The Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole convened on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 1:02 p.m. for a marathon 3.5-hour session that would challenge conventional wisdom about government efficiency, public service delivery, and fiscal responsibility. All seven council members were present for what became an intense examination of two critical issues facing the county: the effectiveness of permanent supportive housing programs and a looming crisis in the Emergency Medical Services levy.