Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council reviews draft interlocal with ESD 4 for ambulance transport; staff to refine contract
Summary
Council received a workshop on a proposed interlocal agreement with Bexar County Emergency Services District No. 4 to provide EMS transport; major edits requested and staff will return a revised agreement for council consideration.
City staff and representatives of Bexar County Emergency Services District No. 4 (ESD 4) briefed the Fair Oaks Ranch City Council on a draft interlocal agreement that would transition ambulance transport services to ESD 4 after the city’s current transport contract expires April 30.
Scott (staff) summarized proposed changes to align the city’s contract with the countywide ESD template and highlighted the principal terms: a six-month initial term (April 1–Sept. 30), an average response-time expectation (an 11-minute average across calls), mobile intensive care unit (MICU) staffing to ensure a paramedic on each ambulance, and that ESD 4 would be responsible for billing transported patients. The draft also included insurance and liability provisions and an exhibit with current billing rates from ESD 4’s contractor.
Council asked a series of clarifying questions and requested edits before formal council consideration. Key council requests included striking section 5.02 (language that the city provide use of a station at no cost to the district), requiring granular run-level response data rather than only 20% fractiles, clarifying that nothing in the ambulance agreement would alter the existing first-response/fire services agreement, strengthening the wording on staffing levels from "make every effort to staff" to a stronger obligation ("shall"), and making the district’s indemnity provision conspicuous in the contract text.
Fire Chief Craig Ramon and ESD 4 administrators said ESD 4 has already begun ambulance transport operations regionally and that the district added ambulances and staffing. Chief Ramon told council: “We are not sending less people than when y’all were getting Acadian ... We have added an additional 12 people ...” He explained ESD 4’s operational model of having both first-responder fire apparatus and ambulances available and said ESD 4 intends to provide MICU staffing for transports.
ESD Administrator Charles Lodge said the ESD’s board and counsel have reviewed the draft and that ESD 4 could take the matter to its board for consideration. Scott said he would incorporate council direction and bring a revised agreement back at the next council meeting for a consideration item.
No formal contract vote occurred at the workshop; council members directed staff to revise the draft and return with a final agreement for action.
