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

City of Bellingham Public Health, Safety, and Justice Committee Minutes December 13, 2021, 11:15 AM Mayor: Seth Fleetwood Contact: (360) 778-8100, mayorsoffice@cob.org Council Members: Daniel Hammill, Chair Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Hollie Huthman, Gene Knutson https://cob.org/council Legislative Assistant: Nalini Margaitis All meetings are held in the City Hall Council Chambers at 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA, unless otherwise noted. Call to Order Roll Call 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 Gene Knutson, Hollie Huthman 23206 1. Inter-Agency Agreement for Paramedic Training Class p. 3 In continuation with the Fire Department’s partnership with Whatcom County and Bellingham Technical College to provide a paramedic training program, Fire Chief Bill Hewett provided Council with an updated agreement to reflect the needs for the 2022 class. The 2022 class is planned to start in January of 2022 with a total of 8 students, 4 of them from the Fire Department. Gene Knutson moved approval of the inter-agency agreement for a paramedic training class. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. Public Health, Safety, and Justice Committee Minutes Page 1 December 13, 2021 23207 2. Inter-Agency Agreement for Lateral Paramedic Training p. 14 The Fire Department has hired six certified paramedics. While these firefighters have nationally recognized paramedic certifications, they are required to achieve Washington State certification including approval of the Whatcom County Medical Program Director. This local training process can take up to six months to achieve final approval. The Department presented a contract that will provide for funding for wage reimbursement and training costs to support the training of these firefighters. The funding for this contract will come from Whatcom County through the county-wide EMS levy. Gene Knutson moved approval of the inter-agency agreement for lateral paramedic training. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. Adjournment Public Health, Safety, and Justice Committee Minutes Page 2 December 13, 2021