DATE: February 1, 2022
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Luchini, RN, PHN, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Dispatch Services for City of Hanford Fire Department
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a revenue Agreement with the City of Hanford for dispatch services of the City of Hanford Fire Department through the Fresno County Emergency Medical Services Communications Center, effective March 14, 2022 through June 30, 2024, total not to exceed $474,814.
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with K.W.P.H. Enterprises, d.b.a. American Ambulance, for City of Hanford dispatch services of the City of Hanford Fire Department through the Fresno County Emergency Medical Services Communications Center, effective March 14, 2022, through June 30, 2024, total not to exceed $464,676.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Approval of the first recommended action will incorporate dispatch services for the City of Hanford Fire Department (Hanford Fire) into the Fresno County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Communications Center. Hanford Fire will share dispatcher resources with the existing North Central Fire Protection District (NCFPD) dispatcher, which will not affect existing dispatch capacity. Approval of the second recommended action will allow the Department of Public Health to contract with K.W.P.H Enterprises, d.b.a. American Ambulance (American Ambulance) for City of Hanford Fire Department dispatch services. The proposed agreement with American Ambulance allows the County to pass-through funds received from the City of Hanford for reimbursement of personnel and dispatch costs provided by American Ambulance, retaining a portion of revenue to offset County costs. This item pertains to a location outside of the County of Fresno but within the Central California Emergency Medical Services Agency area of response.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no viable alternative actions. Should your Board not approve the recommended actions, the City of Hanford would need to find another dispatch center for the dispatching of fire services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The recommended revenue agreement with the City of Hanford will provide a total of $474,814. The Department will retain $10,138 to offset County costs, such as County personnel and radio/computer aided dispatch access. The maximum amount of the recommended agreement with American Ambulance is $464,676, and will be fully offset with pass-through revenue received from the City of Hanford. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5620 FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget and will be included in subsequent budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
The Fresno County EMS Communications Center is a regional dispatch center responsible for the management and dispatch of all ambulance requests in Fresno, Kings and Madera Counties. The City of Hanford Fire Department currently receives fire dispatch services through the City of Hanford Police Department and is looking for a dedicated radio operator to operate 24 hours per day.
The approval of the proposed agreements will enable the EMS Communications Center to combine Hanford Fire services with NCFPD services, which will provide 24-hour fire dispatch for both departments without affecting existing dispatcher resources. On May 11, 2021 your Board approved agreement 21-164 and 21-165 with NCFPD and American Ambulance for the operation of a dedicated radio operator with the EMS Communications Center on a 12-hour consecutive per day basis. The proposed agreement with City of Hanford will incorporate the services of a dedicated radio operator for an additional 12-hour consecutive per day basis, paid for by the City of Hanford, and enable the dedicated radio operator to provide fire dispatch for both agencies for 24-hours per day.
The proposed agreement with the City of Hanford would allow the City to contract with the County for dispatch services utilizing the Fresno County EMS Communications Center, which is staffed and operated by American Ambulance under its exclusive operating agreement with the County. The proposed agreement with American Ambulance for fire dispatch services allows the County to pass-through funds received from the City of Hanford to American Ambulance for the services.
The proposed agreement with the City of Hanford can be terminated without cause by either party with a 90-day written notice; either party may terminate the contract if the other party commits a material breach by providing a 30-day written notice unless the breaching party cures the breach within the 30 days.
The proposed American Ambulance agreement can be terminated without cause by either party with a 60-day written notice, and either party may terminate the contract if the other party commits a material breach by providing a seven-day written notice, unless the breaching party cures the breach within the seven days.
Both proposed agreements are for a term starting March 14, 2022 through June 30, 2024. This allows for the operation of services to begin on March 14, 2022, when American Ambulance will be ready to provide the dedicated radio operator services. The term for both proposed agreements end in alignment with current agreements with NCFPD and American Ambulance for fire dispatch services.
The proposed City of Hanford agreement contains a mutual hold harmless clause and in the event of an act of God, act of public enemy, or other extraordinary cause not reasonably within the control of either party. Both of the proposed agreements contain a force majeure clause, which excuses the parties’ performance under the agreements. Risk management has reviewed both proposed agreements and stated that they are acceptable.
REFERENCE MATERIAL
BAI #38, May 11, 2021
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with City of Hanford
On file with Clerk - Agreement with KWPH Enterprises dba American Ambulance
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander