### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Prospect Administrative Board met on September 25, 2025, to discuss budgets for both WHATCOM 911 dispatch center and Prospect emergency communications center, receive updates on the new facility construction, and address board governance questions. The meeting focused primarily on financial matters and the ongoing construction of a new consolidated dispatch facility. ### Key Terms and Concepts **WHATCOM 911:** The primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for Whatcom County that receives all 911 calls and dispatches for law enforcement, then transfers fire/EMS calls to Prospect. **Prospect Emergency Communications:** The secondary dispatch center that handles fire, EMS, and medical emergencies after calls are transferred from WHATCOM 911. **PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point):** The designated location where 911 calls are initially received and processed before being dispatched to appropriate emergency services. **Interlocal Agreement:** The legal contract between the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County that governs the joint operation of emergency communications services. **Equipment Fund:** A reserve fund established to set aside money annually for replacing major equipment like CAD systems, radio equipment, and dispatch consoles. **Call Receiving vs. Dispatching:** Call receiving is funded by 911 tax dollars, while dispatching services must be funded through user fees paid by participating agencies. **FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):** A measure of staffing that represents one full-time position, used to track personnel costs in the budget. **Ground Source Heat HVAC:** An energy-efficient heating and cooling system that uses underground temperatures, eligible for significant rebates. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Justin | Deputy Director of WHATCOM 911 (recently dropped "interim" title) | | Julie | Finance staff member | | Carol Rothkart | Public Works supervisor | | Mayor Kim Lund | City of Bellingham | | Dan McDermott | Prospect staff (on vacation) | | Sheriff Tanksley | Whatcom County Sheriff | | Chief Hewitt | Fire Chief | | Adam Futzreiter | Architecture firm representative | | Forrest | Finance representative | ### Background Context The WHATCOM 911 and Prospect emergency communications centers serve all of Whatcom County, with costs shared among participating jurisdictions through a complex formula. Both centers have experienced significant cost increases over the past five years due to staffing expansion, wage increases, and major equipment replacements. The agencies are currently building a new consolidated facility to replace aging infrastructure and improve working conditions for dispatchers. The funding formula has been in place since around 2010 and allocates costs based on factors including call volume, population, and number of officers. Some jurisdictions are experiencing much higher cost increases than others, leading to concerns about long-term sustainability. ### What Happened — The Short Version The board approved budgets for both WHATCOM 911 and Prospect that focus on maintaining current service levels without major expansions. WHATCOM 911's budget includes negotiated wage increases and rising benefit costs, plus increased fees from the city radio shop. Prospect's budget uses savings from a completed loan payoff to offset wage and benefit increases rather than investing in infrastructure as originally planned. Board members received an update on the new facility construction, which is on schedule and budget. The project will go to bid in mid-October, with construction beginning after council approval. The facility will double dispatch capacity from 8 to 16 stations and include wellness spaces for staff. The meeting concluded with a motion to discuss board membership and governance structure at the January 2026 meeting, following recommendations in a recent consultant report. ### What to Watch Next • Facility construction bidding process in mid-October • City Council consideration of construction contracts • Debt service impact on agency fees starting in 2027 (approximately $850,000 annually) • January 2026 board meeting discussion on governance structure and membership • Long-term financial sustainability presentation planned for January ---