Council advances RFD ambulance plan; approves radios, gurneys and monitors
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Summary
The city council advanced the Roswell Fire Department ambulance implementation plan to legal review and recommended purchase orders for radio equipment and medical transport gear, while AMR urged the council to consider existing subsidy arrangements during a future transition.
Madam Chair and councilors advanced the Roswell Fire Department(RFD) ambulance implementation plan to legal review and recommended purchase orders for radio and transport equipment needed to outfit new ambulances.
The council voted to send the RFD ambulance service proposal to the city attorney for review and to forward related procurement items to finance and the consent agenda. The motion to send the RFD proposal to legal passed; Madam Chair declared, "The motion carries."
The council recommended issuing a purchase order in the amount of $86,526.03 to Code 3 Services for purchase and installation of mobile and portable radio equipment so ambulances can communicate directly with Roswell dispatch, receiving hospitals and other agencies. Councilors also recommended issuing a purchase order to Howell Medical for $763,099.92 to buy eight gurneys and eight cardiac monitors that the fire department said are required to make the new units transport-capable under the state advanced life support program.
Why it matters: Council staff said outfitting ambulances with reliable communications and transport-level medical equipment is essential for patient care, responder safety and the planned shift to a city-operated ambulance transport service.
Key details and discussion: Staff identified funding for these purchases in account DRT2310 and said many items are on state contracts or interstate contracts rather than new competitive procurements. Councilors asked when the city would vote on buying the ambulances themselves; staff said they will provide timing and noted several units are already under contract and will be presented as information becomes available.
AMR remarks: A representative from AMR, identified in the meeting as Kevin, asked the council to consider the private ambulance contractorsubsidy level (he referenced prior discussions that reduced the subsidy to roughly $1.24 million) and urged the council to weigh the value of AMR-provided training and specialty skills during any service transition. Those remarks were a request for consideration and did not change any council action recorded in the meeting.
Actions taken: The council voted to send the RFD ambulance service proposal to legal review; it also recommended issuing purchase orders for Code 3 Services ($86,526.03) and to Howell Medical ($763,099.92). Finance review was requested for the Howell Medical PO.
Next steps: Legal review of the RFD ambulance proposal, finance committee review of the Howell Medical purchase order, and staff follow-up on ambulance delivery timelines and contract details were the forward-looking items noted by staff and council members.
Ending: All motions on the ambulance-related items recorded in the meeting passed and were forwarded for the steps listed above. No ordinance or final procurement award was adopted on the floor at this meeting.
