City council members have endorsed a Medic 1 residential rate increase of at least 56 cents a month by July 1 to fund two new firefighter-paramedic positions — the first fire department staff increase in 26 years. The rate increases would affect 10,185 ratepayers beginning July 1. But the Port Angeles City Council took a wait-and-see attitude at a Feb. 28 work session on deciding whether Fire Chief Ken Dubuc will get what he really wants: a 33 percent, four-person increase in firefighter-paramedic staff, a jump from 12 to 16 such employees. The staff increase would be accomplished in a series of increases over five years through 2021.