HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/14/2005MINUTES
STUDY SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2005 - 12:Noon
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 990 PALM STREET
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
ROLL CALL:
Council Members
Present: Council Members Paul Brown, Christine Mulholland, Allen K. Settle,
Vice Mayor John Ewan and Mayor Dave Romero
City Staff:
Present: Ken Hampian, City Administrative Officer; Jonathan Lowell, City
Attorney; Audrey Hooper, City Clerk; Wendy George, Assistant City
Administrative Officer; Wolfgang Knabe, Fire Chief
STUDY SESSION
1. EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES COST RECOVERY STUDY SESSION.
Fire Chief Knabe presented the staff report. He, City Attorney Lowell and CAD Hampian
responded to Council's questions.
Public Comments
Dr. Greg Thomas, County Health Officer and Director of Public Health, discussed the City's
response times in the north and south sides of the City, pointing out that they are well under
the mandated ten - minute response time in an urban area. He discussed County Counsel's
positions related to Medicare being used to recover first responder fees and the Ambulance
Performance Operations Committee's (APOC) vision related to pass through rates, and
suggested that an increase in pass through rates will result in an increase in the overall
ambulance rates.
Chris Javine, Operations Director with San Luis Ambulance Service, clarified that there are
ambulances at two locations in the City and said that on most days three ambulances are
usually available. He also discussed the response times in the City.
Tenn Schubert, Attorney representing San Luis Ambulance Services (SLAS), discussed the
decrease in Medicare reimbursement to SLAS although the first responder payments to the
City did not decrease. He also referenced a 1997 Supreme Court Case that would prohibit a
city from expanding transport services if not provided as of June 30, 1980.
--end of public comments—
Chief Knabe responded to issues raised by the previous speakers and discussed the
importance of enhancing the City's emergency medical services.
City Council Meeting
Monday, February 14, 2005,11:30 a.m.
Page 2
Council discussion ensued during which Chief Knabe responded to Council's questions and
Council Members indicated their support of directing staff to pursue alterntives to the current
system and return to Council with additional information.
ACTION: 1. Council received information on the City's current Emergency Medical
Service (EMS) system and alternatives to the current system. 2. Moved by
Settle/Ewan to direct staff to to pursue alteratives that include a designated
ambulance for the City and higher emergency medical services cost recovery; motion
carried 5:0.
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Romero adjourned
the meeting at 1:45 p.m. to Tuesday, February 15, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber,
990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.
Audrey Hoop
City Clerk
APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 3/1/2005
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