DATE: January 9, 2017
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Pomaville, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Dispatch Services for Laton and Clovis Fire Departments
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize Chairman to execute a retroactive Agreement with KWPH Enterprises, d.b.a. American Ambulance, for Laton Community Service District/Laton Fire Department dispatching services through the Fresno County Emergency Medical Services Communications Center, effective January 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019 ($3,944).
2. Approve and authorize Chairman to execute a retroactive Agreement with KWPH Enterprises, d.b.a. American Ambulance, for City of Clovis/Clovis Fire Department dispatching services through the Fresno County Emergency Medical Services Communications Center, effective January 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019 with two optional two-year extensions ($1,541,463).
3. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Health, or designee, to execute a written approval of each two-year extension, with KWPH Enterprises, d.b.a. American Ambulance for City of Clovis/Clovis Fire Department dispatching, when appropriate pursuant to the terms of the agreement.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will allow the continuation of fire dispatch services for the Laton and Clovis Fire Departments through the Fresno County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Communications Center. The Department of Public Health will contract with American Ambulance for the fire dispatch services to pass-through funds received from the Laton Community Services District (Laton CSD) and the City of Clovis (Clovis) for reimbursement of personnel and dispatch costs provided by American Ambulance, with no increase in Net County Cost. The third recommended action will authorize the Department Director to execute the two-year extensions related to Clovis Fire Department dispatch services. This item pertains to locations in Districts 2, 3, 4, and 5.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no viable alternative actions. Should your Board not approve the recommended actions, the Laton CSD and Clovis would need to find another dispatch center for the fire departments.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended agreement is retroactive to January 1, 2018 due to delays associated with review by the involved vendors.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions.
Revenue Agreement No. 16-391, approved by your Board on June 21, 2016, with Laton CSD provides $4,578; $3,944 to fund the recommended agreement with American Ambulance and $634 retained by the Department to offset County costs including personnel and radio equipment. The maximum amount of the related recommended agreement with American Ambulance is $3,944 and will be fully funded with revenues from the Laton CSD.
Revenue Agreement No.16-439, approved by your Board on July 12, 2016, with Clovis provides $432,726; $420,399 to fund the recommended agreement with American Ambulance and $12,327 retained by the Department to offset County costs including personnel and radio equipment. The maximum amount of the related recommended agreement with American Ambulance for Clovis Fire Department dispatch services is $420,399 and will be fully funded with revenues from Clovis. Should the optional two-year extensions to the Clovis agreements be exercised, the maximum compensation payable to American Ambulance for each extension shall not exceed $560,532.
Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5620 FY 2017-18 Adopted Budget and will be included in future budget requests for the term’s duration.
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 center is staffed and operated by American Ambulance under its exclusive operating agreement (EOA) with the County, which will expire on December 31, 2017; therefore, the existing agreements for Laton and Clovis Fire Department dispatch services will terminate on the same date. On May 16, 2017, the County approved a new EOA allowing American Ambulance to continue providing services through December 31, 2022, prompting the execution of new agreements for Laton and Clovis Fire Department dispatch services. Your Board approved the Laton CSD and Clovis revenue agreements on June 21, 2016 and July 12, 2016, respectively.
The Center began dispatching services for Laton and Clovis Fire Departments in 2007 and 2013, respectively. The emergency medical and fire dispatch service combination continues to be very effective and the parties wish to continue the services.
The proposed agreements allow the County to pass-through funds received from the Laton CSD and Clovis to American Ambulance for dispatch services. The agreement can be terminated without cause by either party with a 60-day advanced written notice, and either party may terminate the contract if the other party commits a material breach, upon providing a seven-day advanced written notice, unless the breaching party cures the breach within the seven days.
Both proposed agreements contain 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, the agreements contain a force majeure clause, which excuses the parties’ performance under the agreement. The proposed agreements will be effective January 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019 and deviate from the County’s standard agreement of a three-year base with two one-year extensions due to requests for non-standard terms by Laton CSD and Clovis.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #14, May 16, 2017 - Agt. No. 17-218
BAI #50, July 12, 2016 - Agt. Nos. 16-436 and 16-440
BAI #47, June 21, 2016 - Agt. Nos. 16-391 and 16-392
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with KWPH Enterprises for Laton Fire Department Dispatch
On file with Clerk - Agreement with KWPH Enterprises for Clovis Fire Department Dispatch
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa