Civil Service Commission

The primary policy discussion centered on compliance with new state certification requirements for public safety telecommunicators. Human Resources Generalist Jade Hong explained that the State of Washington established the Public Safety Telecommunications Certification Board to create mandatory certification programs, training standards, and completion timelines for all public safety telecommunicators statewide. The revision ensures that Be…

**Jade Hong, Human Resources Generalist:** Presented the staff recommendation to adopt the revised classification specification, explaining the state mandate and compliance requirements. Advocated for approval to ensure the city meets Washington State certificat…

**Jade Hong, on state certification requirements:** "The State of Washington established the Public Safety Telecommunications Certification Board to create a mandatory certification program training standards and timelines for completion for all public safety telecommunicators, statewide" **Jade Hong, on the classification update:** "the revisions to the classification incorporate the certification standards and related qualifications mandate…

After this meeting, Bellingham's Whatcom Public Safety Telecommunicator in Training job classification now officially incorporates the certification standards and qualifications mandated by the Washington State Public Safety Telecommunicator Certification Board. This brings the city into com…

### Meeting Overview The Bellingham Civil Service Commission held a brief meeting on June 11, 2025, focusing primarily on updating job classification specifications for public safety telecommunicators. The main business involved approving revised requirements to comply with new state certification standards for emergency dispatchers. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Civil Service Commission:** A municipal body that oversees hiring, classification, and employment rules for city government positions, ensuring merit-based employment practices. **Classification Specification:** A detailed document that defines job duties, qualifications, and requirements for a specific city position, used for hiring and promotion decisions. **Public Safety Telecommunicator:** Emergency dispatchers who receive and coordinate responses to 911 calls, requiring specialized training and certification. **Washington State Public Safety Telecommunicator Certification Board:** A state agency that establishes mandatory training standards, certification requirements, and timelines for all emergency dispatchers in Washington. **Eligibility Roster:** A ranked list of qualified candidates who have passed civil service examinations for specific city positions, used for hiring decisions. **Civil Service Rule 6.4:** The specific regulation governing how the Civil Service Commission adopts or revises job classification specifications. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Jade Hong | Human Resources Generalist, City of Bellingham | | Julie Mellick | Civil Service Commission Member | | Commission Members (unnamed) | Civil Service Co…