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

City of Bellingham Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee Minutes October 16, 2023, 1:00 PM Mayor: Seth Fleetwood Contact: (360) 778-8100, mayorsoffice@cob.org Council Members: Daniel Hammill, Chair Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Hollie Huthman, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams https://cob.org/council Call to Order Council President Lilliquist called the meeting to order at 1pm. Roll Call Present: Committee Chair Daniel Hammill, Third Ward Committee Member Hollie Huthman, Second Ward Committee Member Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Fourth Ward 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. 23885 1. Presentations on Responses to Fentanyl and Meth Use Crisis p. 3 Mayor Fleetwood introduced Dr. Greg Thompson, Whatcom County Health Officer, Heather McGuinness, Whatcom County Health and Community Services Partnerships and Strategy Supervisor, and Emily O'Connor, All Hands Whatcom. Each gave presentations on aspects of the fentanyl and meth use crisis in our community and what is being done locally to address and prevent substance abuse and overdose. Council Members discussed and asked questions. 23886 2. Presentations on Downtown Safety Needs and Actions p. 4 Mayor Fleetwood introduced Alice Clark, Executive Director of the Downtown Bellingham Partnership, who gave a presentation on the state of downtown, the issues her organization is seeing, and feedback they have gotten from business owners and downtown patrons. Darby Galligan, Senior Planner, and Tara Sundin, Community and Economic Development Manager, presented on in-progress and future City actions to address health and safety concerns downtown, including highlights of a draft Downtown Safety Strategy. Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee Minutes Page 1 October 16, 2023 23887 3. Interlocal Agreement with Whatcom County to Cover Medic Unit Start-Up Costs p. 31 Dave Pethick, Assistant Fire Chief, presented the interlocal agreement. In February 2023, the Bellingham Fire Department staffed a fourth Medic Unit in support of the County-wide EMS system. Over the two-year process of preparing to bring this unit online, unanticipated costs arose that were not provided for in the original agreement (City Contract #2100997). This interlocal agreement allows the Fire Department to bill Whatcom County for the additional start-up costs from the County-wide EMS Levy. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the Interlocal Agreement with Whatcom County to cover Medic Unit start-up costs. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. 23888 4. Second Amendment to Interlocal Agreement for First Response Emergency Medical p. 165 Services Dave Pethick, Assistant Fire Chief, presented the interlocal agreement revision. The Bellingham Fire Department is party to a County-wide agreement to provide first response and basic life support for medical emergencies (City Contract #2018-0114). This amendment extends the contract through December 31, 2023 and provides $595,861.03 in General Fund revenue from the EMS Levy. The EMS Levy provides the funding to support the delivery of basic life support by the Fire Department throughout the County. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the amendment to the Interlocal Agreement with Whatcom County for First Response Emergency Medical Services. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:59pm. Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee Minutes Page 2 October 16, 2023