Bill may close Fircrest

State Sen. Darlene Fairley, D-Lake Forest Park, has sponsored a bill to close Fircrest School in the 2003-2005 biennium. The bill was referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 26; a hearing date has not yet been set.

Fircrest is a state-run residential institution for the developmentally disabled and is located in Shoreline. The state operates five such Residential Habilitation Centers, or RHCs.

Fairley calls for the closure of Fircrest to consolidate costs efficiency of care at RHCs. Over the past 30 years, populations at RHCs have declined from 4,145 in 1967 to about 1,200 today, and at Fircrest from 1,000 to 250. But costs have increased due to significant fixed costs at the institutions, the bill states.

About 250 developmentally disabled residents, averaging 47 years old, live at Fircrest, and many of them are the state’s most medically fragile, multiple disabled citizens. If this bill becomes law, the secretary of social and health services is directed to develop and implement a transition plan that ensures Fircrest residents be offered a choice of continuing services at another RHC — Rainier School in Buckley, moving into the community, or, if appropriate, into a skilled nursing facility, the bill states.

Fairley said the secretary is directed to consult with the families as to what they would choose, when making the decision. The proximity and level of family involvement will be taken into consideration in the transfer, she said.

“If they see their family member all the time, we should get them as close as we can,” and keep groups of disabled together, if families agree, Fairley said.

The bill also creates a “Legacy Trust Account.” All proceeds from selling the Fircrest property would go into that account, “and may be used only for services to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families,” the bill states.

“If families have an emotional tie to Fircrest, this trust gives them a sense of comfort with the fact that this money will go to the developmentally disabled community, and not to the black hole of the general fund,” Fairley said.

Around 740 people work at Fircrest School, and many live in Shoreline. The legislation is opposed by the Washington Federation of State Employees and the Service Employees International Union.

“I tell the union these jobs will be moving down to Rainier, and they will either move down or drive, but at least they’ll have a job,” Fairley said.

“Some jobs will go away,” Fairley said. “There won’t be a need for the 80 or so people who work on the building or grounds upkeep, but by attrition and severance packages we hope to mitigate the impact on workers.” Fairley said.

She pointed out that if the land is redeveloped with mixed-use retail, jobs would be created.

On the future of the dental and physical therapy services located on the Fircrest property, Fairley said, “we’re going to make sure that it is located in a nearby medical facility or a facility that handles those type of services.”

The trust requires that the state maximize and make as much money as it can on the transaction, with all proceeds going to services for the developmentally disabled.

The 87-acre property has been appraised at more than $30 million, a state report said.

After covering one-time severance costs, moving costs and health costs for workers, the state expects to gain a net savings of about $8 million in the first biennium from the consolidation and sale of the property.

“In the second biennium, 2005-2007, we will save about $45 million in operating costs, and it will go into the Fircrest Legacy Trust,” Fairley said.

“We’ve been approached by several developers, and one offered and wanted to be included in the bidding process. We will probably establish a board that has expertise in selling large properties like this,” Fairley said.

Jan Knudson with the city of Shoreline said a group called the Erickson Retirement Communities out of Illinois has expressed interest in the site, which is currently zoned residential and would have to be rezoned to be redeveloped for senior housing.

The fact that Republican and Democrat leaders have signed on to co-sponsor the bill, makes it highly likely to make it out of committee and onto the Senate floor, said Sen. Stephen Johnson, R-Kent, who serves on the Ways and Means committee but is not a sponsor.

Co-sponsors of the bill include the chair of the Ways and Means committee Sen. Dino Rossi, R-Issaquah, chair of the capital budget, Sen. Joseph Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, ranking members of both seats, as well as the chair of the Health and long-term care committee Sen. Alex Deccio, R-Yakima, and former chair and now ranking member of the Human Services committee Sen. James Hargrove, D-Hoquiam.