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September 16, 2020 <br /> Safe Community <br /> Being in the throes of a global public health crisis has underscored the importance <br /> of investments in public safety, especially in emergency preparedness. <br /> Our fire chief and Office of Emergency Management have been front and center <br /> since the first report of COVID-19 in our community. Their expertise has guided <br /> our decisions both locally and regionally and has helped save countless lives in this <br /> crisis. <br /> They have been assisting with the coordinated regional response, securing and <br /> administering federal relief funds, and leading efforts to collect and distribute face <br /> cover donations, especially at the time when face covers were in short supply, <br /> distributing more than 110,000 throughout our city. <br /> As part of a federal grant, this past year we were able to hire 10 new team <br /> members and they are now working in the field. This grant allowed us to add an <br /> aid car to Station 6 in order to better and more quickly provide emergency services <br /> to our residents in south Everett. To keep our fire budget as lean as possible, <br /> however, in 2021 we will be permanently eliminating a chief of services position. <br /> Also, under my administration, we have been able to fully access resources that <br /> we didn't in the past. The re-evaluation of our federal Ground Emergency Medical <br /> Transport reimbursement dollars has resulted in an additional $2 million in federal <br /> resources, both this year and into 2021. <br /> Next year we will continue exploring the possibility of forming or joining a regional <br /> fire authority with our neighbors. While early in the process, this may provide an <br /> opportunity to ensure critical fire and EMS protection to our residents in the most <br /> efficient means possible. We'll continue to evaluate this option in the coming year. <br /> Moving on to Everett Police: Everett has one of the most progressive, innovative <br /> police departments in the country. <br /> Our proposed budget includes funding for police officer training. Investing in <br /> training is investing in the quality and caliber of our police force, and I'm proud of <br />