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

The Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee held a brief 16-minute meeting covering two routine but essential public safety items. Both agenda items passed unanimously, reflecting the committee's support for ongoing emergency preparedness and firefighter training programs. The meeting began with approval of an interlocal agreement with Whatcom County for paramedic training, covering per-student costs for 2026. This annual agreement funds the Fire Department's paramedic training program, which operates as an apprenticeship model where current firefighters and EMTs learn to become paramedics over a 14-month period. The discussion revealed that trainees work full-time during their training, combining classroom instruction with supervised field experience riding on medic units. The committee then adopted the 2025 Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP), a state-mandated document that replaces the previous 2018 plan. Emergency Management Plans Coordinator Jonah Stinson explained that the updated plan incorporates lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, new federal and state guidance, updated census data for communication needs, and expanded annexes covering evacuation, transportation, and disaster management. The plan provides the framework for coordinating city response to emergencies that exceed daily operational capacity, from severe weather events to major disasters requiring federal assistance.