The Sioux Falls City Council deferred a decision to Sept. 2 on an ordinance and companion franchise agreement that would award a five‑year exclusive surface ambulance franchise to Paramedics Logistics South Dakota LLC (PCMS). The vote to postpone came after more than an hour of discussion during which council members, the mayor’s office, the city’s public health director and members of the Regional Emergency Medical Systems Authority (REMSA) presented competing views on procurement, performance metrics and system oversight.

Public Health Director Joe Kipley and REMSA supporters said the negotiated agreement would improve response-time tracking, require new capital investment in ambulances and strengthen reporting and quality measures. Kipley told the council that REMSA had met and issued a unanimous recommendation in favor of the agreement and said the contract contains liquidated‑damages provisions, monthly reporting and no automatic renewal clause.

Michelle Irpenbach, a volunteer REMSA member, urged the council to approve the deal, citing stricter response‑time requirements and penalties in the new contract. She said monthly reporting and local oversight mechanisms will allow the city and REMSA to monitor quality.

Several council members expressed concern about bypassing a request‑for‑proposals (RFP) process. Councilor Sale said he opposed awarding a large, multiyear contract without an RFP and moved to amend the contract to direct how liquidated damages would be spent; that amendment failed 6–1. Multiple councilors asked for better transparency on rate‑setting and on the contract clause that freezes a 2025 rate increase in exchange for guaranteed CPI adjustments later. Councilor Bassey moved — and the council approved — a motion to defer the item to Sept. 2 so members could review financial details and talk to stakeholders.

Several public speakers urged approval, including REMSA volunteers and former ambulance personnel who said improved, funded ambulance fleets and strong performance metrics matter for patient outcomes. Opponents included firefighters’ allies and community members who urged an RFP or a path to bring the service in-house to the fire department over time and who raised concerns about worker retention and labor conditions.

The council’s deferral means the current provider continues under the existing contract terms until the body reconvenes. City and REMSA staff said they will use the interim to provide the council with additional documentation about rate language, liquidated‑damages use, and contingency plans if the franchisee exits before five years.