Emergency Medical and Ambulance Advisory Board
Purpose
The Emergency Medical and Ambulance Advisory Board coordinates ambulance
and related medical transportation services throughout Whatcom County,
settles disputes, and makes budget and other recommendations to the
Bellingham City Council and Whatcom County Council. The board is established
jointly by
Whatcom County Code (WCC 5.04.080) and Bellingham Municipal Code (BMC
2.60.010 and
BMC 2.60.020).
Administration of the Emergency Medical and Ambulance Advisory Board is
the responsibility of the
Whatcom County Executive.
Typical Decisions
The board shall:
- Act to coordinate and improve ambulance and related medical
transportation services throughout Whatcom County.
- Be the primary agency for settling disputes between ambulance
services and government agencies operating ambulance services throughout
Whatcom County.
- Make budgetary recommendations for ambulance
services.
- Advise the council and other agencies on improvements to
ambulance services.
- Hold at least two public meetings each year with
the primary purpose of:
- Sharing progress and accomplishments from
previous year (March/April meeting);
- Reviewing and commenting on
the projected budget and goals for the new year (August/September
meeting).
Membership
The board consists of:
- The Whatcom County Executive
- The Mayor of Bellingham
- A Mayor of an incorporated city, other than Bellingham, selected by
the Small Cities Mayors’ Association
- One Bellingham City Council member
- The Chair of the Whatcom County Council or his/her designee
- Four fire district commissioners (one from each region – north,
south, east, west)
- One fire chief selected by Whatcom County Fire Chiefs’ Association
(advisory only)
- The Bellingham fire chief or fire department medical services
officer (advisory only)
- The Medical Program Director (advisory only).
Per Whatcom County Code (WCC 5.04.080), the
Whatcom County Executive shall serve as chairperson of the board,
unless the board shall elect at a meeting another of its members as
chairperson. The chairperson of the board may call the board into session on
his/her own motion, and the chairperson shall convene the board when
requested to do so by a participating agency.
Meeting Agendas and Minutes
Administration of the Emergency Medical and Ambulance Advisory Board,
including scheduling meetings, establishing agendas and taking minutes, is
the responsibility of the
Whatcom County Executive. Copies of meeting minutes as provided to
the City of Bellingham are posted here to increase public information about
the work of this advisory board.
