HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole November 25 1997WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Committee of the Whole
November 25, 1997
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Council Chair Ward Nelson in the
Council Committee Room, 311 Grand Avenue.
Also Present:
Marlene Dawson
Barbara Brenner
Tom Brown
Alvin Starkenburg
Kathy Sutter
Absent:
Robert Imhof
1. SPECIAL PRESENTATION REGARDING THE SPECIAL EMERGENCY
RESPONSE PROGRAM (PRESENTATION TO INCLUDE VIEWING OF THE
NEW HAZMAT SUPPORT VEHICLE) (AB97 -017)
Steve Lamoureaux, Bellingham Fire Department Captain, gave a presentation on
emergency management. He spoke to background information on the Special Emergency
Response Program, which is comprised of all 21 fire districts in the city and surrounding areas
and various industries. This makes hazard materials management not only available to all but
financially feasible. The concept was a result of the Local Emergency Planning Committee.
Over three- fourths of the funding for this project has been attained. There are 31 members on
this trained team, 14 from private industry.
The truck is presently being kept at Station 5 on Northwest Avenue, which allows for the
best freeway access. The truck is set up with special communication equipment that does not
interfere with central dispatch =s equipment. This equipment also allows for independence, as
well as communication with other fire districts. The team is designed for only the emergency
phase of a situation. Private industry will take care of the long -term situation. Charging those
creating the situation was set up by federal legislation; only cost recovery is allowed.
Lamoureaux reported the team has been in operation since October 20, 1997; the first call
was a possible drug lab, which was false. These teams do not fully recover costs expended. He
noted the State Patrol is responsible for all hazardous materials incidents unless the local fire
agency takes that responsibility, which Bellingham has, the freeway excepted. Fire District #2 is
the command agency. The remaining areas in the County are the responsibility of the State
Patrol.
The team members received the same training. Any cost incurred by an employee is a
contractual issue between them and the sponsoring agency. Being a firefighter is not a
requirement. The contract is for five years. The program is staffed around the clock, seven days
COTW Minutes, 11/25/97, Page 1
a week. Lamoureaux pointed out the number of people available at any one time has not been
proved due to the low number of calls, so the baseline information is thus not being truly
obtained. In response to a question about using volunteers for backup from the public sector, he
stated the problem with that is the training and tracking, and especially the medical monitoring,
as medical records must be kept 30 years after that person quits the program.. The annual
physical is approximately $400, which is set up through the federal OSHA laws regarding the
medical monitoring. This team is one of the largest in the state.
(Clerks Note: At this point, committee left the room to review the Hazmat support
vehicle.)
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7 p.m.
Dana Brown- Davis, Recording Secretary
These minutes were approved by Council on , 1997.
ATTEST: WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk L. Ward Nelson, Council Member
COTW Minutes, 11/25/97, Page 2