City Council - Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee

City of Bellingham Public Health, Safety, and Justice Committee Minutes September 14, 2020, 1:40 PM Mayor Seth Fleetwood Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Council Members, Daniel Hammill, Chair www.cob.org/council Hannah Stone, Hollie Huthman All meetings are held in the City Hall Council Chambers at 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA, unless otherwise noted. Call to Order Roll Call Present: Committee Chair Daniel Hammill, Third Ward Committee Member Hannah Stone, First Ward Committee Member Hollie Huthman, At-Large Council Standing Committee Meetings Open to the public to attend. Note: there is generally no public comment period for Committee sessions. Standing Committee Members receive reports and information, ask questions and, when appropriate, vote on a recommended action for consideration by the full Council at the Regular Meeting. The notice of Committee Meetings identified below also serves as notice of Special Meetings of the City Council at the times identified as Council Members who are not members of the committee routinely attend and participate in the Committee Meetings. Committee Chairs give a report of the Committee Meeting at the Regular Meeting in the evening prior to deliberation and formal vote in the order shown below: Public Health, Safety, and Justice Daniel Hammill, Chair Hannah Stone, Hollie Huthman 22723 1. Presentation on GRACE, Crisis Stabilization and Co-Responder p. 3 Programs Anne Deacon, Whatcom County Health Department, Human Services Department, discussed how the Health Department partnership is working to enhance diversion programs in the criminal justice system. Their aim is to ensure no duplication of services since there are limited resources. Their recommendation for expansion of programs would take place in a central, coordinated hub, with the GRACE management team facilitating discussions because they regularly meet with law enforcement. Public Health, Safety, and Justice Committee Minutes Page 1 September 14, 2020  Malora Christensen, SeaMar Community Health Center, GRACE Program Manager, gave an update on their services. Law enforcement, EMS, hospital, county jail, and criminal legal system all give referrals to their program. Scott Rychman, Division Chief with EMS, Bellingham Fire Department, explained that the program is far beyond any other program in the region. They are able to administer bridge medication to those in crisis. Council Member Hammill moved to direct the City administration to create a budget proposal for Council's consideration that funds the creation and development of a 911 co-responder program that, when operational will, specifically address behavioral health 911 calls through an unarmed response that will include designated crisis responders, nurses and community health professionals, or other similar health professionals. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. 22373 2. Continued Discussion on Join Hands Against Hate p. 25 Hannah Stone, introduced the continued discussion on Join Hands Against Hate, after the Listening Session. She shared clips from last year's meeting (August 19, 2019) as they were representatives from the Human Rights Task Force, and made recommendations. Next steps for direction would be to come back to Committee and pursue creation of a Task Force that explores a new vision for community policing and public safety, Task Force to elevate issues of racial justice and equity, and an Ombudsperson / Racial Equity Officer. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at: 2:56 p.m. Public Health, Safety, and Justice Committee Minutes Page 2 September 14, 2020