DATE: June 10, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Luchini, RN, PHN, Director of Public Health
SUBJECT: Voluntary Termination of Agreements for Fire Dispatch Services with City of Hanford Fire Department
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Accept termination letter from City of Hanford for fire dispatch services revenue Agreement No. 24-396, effective July 1, 2025; and
2. Retroactively authorize the Department of Public Health Director’s submission of a written notice to K.W.P.H., dba American Ambulance to terminate Agreement No. 24-397 for fire dispatch services for Hanford Fire Department, pursuant to the Without Cause provision of the Agreement, effective July 1, 2025.
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Approval of the first recommended action will accept termination of dispatch service revenue agreement with the Hanford Fire Department at the Fresno County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Communications Center effective July 1, 2025. Approval of the second recommended action will allow the voluntary without cause termination of Hanford Fire Dispatch services with American Ambulance effective July 1, 2025. This item pertains to a location outside of the County’s jurisdiction, but within the operational area of the Central California EMS Agency.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. With the termination of Agreement No. 24-396, there will be a loss of revenue in the amount of $535,938 for FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27. This is mostly offset by decreasing expenditures to American Ambulance with the termination of Agreement No. 24-397 in the amount of $519,141 for FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27. The amount kept by the County through these agreements in the amount of $16,797 for FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 will be offset by redistributing those costs and charging more to other users of the EMS Communication’s Center for EMS and fire dispatch services.
DISCUSSION:
On July 9, 2024, your Board approved revenue Agreement 24-396 with City of Hanford and service Agreement 24-397 with American Ambulance regarding the provision of fire dispatch services with the EMS Communications Center. Fire Dispatch services for the City of Hanford began on March 14, 2022, after your Board approved Agreements 22-044 and 22-045 on February 1, 2022.
On April 1, 2025, the City of Hanford Fire Department provided a written letter of termination stating their intent to terminate Agreement 24-396 for no cause in accordance with Section 6.3 of the Service Agreement and discontinue receiving fire dispatch services from the EMS Communications Center effective July 1, 2025, switching to Hanford police dispatch. As there is a corresponding service agreement with American Ambulance, who operates the EMS Communications Center on behalf of County, and provides dispatch services for Hanford Fire Department through Agreement 24-397, the Department provided a written without cause letter of termination to American Ambulance on April 4, 2025 and signed by American Ambulance on April 14, 2025.
The recommended actions approve both of these letters of termination, confirming cancellation of fire dispatch services for the City of Hanford Fire Department. The recommended actions do not affect ongoing services with the EMS Communications Center operated by American Ambulance.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #52 - July 9, 2024
BAI #27 - February 1, 2022
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Letter of Termination from Hanford Fire Department
On file with Clerk - Letter of Termination to American Ambulance
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander