DATE: September 6, 2022
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Luchini, RN, PHN, Director of Public Health
SUBJECT: Termination of Agreements for Fire Dispatch Services for City of Selma Fire Department
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Accept termination letter from City of Selma for fire dispatch services, revenue Agreement 20-264, retroactively effective August 1, 2022;
2. Approve voluntary without cause termination of Agreement 20-265 with K.W.P.H, dba American Ambulance, for fire dispatch service for Selma Fire Department, retroactively effective August 1, 2022.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Approval of the first recommended action will retroactively accept the termination of dispatch service revenue Agreement 20-264 with the Selma Fire Department at the Fresno County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Communications Center retroactive to August 1, 2022. Approval of the second recommended action will voluntarily terminate Selma fire dispatch services with American Ambulance retroactively effective to August 1, 2022. The termination will not affect service delivery, as Selma Fire Department dispatch will be handled by Fresno County Fire Emergency Command Center (ECC). This item pertains to a location in District 4.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. The City of Selma Fire Department provided notice of their desire to terminate the Agreement with the EMS Communications Center.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended termination of both agreements is retroactive to August 1, 2022 due to the Selma Fire Department’s desire to end services on that date. The Department received their letter requesting termination on July 12, 2022 and this item is being processed according to agenda item processing timelines.
American Ambulance has accepted that they will stop services on August 1, 2022, which is the date that funding and dispatch services were discontinued.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Reduction in appropriations of $13,644 and estimated revenues of $16,910 is included in the Department’s Org 5620 FY 2022-23 Recommended Budget and does not significantly affect overall budget, staffing, or services of EMS Communications Center.
DISCUSSION:
On July 7, 2020, your Board approved revenue Agreement 20-264 with City of Selma and service Agreement 20-265 with American Ambulance regarding the provision of fire dispatch services with the EMS Communications Center.
On July 18, 2022, the Selma City Council voted and approved the termination of Agreement 20-264 as well as entered into an agreement with the Fresno County Fire Protection District for fire dispatch services with the ECC. Subsequently, on July 20, 2022, the City of Selma Fire Department provided a written letter of termination stating their intent to discontinue Agreement 20-264 and to switch the provision of fire dispatch services from the EMS Communications Center to the Fresno County Fire ECC effective midnight, August 1, 2022. Due to the fact that there is a corresponding service agreement with American Ambulance, who operates the EMS Communications Center on behalf of the County, and provides dispatch services for Selma Fire Department through Agreement 20-265, a letter of termination was provided by the Director of Public Health to American Ambulance on August 1, 2022.
The recommended actions approve both of these letters of termination, confirming cancellation of fire dispatch services for the City of Selma Fire Department with the EMS Communications Center.
These letters of termination do not adhere to the contract language termination timeframe which require 90 days for Agreement 20-264 with City of Selma and 60 days for Agreement 20-265 with American Ambulance. County Counsel was consulted, and agreed that a retroactive early termination will not be an issue, as long as there is no interruption in service. The City of Selma Fire Department switched over to the ECC with Fresno County Fire to handle fire dispatch calls as of midnight, August 1, 2022. The recommended actions do not affect ongoing services with the EMS Communications Center operated by American Ambulance.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #41, July 7, 2020
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Letter of Termination from Selma Fire Department
On file with Clerk - Letter of Termination to K.W.P.H, dba American Ambulance for Selma Fire Dispatch
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander