Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Fourth Amendment to the Emergency Medical Services First Responder Advanced Life Support and Ambulance Transport Service Agreement with the County of Alameda to Extend the Agreement to June 30, 2018. (Fire 3200)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jill Keimach, City Manager
Re: Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Fourth Amendment to the Emergency Medical Services First Responder Advanced Life Support and Ambulance Transport Service Agreement with the County of Alameda to Extend the Agreement to June 30, 2018
BACKGROUND
Alameda County contracts with the City of Alameda to provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Ambulance Transport Services. The original Ambulance and Paramedic Provider Agreement between the City and County was executed on December 14, 1999. It has been replaced by subsequent agreements.
The current agreement between the City and Alameda County was adopted by the City Council on October 18, 2011 and went into effect November 1, 2011. It will expire on October 31, 2017. The County has proposed extending the current agreement while a new agreement is being negotiated. An extension is necessary in order for the Fire Department to continue providing basic life support, advanced life support and ambulance transport services to the community while negotiations for a replacement agreement continue.
DISCUSSION
The amendment will extend the current agreement to June 30, 2018. This will allow the Fire Department to continue providing emergency medical services under the terms of the current agreement.
This Fourth Amendment to the First Responder Advanced Life Support and Ambulance Transport Service Agreement will extend the term of the current Agreement from October 31, 2017 to June 30, 2018. The First Responder Advanced Life Support (FRALS) subsidy paid to the City for each paramedic first responder unit shall be increased by 3% while the amendment is in effect. One percent (1%) of the increase will be set aside in an account created by the County for eventual increases in the number of FRALS units or other projects that enhance Fire EMS response. The remaining 2% of the increase in FRALS funding will be retained by the County to pay down a historical debt for services provided to the City by the Alameda County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) District from Fiscal Year (FY) 2005-06 through FY 2009-10.
Under the Amendment, the County will also be granting the City ownership of several items of equipment currently in the City’s possession at no cost from County EMS. This includes seven LIFEPAK-15 systems and five Physic-Control chest compression systems (LUCAS device). The County will fund maintenance plans for each system through June 30, 2018. All other terms and conditions of the Agreement will remain in full force and effect.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The cost of providing this service is funded through the Emergency Medical Services District special tax, which was approved by the Alameda County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) on July 14, 2011.
As with previous amendments, the FRALS subsidy the City receives shall be increased by 3% for the period of the amendment. Of this increase, 1% will be set aside in an account created by the County for eventual increases in the number of FRALS units or other projects that enhance Fire EMS response. The remaining 2% of the increase will be forgone by the City in order to pay down a historical debt outlined in section 11.2 of the agreement.
The City of Alameda’s total debt owed to Alameda County was $3,621,887 for services provided to the City by the Alameda County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) District from Fiscal Year (FY) 2005-06 through FY 2009-10. The debt was a result of the City not becoming a member of the EMS District until 2011. Due to this, the EMS District Special Tax was not collected during that time period.
When the 2011 agreement was executed, the City agreed to contribute the amount equivalent to the amount that would have been generated by the EMS District Special Tax. The debt balance ending October 31, 2017 will be $2,314,852. The debt is estimated to be paid in full in 2028.
The City’s annual assessment is paid in quarterly installments. During the term of the 8-month Agreement Extension, a total of $135,139.47 will be put toward the outstanding debt. The remaining debt balance ending June 30, 2018 will be $2,179,712.60.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
There is no Municipal Code/policy document cross-reference.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is not a project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines section 10561(b)(3) as there is no possibility that this action may have a significant effect on the environment.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to execute a fourth amendment to the Emergency Medical Services First Responder Advanced Life Support and Ambulance Transport Service Agreement with the County of Alameda to extend the agreement to June 30, 2018.
Respectfully submitted,
Doug Long, Fire Chief
By,
Darci Vogel, Fire Admin Supervisor
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Services Agreement
2. 1st Amendment to Services Agreement
3. 2nd Amendment to Services Agreement
4. 3rd Amendment to Services Agreement
5. 4th Amendment to Services Agreement