Council advised to complete FEMA independent-study courses as baseline training

Staff told the committee that FEMA's independent-study site is available again and that Dave Lincoln, the city's emergency-management specialist, recommended four courses the city's elected officials should take as a baseline.

"Dave Lincoln, our emergency management specialist, part timer, recommended 4 courses that the city elected officials should take as a baseline," Staff member said, and council agreed staff would email the course links to members and the mayor. Members noted the four courses (100, 200, 700, 800-series) provide a general introduction to the Incident Command System and incident-management basics.

The committee discussed logistics — each course set takes roughly four hours of self-guided study with an end-of-course test — and ways to encourage completion, including public recognition on the city website or mention at council meetings. Staff said they would circulate the links and consider noting completed credentials on member profiles if members want that recognition.

Separately, staff reported the city has hired Transcendex (a contingency-management consultant) to update the comprehensive emergency plan; the consultant will provide recommendations later in the process and the formal kickoff was expected imminently.