

Toward the end of 2009, the City of Sammamish began to seriously question its relationship with Eastside Fire and Rescue, as the EFR bill for services continued its yearly increase in the face of stagnant city revenues and steady expenses elsewhere.

By Jake Lynch • January 4, 2010 9:19 pm

Toward the end of 2009, the City of Sammamish began to seriously question its relationship with Eastside Fire and Rescue, as the EFR bill for services continued its yearly increase in the face of stagnant city revenues and steady expenses elsewhere.

This Saturday, Jan. 9., the expectations and hopes of city officials and residents served by EFR will be the topics of discussion at a public meeting to be held at Gibson Hall, across from the Issaquah Fish Hatchery at 105 Newport Way NW, in Issaquah. The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m.

Billed as a “Special Meeting of the General Partners” of EFR, the meeting will be facilitated by Howard Cross, a former instructor at the National Fire Academy.

On Friday, officials from the EFR partner cities, including Issaquah, North Bend and Sammamish, will meet with Cross to begin the preliminary discussions and set the agenda for the Saturday meeting.

According to an e-mail sent by EFR to city officials on Monday, the purpose of this meeting is “to enable all participants the time needed to clear the air of any issues they may have and express their intentions for the future and moving the Agency forward.”

All interested residents are encouraged to attend.