DATE: August 9, 2022
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Luchini, RN, PHN, Director of Public Health
SUBJECT: Termination of Agreements for Fire Dispatch Services with City of Kingsburg Fire Department
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Accept termination letter from City of Kingsburg for fire dispatch services, revenue Agreement 20-268, retroactively effective August 1, 2022;
2. Approve voluntary without cause termination of Agreement 20-269 with K.W.P.H, dba American Ambulance, for fire dispatch service for Kingsburg 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 20-268 with the Kingsburg 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 Kingsburg fire dispatch services with American Ambulance retroactively effective to August 1, 2022. The termination will not affect service delivery, as Kingsburg 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 Kingsburg Fire Department provided notice of their desire to terminate the Agreement with the EMS Communications Center.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended letters are retroactive to August 1, 2022 due to the Kingsburg Fire Department submitting the letter of termination on May 26, 2022 to the Department with an effective date of August 1, 2022. American Ambulance has accepted that they will stop services on August 1, 2022. As of August 1, 2022, funding and fire dispatch services has already been discontinued for both Agreements.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Reduction in appropriations of $8,877 and estimated revenues of $7,748 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 20-268 with City of Kingsburg and service Agreement 20-269 with American Ambulance regarding the provision of fire dispatch services with the EMS Communications Center.
On May 26, 2022, the City of Kingsburg Fire Department provided a written letter of termination stating their intent to discontinue Agreement 20-268 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 Kingsburg Fire Department through Agreement 20-269, a letter of termination was provided by the Director of Public Health to American Ambulance on June 17, 2022.
The recommended actions approve both of these letters of termination, confirming cancellation of fire dispatch services for the City of Kingsburg 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 20-268 with City of Kingsburg and 60 days for Agreement 20-269 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 Kingsburg Fire Department intended to switch 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 #43, July 7, 2020
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Letter of Termination from Kingsburg Fire Department
On file with Clerk - Letter of Termination to K.W.P.H, dba American Ambulance for Kingsburg Fire Dispatch
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander