1993 CC ADJ MIN APR 27 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

lesser amount than the present service provider. .Attorney elan referred to the case of Sprinas Ambulance service vs. Rancho Mira e, a 1984 case from the 9th Circuit, Court of Appeals, where it holds that it is inappropriate to have a department, supported in part by a tax revenue, to charge for its service as it constitutes a double payment to the government by the citizenry. Attorney Nolan said three ambulances may not be sufficient as there have been occasions where Courtesy .Ambulance has used up to 5 or 6 ambulances. Also, there would be a need for back-up ambulances. Courtesy records show that private ambulances provide back-up on 30% of their calls to the City of Rialto. on fee setting, where Medicare is accepted for full payment, Attorney Nolan referred to the Knox Keane Act which covers "acceptance" but does not provide for "collection." He warmed about 'dry rune" where an ambulance is called but no transportation is required. Courtesy Ambulance records show that 31% of their calls are not revenue generating. Courtesy Ambulance does not charge for a dry run.. The City would be solely responsibile in a malpractice suit. Presently, without a major medical facility located in Colton, the average ambulance trip ties up a vehicle for an average of one .hour and 15 minutes, He suggested that staff would be depleted for the main purpose of fighting fires. A.ttorney Nolan pondered what impact this would create for the Fire Department whose primary duty is firefighting. He requested that information be provided to all Councilmembers for their study. Full consideration is owed to their constituents. Mr. Karl Kolodzik., 1.54 Benita Dr., praised the City Council for its foresight to provide paramedic training and services to its staff. it has the finest firefighters. As Fire Captain for the City of Rialto, Karl Kolod.zik remarked that firemen are not in the business to make money but to serve the people.. He provided data about the. City of Rialto which has: the finest ambulance service around. With two ambulances and a backup, the department is never short on fire calls; it responds to emergencies when needed; and., it has generated a million three hundred dollars in revenue with $53,000 applied to ambulance expenditure. private ambulance service has been called 19 times in Rialto. In some instances, the private ambulances have refused to respond to the City of Rialto. He stressed. the fact that there is reciprocity between the Cities, where Colton will help Rialto and. Rialto will respond in kind. He supported establishing an ambulance service for the people who deserve it. City Attorney Brown propounded the following questions to Fire Chief Hall: Recognizing a great deal of information has been compiled, was the Fire Chief confident with his recommendation on the number of ambulances requested to do the job and the initial staffing agreement. Fire Chief Hall agreed that his current data shows one ambulance was required 93.43% of the time, with a second ambulance required an additional 5.47% of the time with the third ambulance required required .82%. 3 �w 3