Committee moves East Metro Training Group interlocal agreement to consent after briefing on revised funding and light-rail training

Battalion Chief Caleb Freeman presented a briefing Feb. 11 to the Finance, Administration and Communications Committee of the Whole asking that the East Metro Training Group interlocal operating agreement be placed on the March 4 consent agenda as drafted.

The East Metro Training Group (EMTG) is a regional training consortium led by Redmond Fire and Bellevue Fire that provides a 13-week entry-level fire academy plus a six-week EMT certification, an annual training plan tied to WSRB and NFPA standards, probationary task books and specialty training for hazardous materials, technical rescue, light-rail incidents and wildland operations. "We would appreciate approval of the EMTG IOA, for consent," Freeman said during the presentation.

The committee was presented with the training program’s structure and a summary of changes in the proposed IOA. Committee members were told the draft updates a funding mechanism from a vague formula in the original 2012 agreement to a clearer, formula-based method and clarifies roles and responsibilities within the consortium. The presentation said Bellevue would serve as the initial administrative and fiscal agent for a three-year term with the opportunity for rotation. The presenters said the updated IOA is intended to take effect July 1, 2025 so the consortium can deliver a budget in August and execute payments in February 2026.

The briefing emphasized operational readiness and risk management. Freeman described minimum annual training hours tied to Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, the 12-month probationary task book for new hires, and exercises tied to the Sound Transit light-rail expansion, including train-lift and tunnel exercises. Freeman noted $650,000 in equipment and funds acquired since 2019 to support Sound Transit-related training.

Council members asked for additional detail on the IOA’s funding changes, the timeline for effective dates, and the consortium’s governance and fiscal processes. Council Member Nueva Camino praised the presentation on light-rail response and the team’s data-driven approach; Council Member Forsyth confirmed the IOA renews an existing program with revised contract language; Council Member Stewart requested clearer dates and asked for an email summarizing substantive contract changes and the fiduciary process; Council Member Salahuddin requested a six-month update on duplication and evaluation work. Freeman agreed to provide the requested information by the end of the week.

Committee Chair Steve Fields asked whether the committee was comfortable forwarding the IOA to the consent agenda contingent on receiving the materials Freeman promised; members gave general assent by thumbs-up and the committee agreed to put the IOA on consent with the condition that the requested clarifications be sent by the end of the week. No formal roll-call vote or motion text was recorded in the transcript.

The next steps are: staff will send the requested funding and process details to council members; the IOA is scheduled for placement on the March 4 consent agenda; if Council approves on consent the agreement would take effect July 1, 2025 to align with the consortium’s budget cycle. The presenters asked council members to reach out with questions and indicated the consortium will provide follow-up briefings and materials as requested.