HomeMy WebLinkAbout(2) PO 5199: EMER. MEDICAL VEHinteroffice
MEMORANDUM
To:
From:
Subject:
Date:
Mayor, City Council, City Manager
Mark T. Sokolow, City Attorney ~ ~
P.O. No. 5199; February 19, 2002 Council Meeting
February 12, 2002
Attached is P.O. 5199 adding a new Sub-Section 114-33 (c) to the
Code of Ordinances as it pertains to Emergency Medical Vehicles and an alternative
to the $50,000 per year annual fee that is charged to a company.
On November 27, 2001, the City Council approved thc renewal of the
ambulance agreements with Goldstar and MctroCare EMS. Quarterly payments of
$12,500 arc due on August 15~h, November 15m, February 15e~, and May 15~ of
each year. Therefore, the next payment was duc February 150". Representatives of
Goldstar and MetroCarc met with this office and arc recommending this Ordinance
with a reduction in fcc from $12,500 per quarter to $500 per quarter if they comply
therewith. Thc City Council needs to denote the amount of the reduction.
These companies would prefer not to collect First Responder costs at
this time. Nevertheless, they arc willing to revisit this subject at a later date.
Amstar Ambulance Group has filed an application on November 160",
which is being reviewed by thc Acting Fire Chief.
This matter was tabled at the meeting on February 5, 2002. At that
time, the effective date was February 15% Duc to thc tabling of this Ordinance and
the wishes of several councilmembers that thc ambulance companies pay thc next
quarterly fcc, we put a blank for an effective date, to be filled in by the City Council.
MTS/ts
Attachment
z. po5199_2, memo 1
CC:
Police Chief
Acting Fire Chief
Director of Finance
CC:
VIA FACSIMILE (409) 842-4683
George Knupple
METROCARE EMS
4770 Washington Boulevard
Beaumont, TX 77707
VIA FACSIMILE (409) 985r~66
Ralph Crall
GOLDSTAR EMS
4439 Gulfway Drive
Port Arthur, TX 77642
VIA FACSIMILE (713) 795-0557
Welscy Boyd
Chief Operating Officer
THE AMSTAR AMBULANCE GROUP, INC.
2010 Naomi Street, Suite C
Houston, TX 77054
z. po5199_2, memo 2
P. O. No. 5199
02/12/02 - ts
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE ADDING A NEW SUB-
SECTION 114-33 (c) TO THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES AS IT PERTAINS TO
EMERGENCY MEDICAL VEHICLES AND
AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE $50,000 PER
YEAR ANNUAL FEE THAT IS CHARGED
TO A COMPANY
WHEREAS, thc City Council of thc City of Port Arthur has decided that it
would be in the best interests and public health of the citizens of thc City of Port
Arthur to add a new subsection, Section 114-33 (c) under Article II Emergency Medical
Vehicle of the Codc of Ordinances.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PORT ARTHUR:
Section 1. That thc facts and opinions in the preamble are true and correct.
Section 2. That the Code of Ordinances, City of Port Arthur, Texas, is hereby
amended by adding a new subsection to be numbered Section 114-33 (c), which section
reads as follows:
"Sec. 114-33. (c) As an alternative to the fee being charged by the City, an
Emergency Medical Services company or companies may receive a reduction from thc
z.po5199_2 1
$12,500 in quarterly payments to $ in quarterly payments if the
company provides all of thc following:
(1) The company agrees to provide the following in case thc company ceases
to provide full-time emergency ambulance services to the citizens of the City of Port
(a)
The Company agrees to immediately allow the City of Port Arthur
to take possession and to use up to five (5) of thc company's fully
equipped MICU capable ambulances as determined at thc sole
discretion of the City for a period of six (6) months. After taking
possession of the ambulances, the City will pay the fair market leasc
value of the ambulance vehicles and its equipment. If there is a
dispute as to thc fair market value, thc City will retain thc
posscssion and usc of the ambulances for six (6)months and thc
issue as to thc amount of rental and accrued interest at 6% pcr year
for overdue payments will be decided by an arbitrator. Pending the
arbitration, the City will pay monthly payments to thc company as
to thc amount of lease payments thc City considers to be thc fair
market lease value.
(2) The company provides a dispatch system in Jefferson County that has the
following specifications and uses:
A). Dispatch Room.
Six (6) dispatch consolcs each complete with radio
equipment
CPU networked to server containing dispatch software and
a video monitor.
Large marker board visible to all dispatchers. Board will
show all emergency numbers for operations and who is on
staff at thc time.
Maps of all areas covered should be posted on walls of
z.po5199_2 2
dispatch area in casc of computer failure.
Ability to relinquish three (3) dispatch consoles to Port
Arthur Police Department and Fire Department.
These consoles have word processing and spreadsheet
capabilities.
B) Radio equipment.
Radio consoles are independent and self-supporting.
Radio frequency that is not public.
Provider should have thc ability to talk to all public agencies
in Jefferson County.
Two (2) spare frequencies will be available for the Fire
Department and Police Depa~uuent of Port Arthur.
Radio system capable of transmitting to all service areas of
E.M.S. company.
C) Telephone equipment.
Telephone equipment should be a PBX (Public Branch
Exchange) style and not of a "Key" switch style.
System should be able to transfer calls and handle a tole-
branch of no less than five (5) numbers.
D) Server system.
One (1) backup server for consoles available for Fire
Department and Police Department.
Server redundancy including tape backup for all server based
central processing units.
UPS power backup system for essential equipment. Power
time of fifteen (15) minutes or more.
E) Backup generators
High quality backup generators. Should be able to operate
dispatch and information technology room without public
utility power.
z.poS199_2 3
F) Recorders.
- All communications will be recorded.
- Playback should be available.
G) Dispatch support.
- Information Technology Specialist on staff24 hours 7 days
a week or service contract providing the same support.
H) Disaster plans.
- Disaster recovery plans due to flood, fire, storm, or any
other acts of God.
I) Dispatch system provides a redundant radio circuit for ISO rating
of the City.
J) City dispatch personnel will bc allowed access to the equipment of
thc Emergency Medical Services company as to facilitate and plan
for emergency contingencies.
(K) Dispatch system can bc used by the City at no cost in casc of an
emergency.
(3) The company maintains an average response time of six (6) minutes or less
in thc City of Port Arthur over thc previous three (3) months.
(4) The company will not receive a refund for any monies previously paid."
Section 3. That if any portion of this Ordinance shall, for any reason, be
declared invalid by any Court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity shall not affect
the remaining provisions hereof.
Section 4.
That this being an Ordinance not requiring publication, it shall bc
z.po5199_2 4
effective on the __ day of ,2002.
READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this __
day of .,
A.D., 2002, at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas,
by the following vote: AYES: MAYOR
COUNCIL
; NOES:
ATTEST:
OSCAR ORTIZ, MAYOR
CAROLYN DIXON, CITY SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
MARK T. SOKOLOW, CITY ATTORNEY
APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION:
STEPHEN FITZGIBBONS, CITY MANAGER
z.po5199_2 5