The Rotary Club of Kirkland held a meeting online on January 25, 2021.
Attending were Dave Aubry, Dave DeBois, George Anderson, Joanne Primavera, Gary Cohn, Bill Taylor, Margie Glenn, Steve Shinstrom, John Pruitt, Rich Bergdahl, Rick Ostrander, John Woodbery, Brian Tucker, Scott Becker, Jim Meniketti, Rick Walter. Let me know if I missed anyone.
President-Elect Dave DeBois started the meeting at 6:22 p.m. We were a bit late due to technical difficulties getting Zoom set up.
Bill Taylor recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Announcements:
Gary Cohn announced that he is working on a new platform for scholarship management.
We may have a Valentine’s Day program at the Monday meeting after Valentine’s. Watch for an email on the subject.
Guests:
Andreanna Campbell from the City of Kirkland’s Fire Department administration.
Program:
Dave DeBois introduced our speaker, City of Kirkland Fire Chief Joe Sanford. He has a distinguished record and has been with the city for 39 years.
He presented a program giving us an update on the Fire & Emergency Services bond passed last November as Proposition 1.
He illustrated with a short video how modern furnishings are more rapidly combustible when compared with materials used in furnishing many decades ago. An interior fire in a home may accelerate much faster than before, meaning that rapid response by the fire department is critical.
One feature of the Prop. 1 money is that staffing is being increased at some fire stations, so they will be able to respond to more than one call at a time. They are also stockpiling PPE so they do not get in a bind like everyone was at the start of the current pandemic.
Several fire stations need to be brought up to code for earthquake reasons and to allow for proper separation between living and working areas and the contaminants from trucks and dirty equipment.
He discussed the new location for Station 27 – east of I-405. This will allow for a response to the east even if a disaster blocks the ability to cross I-405.
Most responses involve medical emergencies; 70% of those calls are to elder-care facilities.
We adjourned at about 7:14 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted
David Aubry - Acting Scribe