MARYSVILLE – A number of people spoke in favor of a Regional Fire Authority at Monday’s City Council meeting, but city staff said later that many of their criticisms were based on misinformation.

Firefighter union president Jason Tucker said the city and fire district need get past the governance issue. He recommended they step back and study if an Arlington RFA is feasible.

Mark Epstein said an RFA would provide funding for needed manpower and upgrades, while a city-run department would not.

Val Roth said the department should be governed by the people who know what to do with the money.

Tyler Dormaier recommended the city develop an RFA with District 12, and then possibly add others later. He fears money wouldn’t be there long-term with a city department.

Daniel Allen asked the council to follow the recommendation of their own consultant, whom they paid about $40,000, who said an RFA would be best. “Leave the politics at the front door,” he said. If they don’t vote for an RFA, he said they need to be able to “look people in the eyes whose lives, property and families they jeopardized.”

Krista Longspaugh said the council needs to ask their constituents what level of service they want. She also said the city is trying to draw a line between District 12 and the city. “We’re the same people,” she said. She added the city itself has said its finances would be improved without a fire department.

Dean Shelton, secretary-treasurer for the union, said the city should not divorce the district after 25 years. He said, “We didn’t fight” layoffs in 2011 when city funds were tight. But “we’ve been bleeding ever since.” He said calls are way up, but staffing isn’t. It makes a dangerous job even more dangerous. “They wonder if they are going home” during every shift, he said.

Council Member Stephen Muller addressed the packed house, saying, “We care about fire service.”

He said all four models the City Council is looking at provide funding for a higher level of service. He also believes most of the council is leaning toward an RFA. But they want to look at all options. “We want a model for the future,” he said. Muller added that along with District 12, the future could consolidate the city with districts 19, 21 and 22, along with Arlington and Lake Stevens.

As the city grows, a bigger service provider in the region would be needed.

“We don’t want to sell it short on fire,” Muller said. “We take pride in providing the best services.”

The crowd filed out after the public comment session, but city staff spoke up later in the meeting.

Police Chief Rick Smith told the council it is “blatantly obvious you care about public safety.” He added there is inaccurate signage around town and on social media and the “partial truth can skew a message.”

Public Works Director Kevin Nielsen said he was “dumbfounded” after coming back from vacation and seeing the picketing. He said the numbers in the four models improve the department, no matter which one is chosen. “There were some unfounded comments,” he said of the open-comment period. “That’s not what you guys are about.”

Fire Chief Martin McFalls said no matter what the decision is, “We will go at it with the same passion and make it an overwhelming success.”

Chief Administrative Officer Gloria Hirashima said misinformation is causing confusion. For example, at least one of the speakers talked about “contracting out” not working, but that’s what the city has been doing with the district since 1992.

The other council members then weighed in.

Jeff Vaughan said this has taken a long time because we’re “trying to get it right.”

Jeff Siebert reminded everyone that the city was ready to wrap this up a year ago, but the district stopped it over the governance issue.

Rob Toyer said the comments “were way off base” because none of the options reduce service.

Michael Stevens said with better public relations this could have been avoided. “They live and know this model” being used now, he said of firefighters. The city needed to do a better job of telling them what possible changes could bring. He also said the district board has changed, and he would like the city to make another attempt at consolidating with them “before writing them off.”