HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 6h - Support for City of Paso Robles Bid for SLO County Ambulance Services Item 6h
Department: Fire
Cost Center: 8502
For Agenda of: 9/15/2026
Placement: Business
Estimated Time: 30 Minutes
FROM: Randy Harris, Fire Chief
Prepared By: Nicole Vert, Business Analyst
SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR THE CITY OF PASO ROBLES SUBMISSION OF A BID
ON THE SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AMBULANCE SERVICES
CONTRACT
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a draft Resolution (Attachment A) entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of San
Luis Obispo, California, Supporting the City of Paso Robles in Submitting a Bid for the
County of San Luis Obispo’s Ambulance Services Contract.”
POLICY CONTEXT
The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors holds the statutory authority to
contract for ambulance services within the County pursuant to the State Emergency
Medical Services (EMS) Act. The EMS Act gives the County the authority to establish and
competitively procure an Exclusive Operating Area (EOA) for emergency ambulance
transportation, while preserving the authority of cities and fire districts that were providing
or contracting for prehospital emergency medical services as of June 1, 1980, to continue
administering those prehospital EMS services pursuant to Health & Safety Code §
1797.201.
DISCUSSION
The City of San Luis Obispo, through the Fire Department, is responsible for providing
fire, EMS first-response, hazardous materials mitigation, and rescue operations within the
City’s jurisdictional boundary. However, ambulance transport services are contracted
through the County. Emergency ambulance transport services in San Luis Obispo County
are a critical component of the county's emergency medical services system, providing
911 medical response and patient transport to hospitals throughout the region. The
system serves a geographically diverse area that includes urban, suburban, rural, an d
remote communities, requiring close coordination among ambulance providers, fire
agencies, dispatch centers, hospitals, and the County EMS Agency to ensure timely and
effective emergency medical care. In this model, the County establishes the requirements
for the ambulance service, oversees the provider, sets performance standards, and
manages the contractual relationship with the ambulance provider.
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Item 6h
In 2025, the County completed an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System
Assessment that evaluated the existing ambulance service delivery model and identified
opportunities to enhance system performance, accountability, and long-term
sustainability. One of the primary recommendations of the assessment was the
implementation of a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process for emergency
ground ambulance services to evaluate potential service delivery models and ensure the
system continues to meet community needs.
In response to the assessment findings, the County is preparing to release a competitive
process to award the ambulance services contract, which represents a critical opportunity
to modernize and improve EMS delivery countywide. The City of Paso Robles has stated
its intent to submit a proposal in response to the EMS RFP that would provide countywide
ambulance services through a subcontract with a private vendor and with shared
oversight and governance by the other cities in the county. This “public -private
partnership” approach, with oversight by the participating cities, is referred to an “All iance”
model. This model combines the strengths of public agencies to subcontract with a private
ambulance provider under one coordinated system.
Resolution 25-101 – Resolution of the City Council of the City of El Paso De Robles
Authorizing Participation in the San Luis Obispo County Ambulance Services Request for
Proposal (RFP) and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with AP
Triton for Associated Consulting Services
To implement this system, the City of Paso Robles will serve as the contracting agency,
with the participating municipalities entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
outlining the management and governance of the system, which will include oversight
provided by a committee consisting of the city managers from the participating cities.
Under this updated model the ambulance service would remain a private company who
would continue ambulance operations and hiring of crews. The cities will work together
to establish expectations for the ambulance service and oversee the private provider.
Paso Robles will manage administration of the RFP process, including coordination of
consultant services and invoice management o n behalf of participating agencies. Paso
Robles is taking the lead due to its active role in exploring potential participation in
ambulance transport service delivery and its interest in evaluating alternative service
models through the RFP process.
This proposal would allow the cities and fire departments to have a greater say in how
the ambulance service operates without requiring the cities to operate the ambulance
service themselves, resulting in increased transparency and accountability.
The Paso Robles-led model will:
Provide an innovative EMS delivery model where the City of Paso Robles serves
as the lead agency, subcontracting to a private ambulance provider, with oversight
provided by an executive committee made up of the participating cities’ City
Managers ensuring transparency and accountability.
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Item 6h
Enhance service delivery with greater local involvement and oversight.
Provide additional funding for EMS-centric programs and allow reinvestment into
City EMS services.
Foster regional cooperation by uniting the cities, community service districts, and
fire agencies in a shared vision for EMS improvement.
Support proactive and preventative programs addressing mental health,
substance abuse, and services for unhoused community members.
Reinvest excess revenues after operational costs back into local communities to
improve public health outcomes.
As Paso Robles prepares to respond to the anticipated RFP, the proposed resolution will
express the City’s support for this effort. By adopting this resolution, the San Luis Obispo
City Council would be supporting an opportunity for enhanced ambulance services and a
more sustainable EMS system that is responsive to the evolving needs of the community.
Previous Council or Advisory Body Action
There is no previous Council or Advisory Body Action related to the proposed resolution.
Public Engagement
This item is on the agenda for the September 15, 2026, City Council meeting and will
follow all required postings and notifications. Public comment on this item can be provided
to the City Council through written correspondence prior to the meeting and thr ough public
testimony at the meeting. This report will be posted seven days in advance of the meeting.
CONCURRENCE
The seven incorporated cities’ City Managers and the San Luis Obispo County Fire Chiefs
Association have unanimously expressed their support for the City of Paso Robles, acting
as the Lead Agency, to submit a bid for the County ambulance services contract.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act does not apply to the recommended action in
this report, because the action does not constitute a “Project” under CEQA Guidelines
Sec. 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: No Budget Year: 2026-27
Funding Identified: No
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Item 6h
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding
Sources
Total Budget
Available
Current
Funding
Request
Remaining
Balance
Annual
Ongoing
Cost
General Fund $ N/A $ $ $
State
Federal
Fees
Other:
Total $ N/A $0 $0 $0
There is no fiscal impact to the City from the adoption of this resolution. Should the
proposal submitted by Paso Robles be selected, the participating cities would provide
start-up funding until reimbursements from Medicare, insurance, and self -pay revenues
are received and the start-up funding is repaid to the cities. The estimated cost to the
participating cities depends on details ultimately contained in the County’s RFP.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Modify the draft Resolution. If Council pursues this option, staff would request clear
direction on the changes and intended direction.
2. Decline to adopt the Resolution. Declining to adopt the proposed Resolution may
weaken the Alliance and, if direction is provided to ultimately decline to join the
Alliance, the City would be excluded from the oversight committee, thereby reducing
the City’s potential influence in regional emergency medical transport services.
ATTACHMENTS
A – Draft Resolution supporting the City of Paso Robles in submitting a bid for the County
of San Luis Obispo’s ambulance services
Page 128 of 145
R ______
RESOLUTION NO. _____ (2026 SERIES)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING THE CITY OF PASO ROBLES IN
SUBMITTING A BID FOR THE COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO’S
AMBULANCE SERVICES CONTRACT
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo controls, through
statutory authority and policy, the provision of fire suppression, emergency medical
services (EMS), hazardous materials mitigation, and rescue operations within its
jurisdictional boundaries; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Health & Safety Code § 1797.201, the San Luis Obispo
County Board of Supervisors holds authority over the regulation and contracting of
ambulance transport services within San Luis Obispo County; and
WHEREAS, the current opportunity to bid for the County of San Luis Obispo’s
ambulance services contract allows for significant improvements to the ambulance
transport system through a more dynamic community-based model; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo City Council supports an enhanced
ambulance transport system that is robust, transparent, accountable, and which reinvests
revenues back into local communities after expenses to support proactive programs
addressing mental health, substance abuse, and the needs of unhoused community
members; and
WHEREAS, the seven city managers representing the incorporated cities of San
Luis Obispo County, as well as the San Luis Obispo County Fire Chiefs Association, have
unanimously endorsed and expressed support for the City of Paso Robles submitting a
bid for the County ambulance services contract; and
WHEREAS, a Paso Robles-led model would foster strong local partnerships,
accountability, and transparency, as well as encourage collaborative governance across
jurisdictions that directly benefit all communities within San Luis Obispo County, including
the City of San Luis Obispo; and
WHEREAS, the City Council believes that this approach offers an opportunity to
build an EMS system that is more responsive to community needs and better aligned with
modern public safety practices, while ensuring that revenues are in vested back into the
people and services of San Luis Obispo County;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo as follows/or that:
SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo hereby expresses its
strong support for the City of Paso Robles to submit a bid for the County of San Luis
Obispo’s ambulance services contract.
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Resolution No. _____ (2026 Series) Page 2
R ______
SECTION 2. The City Council further supports the pursuit of a comprehensive,
transparent, and accountable EMS system that prioritizes commu nity needs, reinvests
revenues locally, and provides sustainable funding for EMS-related and preventative
public health programs.
SECTION 3. The City Council encourages the San Luis Obispo County Board of
Supervisors and all relevant decision-makers to give favorable consideration to this
model, which will yield direct and meaningful benefits to residents of San Luis Obispo and
all communities throughout the County.
Upon motion of Council Member ___________, seconded by Council Member
___________, and on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this _____ day of _______________ 20 26.
___________________________
Mayor Erica A. Stewart
ATTEST:
______________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________
J. Christine Dietrick
City Attorney
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the
City of San Luis Obispo, California, on ______________________.
___________________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
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