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FD:JMM:AJSIWORDPERFECTwp/disk/MAC Santa Monica, CalIfornia FEB 9 J993
City Council Meeting: February 9, 1993
Staff Report
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation to direct the City Manager to negotiate and
execute an agreement between the City of Santa Monica and the
County of Los Angeles regardmg the provision of emergency
ambulance transportation.
INTRO DUCTION:
This report recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate
and execute an agreement between the City of Santa Monica and the County of Los
Angeles regarding the provIsion of emergency ambulance transportation.
BACKGROUND
In 1987, the County of Los Angeles proposed that all cities in the County become part
of a County wide exclusive franchise ambulance transportatIon system by formal
agreement. Their proposal resulted from a legal decision titled "City of Lomita and
Huntington Park v s. County of Los Angeles" in which the County was held
accountable to provide emergency ambulance transportation to persons In need but
unable to pay for such transport The County of Los Angeles interpreted the deciSion
as granting it the power to insure ambulance service to all County' residents by
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establishing exclusive franchise zones that included cities. They proposed that cities
which desired to continue directly providing or contracting for ambulance service could
do so by becoming an exclusive zone of the County by formal agreement.
The standard agreement proposed by the County of Los Angeles for cities identified
disagreement between cities and the County as to whether the County was
empowered to select ambulance providers within a city's corporate territory. The
proposed agreement acknowledged that tAe City and County would agree to disagree
on this Issue and enter into agreement allowing each City to be the exclusive provider
of emergency ambulance services within Its corporate limits. A number of cities signed
the County's proposed agreement.
Several Cities continued to strongly disagree with the County, believing that mUnicipal
authority clearly grants cities the power to establish and control emergency ambulance
service within their jurisdictional limits without Inferred county approval. For thIS
reason, these CIties opposed the concept of becoming an exclusive provider in a
County stipulated franchise zone. Full retention of this power is important because it
directly affects the level of emergency ambulance service prOVided to city residents
and VISitors and it permits the city to control cost. Recent litigation involving the City of
Petaluma and County of Sonoma appear to support thiS position.
It was generally understood by Cities that some form of agreement was appropriate to
Insure that the County was given reasonable time to establish service if a city decided
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not to provide for It and that cities would not charge for service to those who could not
pay.
Continuing negotiation between the cities of Santa Monica, Pasadena and Glendale
has resulted in agreement with the Los Angeles County Counsel on a revised contract.
Staff believes the agreement effectively resolves issues of notice and payment without
setting aside municipal authority. The agreement acknowledges the Lomlta Decision.
It outlines that the parties desire to provide orderly service until legislation further
clanfles this case law, and to avoid any waste of efforts and resources by duplicative
service. Additionally, the County acknowledges the City of Santa Monica as the
exclusive provider of emergency ambulance service Within its jurisdictional limits.
If approved, this agreement would be in full force and effect until the 30th day of June,
1994, and would automatically renew from year to year unless 180 day notice to
terminate IS given.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
The agreement specifies there shall be no monetary obligation between the City and
County and that the City will not request any reimbursement from the County for
providing emergency ambulance service, such as for uncollectible accounts, dry runs
or custody cases. The agreement also prOVides for City access to any future new
funding which may be specifically earmarked for the prOVISion of emergency
ambulance service throughout the Los Angeles County area, such as from the State of
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California. These funds would be distributed based upon prorata sharing. These
provIsions of the agreement are similar to current practice.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council authonze the City Manager to negotiate and
execute the proposed agreement between the City of Santa Monica and the County of
Los Angeles regarding the provision of emergency ambulance transportation.
Prepared by: John M. Montenero
Fire Chief
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