Everett first reading advances ordinance to charge care facilities for routine ‘lift assists’
June 26, 2025 | Everett, Snohomish County, Washington
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The Everett City Council on June 25 held the first reading of a proposed ordinance to assess a fee on licensed care facilities that repeatedly summon emergency medical services for non-emergency lift assists.
The ordinance, introduced as council bill 2506-38, would add a section to chapter 3.82 of the Everett Municipal Code and is modeled on a Tacoma ordinance enacted in 2021. Fire Chief David DeMarco briefed the council and said the city plans a comprehensive education campaign with facilities before any penalties are enforced.
"This proposed ordinance is modeled after 1 that exists in the city of Tacoma that was enacted in 2021," DeMarco said. He told the council the aim is to protect emergency resources for true medical emergencies while working with facilities to meet existing licensing requirements.
Why it matters: DeMarco said emergency units are legally committed to examine and cannot abandon assigned calls, so repeated non-emergency lift assists can tie up ambulance resources needed elsewhere. He reviewed 2024 local data showing roughly 70 lift-assist dispatches to licensed care facilities, 55 of which did not result in transport, and estimated 40–50 incidents per year might be candidates for the fee.
Council discussion and next steps: Councilmember Ryan and others pressed for clarity on fee predictability and process. DeMarco said the city will set a base fee using a formula tied to the average cost of delivering the service, then adjust it annually with the June-to-June CPI. "In no case will somebody be left on the floor. Alright? So if they need us to come and do the lift, we will always come and do the lift," DeMarco said, stressing the policy is not intended to deny care.
DeMarco said the city originally considered an eight-week grace period but now plans to spend the rest of 2025 conducting trainings and outreach; enforcement would begin in 2026. The draft ordinance includes an administrative appeal process with the fire chief as the deciding authority.
The item completed its first reading; the council set a final reading for July 9, 2025, per the agenda.
The ordinance, introduced as council bill 2506-38, would add a section to chapter 3.82 of the Everett Municipal Code and is modeled on a Tacoma ordinance enacted in 2021. Fire Chief David DeMarco briefed the council and said the city plans a comprehensive education campaign with facilities before any penalties are enforced.
"This proposed ordinance is modeled after 1 that exists in the city of Tacoma that was enacted in 2021," DeMarco said. He told the council the aim is to protect emergency resources for true medical emergencies while working with facilities to meet existing licensing requirements.
Why it matters: DeMarco said emergency units are legally committed to examine and cannot abandon assigned calls, so repeated non-emergency lift assists can tie up ambulance resources needed elsewhere. He reviewed 2024 local data showing roughly 70 lift-assist dispatches to licensed care facilities, 55 of which did not result in transport, and estimated 40–50 incidents per year might be candidates for the fee.
Council discussion and next steps: Councilmember Ryan and others pressed for clarity on fee predictability and process. DeMarco said the city will set a base fee using a formula tied to the average cost of delivering the service, then adjust it annually with the June-to-June CPI. "In no case will somebody be left on the floor. Alright? So if they need us to come and do the lift, we will always come and do the lift," DeMarco said, stressing the policy is not intended to deny care.
DeMarco said the city originally considered an eight-week grace period but now plans to spend the rest of 2025 conducting trainings and outreach; enforcement would begin in 2026. The draft ordinance includes an administrative appeal process with the fire chief as the deciding authority.
The item completed its first reading; the council set a final reading for July 9, 2025, per the agenda.
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