Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee

The Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee met on August 26, 2024, for a brief session lasting approximately three minutes. The committee convened, considered a single action item, and adjourned. Committee Chair Hollie Huthman presided; Council President Dan Hammill called the meeting to order per the minutes. The sole item before the committee was Agenda Bill 24216, an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) for First Response Emergency Medical Services between the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County, covering all fire service agencies operating countywide. The agreement renews and updates a prior contract (Contract #2018-0114) that expired at the end of 2023, and it carries a retroactive effective date of January 1, 2024. Assistant Fire Chief David Pethick presented a brief summary of the agreement, noting that its terms are substantially similar to the prior contract. The new agreement runs through December 2029, aligning with the current cycle of the countywide EMS levy. Under the agreement, Whatcom County will continue to pay EMS-related dispatch fees, fund a countywide records management system, and provide an annual allocation — estimated at approximately $500,000 per year — to support basic life support (BLS) services. The City's obligations in return are to continue providing first-response and BLS services within its service area and to use the countywide reporting system. The committee voted unanimously 3-0 to recommend approval, and the item will proceed to the full City Council for a formal vote at a regular evening meeting. ---