HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/18/2019 Minutes PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY BOARD
Port Angeles Fire Department
Port Angeles, Washington
September 18th, 2019
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman Barnard called the regular meeting of the Public Safety Advisory Board to order at 6:01 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Members Present: Alan Barnard, Evan Brown, Pamela Lindquist,Thomas Mitchell, Lourene O'Brien,
Kiara Schmitt, Shana Scott, Dr. Ed Zoble
Members Absent: Nolan Duce, Kathleen Graf
Staff Present: Brian Smith, Police Chief; Mike Sanders, Assistant Fire Chief; Catherine Dewey, Secretary
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:
It was moved by Lourene and seconded by Pam to approve the May meeting minutes. Motion passed
unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS:
Annual Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman:
A motion was made by Shana to keep Alan Barnard in the Chairman position and Lourene O'Brien in the
Vice Chair the motion was seconded by Dr. Zoble. Motion passed unanimously.
Port Angeles Police Department Report:
Chief Smith noted that this summer has been the busiest ever, and that PD call volumes were at a record high.
The current call volume and workload is not sustainable and the officers have little discretionary time. The PD
is fully staffed, Beth Hollis is currently in the Academy and one is being deployed to the middle east. They
hope to bring in an interim Provisional Officer to help with workload. They are currently working on getting
amber colored flashing lights in the school zones and this is included in the Capital Facilities Plan, this first
ones will be installed at Boulevard and Race. Chief also announced that the REdisCOVERY program received
grant funding and Amy Miller is back Fulltime. The PenCom EOC project is still underway, the Chiefs were
given formal direction from City Council and the County Commissioners to move forward with finding viable
locations. This facility ideally would house PenCom, be a West Side Fire Station as well as the EOC. Chief
noted that the JeffCom/PenCom software merger has begun and is underway. PenCom is still struggling with
staffing and still has positions to fill. Chief Smith noted that their onsite accreditation inspection would begin
tomorrow. To close Chief Smith noted that their Mid-Year Report was almost complete and that he would
email it to the group once it is finalized.
Port Angeles Fire Department Report:
Chief Sanders began by noting that the FD too had a busy summer, the fatality fire investigation is ongoing and
has had a significant workload. Fire Department Staffing updates: Since the Board last met the FD has hired
two new Firefighter EMT/Paramedic Trainees. The FD is currently fully staffed; however, this includes Dan
Montana who is currently off of shift and is heading the Community Paramedicine program. On the Fire
Prevention side Chief says his focus is on taking the wealth of knowledge that Senior Firefighters have and
sharing that with the newer firefighters, prevention training and getting the guys out in the community and into
buildings is critical. There will be internal training next year focusing on Inspection and Investigation. Chief
Sanders passed around the Port Angeles Fire Department Community Paramedicine 2019 Mid-Year Report and
asked the members to take the time to look over it so that they can get a clear picture at how impactful the
Community Paramedicine program has proven to be over the last six months.
OLD BUSINESS:
GOOD OF THE ORDER:
Alan thanked the Chiefs for their participation in the 9/11 ceremony. Dr. Zoble had a question for Chief
Sanders regarding new builds in the City limits and the permit process that goes into that for fire prevention.
Pam noted that she also has felt the increase of volume that FD and PD spoke of even in her career as an
attorney. Shana asked Chief Smith about boat theft/abandonment and if there has been any increase over the
summer, she also asked about the City's plans for parking downtown during all of the new construction,
conversation ensued. Kiara shared that she noticed the new Resource Officer at school and noted that the
increased PD presence on the first day of school seemed to help with speeding around the HS. Teresa asked
how OMC can better support the Community Paramedicine program, conversation ensued. Evan noted that he
watched a video on KIRO news about the homeless community in Seattle and the idea that they had of giving
individuals a bus ticket to a different community where they could seek help or have better resources. Lourene
noted that she is in full support of the cameras being installed at high risk intersections and hopes to see that
happen, she also noted that the street lines on Blvd are not easily identifiable in the night and is hoping that the
new design and construction keeps this in mind when working on new plans.
ADJOURNMENT:
Chairman Barnard adjourned the meeting at 7:30 p.m.
The next meeting is Wednesday, October 16th,2019 at 6:00 p.m. at
the Port Angeles Fire Department