Public Health, Safety, Justice and Equity Committee

**Paramedic Training Program Structure and Costs** Council Member Lilliquist inquired about the substantial student wages and benefits costs, seeking clarification on whether the 14-month program constitutes full-time employment. Fire department leadership explained that paramedic training operates as a comprehensive apprenticeship program where students spend approximately half their time in classroom instruction and half conducting field work alongside experienced preceptors. The program structure progressively shifts from student observation to supervised independent practice, with students riding as third person on medic units alongside two paramedic partners. Chief Hewitt emphasized that while students don't count toward minimum staffing requirements during training, they remain active in emergency response, providing both learning opportunities and operational support. The apprenticeship model mirrors other trade training programs, with students transitioning from being shadowed by precept…

**Fire Department Leadership** Assistant Fire Chief Pathik and Fire Chief Hewitt supported both agenda items, emphasizing the established nature of the paramedic training program and the importance of maintaining qualified emergency response capabilities. They provided detailed explanations of program structure and operational integration. **Jonas Stinson, Emergency Management Plans Coordinator** Advocated for adoption of the updated emergency management plan, highlighting improvements including pandemic lessons learned, updated guidance, new evacuati…

**Council Member Lilliquist, on paramedic training costs:** "I'm looking at the numbers and they're rather large for student wages and benefits. Is this considered their full-time job for 14 months? Are they doing other fire duties or EMS duties?" **Fire Chief, on training program structure:** "This really is an apprenticeship program like any other trade apprenticeship program. So they go in to the program they spend half of their time in a classroom learning this learning the information bu…

Following this committee meeting, Bellingham moves forward with continued paramedic training capacity through secured funding for the 2026 cohort, ensuring four new firefighter-paramedics will complete training. The city also gains an updated emergency management framework that incorporates seven years of lessons learned since the previous 2018 plan, including pandemic response experience and updated federal guidance. The emergency management plan adoption represents a significant update to the city's …

### Meeting Overview The Public Health, Safety, Justice and Equity Committee met on November 17, 2025, with council members including Skip Williams and Michael Lilliquist. The committee reviewed two key items: an interlocal agreement for paramedic training funding for 2026 and the adoption of the city's updated comprehensive emergency management plan. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Interlocal Agreement (ILA):** A formal contract between two or more local government jurisdictions to share costs, services, or resources for mutual benefit. **Preceptor:** An experienced paramedic who serves as a mentor and evaluator for paramedic students throughout their training program, providing one-on-one guidance and assessment on every call. **Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CMP):** A state-required document that outlines how the city will coordinate emergency response, from daily incidents to major disasters, covering mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery. **Emergency Operations Center (EOC):** A central command facility that coordinates emergency response activities across multiple departments and jurisdictions during major incidents or disasters. **All Hazards Approach:** Emergency planning that prepares for any type of disaster or emergency scenario, regardless of the specific cause or nature of the event. **Minimum Staffing:** The required number of qualified personnel needed to safely operate emergency services at any given time. **Backfill Costs:** Expenses for hiring temporary or overtime staff to cover the duties of employees who are in training programs. **Annexes:** Detailed operational sections of the emergency management plan that provide specific procedures for different types of emergency functions and scenarios. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Skip Williams | Council Member, Committee Chair | | Michael Lilliquist | Council Member | | Assistant Chief Pathik | Bellingham Fire Department | | Chief Huitt | Bellingham Fire Department | | Jonas Stinson | Emergency Management Plans Coordinator, Bellingham Fire Department Office of Emergency Management | ### Background Context The paramedic training program represents a crucial investment in Bellingham's emergency medical …