In order to solidify Bothell’s commitment to keep Station 22 on Damson Road open, Tuesday night Bothell City Council approved an agreement to keep the station open for a minimum of five years and staff it with firefighters and paramedics, according to a city press release.

The agreement guarantees the commitment through a $100,000 performance bond. The city has delivered this agreement to Snohomish County Fire District 1 to consider approving the agreement under the same terms with a response by 5 p.m. March 20.  This issue was a key concern during the previous November election and has now been addressed by the city in response to the citizen-led annexation election that will occur on April 17.

The Bothell City Council previously passed two resolutions and stated in numerous printed materials that the city is committed to keeping Station 22 open and staffing it with firefighter/paramedics. In response to Fire District 1, the city has further memorialized its previous actions by signing an agreement that creates a commitment by the city and Fire District 1 (whichever entity is responsible for the area following the outcome of April 17 annexation election) to keep it open for a minimum five years and staffing it with firefighters and paramedics. Each entity will establish a performance bond/cash set aside of $100,000 that will be held by a neutral third party and payable to the other as consideration for increased mutual aid should either the city or Fire District 1 not fulfill its commitment.