HomeMy WebLinkAboutCriminal Justice May 26 2026Whatcom County
Council Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
2:20 PM
Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers
HYBRID MEETING - MAY BEGIN EARLY/LATE - ADJOURNS BY 2:50 P.M.
(PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT
www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR CALL 360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Elizabeth Boyle
Barry Buchanan
Ben Elenbaas
Kaylee Galloway
Jessica Rienstra
Jon Scanlon
Mark Stremler
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Cathy Halka, AICP, CMC
Council Criminal Justice and Public Committee Minutes - Final May 26, 2026
Safety Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m.
in a hybrid meeting.
Present: 7 - Elizabeth Boyle, Barry Buchanan, Ben Elenbaas, Kaylee Galloway, Jessica
Rienstra, Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler
Announcements
Special Presentation
AB2026-396 Presentation from Whatcom County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and
Whatcom County Fire District 7 regarding EMS and Ground Emergency Medical
Transportation updates
The following people read from a presentation (on file):
• Debbie Arthur, Executive's Office, and speaking as the EMS
Administrator
• Ben Russell, Fire District 7 Assistant Chief of Operations
Arthur spoke about how Emergency Medical Services levy funds are
invested (top expenses) and top sources of revenue, a year-end summary of
the fund for 2025, that revenues were 10 percent above what was budgeted
but that there should be caution going forward since some revenues are
more unpredictable than others, cost-cutting measures they have instituted
so far this year (reduction of one staff member), that they have been
aligning staff with the priorities of the levy and the system, and that they
have proposed a draft reserve policy for 2026-2028 that outlines the
purpose for the fund reserve and establishes a replenishment policy if they
go below the reserve target.
She answered why 2025 revenues exceeded the budget, and stated they
received $2.5 million of revenue that they did not expect from Ground
Emergency Medical Transportation (GEMT) and medical fees that were
paid back by individuals.
She continued the presentation on their core financial risks and EMS
governance and membership.
Russell gave an overview of Ground Emergency Medical Transportation
(GEMT) program (including payment timing and reconciliation, and
Whatcom County Page
Council Criminal Justice and Public Committee Minutes - Final May 26, 2026
Safety Committee
long-term sustainability). He answered questions about reimbursements for
GEMT eligible transports, if the work on the accounting side for those
could be done more collectively or if any centralized resources could be
used, if there is training from the state on processing the reimbursements,
and if fire departments would take on transport costs in the future if people
lose Medicaid eligibility.
Arthur continued the presentation and spoke about dispatch and its
expenses. She and councilmembers discussed, when it comes to dispatch,
who takes the onus on the payment for something that triggers an alternate
response (such as ART or LEAD) outside of EMS or a carceral setting, the
upcoming What -Comm and Prospect Administrative Board meeting this
week, and an interest in scheduling a "101" on the paramedic training to
learn more about that program.
This agenda item was PRESENTED.
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adjournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 2:47 p.m.
ATTEST:
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Cathy I �alka, tic l 0kr* -
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Barry Buchanan -via email 6/4/2026
Meeting Minutes prepared by Kristi Felbinger
Whatcom County Page 2
Barry Buchanan, Committee Chair