HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/20/2019 Minutes PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY BOARD
Port Angeles Fire Department
Port Angeles, Washington
March 20, 2019
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman Barnard called the regular meeting of the Public Safety Advisory Board to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Members Present: Alan Barnard, Evan Brown, Nolan Duce, Kathleen Graf, Thomas Mitchell, Lourene
O'Brien, Kiara Schmitt, Shana Scott, Teresa Sesma-Meyers, Dr. Ed Zoble
Members Absent: Mark Bowes, Pamela Lindquist
Staff Present: Brian Smith, Police Chief; Ken Dubuc, Fire Chief; Catherine Dewey, Secretary
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:
It was moved by O'Brien and seconded by Graf to approve the February meeting minutes. Motion passed
unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS:
Alan opened the meeting by giving new member Teresa the opportunity to introduce herself to the group.
Port Angeles Police Department Report: Chief Smith opened by touching base on the regionalization of
PENCOM and JEFFCOM. The two currently share one director, Karl Hatton. They each have their own
supervisors but Karl oversees both agencies at this time. The regionalization of PENCOM and JEFFCOM has
been considered for the past 15 years but has ultimately been decided that combining the counties dispatch
centers was not the direction that the City of Port Angeles wanted to take. In a two year process of merging
data bases in both counties, combining the operations is the priority. The goal is to have a new Dispatch Center
and EOC on the Westside of town.
Code Compliance: Council is looking at ways to enforce code compliance and fill the Code Compliance
position. Code Compliance, quality of life issues are piling up and something needs to be done. PD has been
tasked with providing a solution, which they believe can be solved with the hiring of 2 positions. They have
been discussing ways to produce revenue to fund these projects. Traffic Camera programs has been suggested,
if given Council permission the City intends to piggy back on Seattle's program to enforce school zones and
major intersections with traffic cameras. Chief Smith is asking the members to provide their input and opinions
once he's presented to Council.
Port Angeles Fire Department Report: Chief Dubuc started by referring to last month's meeting where he
asked the members for suggestions on new ways of recruiting and filling the vacant positions. He took that
feedback to heart and has decided to hire firefighter/EMT's with the intent to be sent to Paramedic School so
that they are hiring and then investing back into our department. The department is also offering the same
opportunity to current EMTs of the department that are interested. One of the positions that may or may not be
filled is the Community Paramedic position if that program is successful and carried on into 2020.
GOOD OF THE ORDER:
Teresa— Very interested in the Community Paramedic program and asked Chief Dubuc how they get their
referrals and identify those in need? Chief explained that Home Health has been a great resources, along with
NOHN, OCH and PBH, they also receiving referrals from shift of frequent flyers.
Dr. Zoble—pleased to hear that PD is going to be working with the PDN, during the 3 days his neighborhood
did not have power there were many people who were unaware of the place to go to receive timely information.
Kiara—volunteered at Kid's Fest and all the kids wanted to see the Fire Truck, Chief Dubuc offered to bring a
truck by her aunt's daycare to visit the children.
ADJOURNMENT:
Chairman Barnard adjourned the meeting at 7:05 p.m.
The next meeting is Wednesday,April 17,2019 at 6:00 p.m. at the Port Angeles Fire Department