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Committee advances ordinance updating ambulance franchise rates, penalties and vehicle service-life rules
Summary
The recommending committee approved an ordinance amending LVMC Chapter 6.08 to update ambulance service rates, switch future increases to a CPI-based formula with a 3% floor and 5% ceiling, adjust penalties and allow franchise vehicles to qualify for extended service life up to 500,000 miles under specified conditions.
The City of Las Vegas recommending committee voted May 5 to approve an ordinance amending Las Vegas Municipal Code (LVMC) Chapter 6.08 to update ambulance franchise rules, including maximum service rates, the method for future rate increases, penalties for noncompliance and vehicle service-life limits.
Gina Bishop, franchise officer in the Office of Strategic Services, told the committee the business-impact solicitation was completed "in accordance with NRS 2 37," and the Business Impact Statement was signed by the city manager and approved at the April 16, 2025 City Council meeting. Bishop said staff recommends approval.
Bishop summarized the main changes: the ordinance raises baseline maximum ambulance service rates, establishes a new annual-percentage increase tied to the CPI Medical Care Services index with a 3% floor and 5% ceiling, clarifies various franchise responsibilities and updates revocation and penalty provisions. In presenting those changes, Bishop said the new method "follows the CPI medical care services. But if that CPI index goes below 3% or over 5, the ceiling is 5 and the floor is 3%".
The ordinance also allows ambulance franchise vehicles to remain in service up to 500,000 miles if a new engine and transmission are installed before the vehicle reaches 300,000 miles. Bishop said based on recent reports "we have about a dozen units that are approaching that 300,000 mile mark that could be eligible to expand their lifetime to 500,000 miles if those conditions are met." The committee invited representatives from American Medical Response (AMR) to comment.
Kirk Schmidt, regional director for Southern Nevada for American Medical Response, said AMR did not request the mileage change and has "always met the 300,000 mile replacement." He said the request for a 500,000-mile allowance came from another franchisee and mirrors a change made at the county level because that franchisee reported difficulty finding replacement ambulances on the open market. Schmidt said AMR "has no issue with the 300,000 mile" limit but was not the proponent of the 500,000-mile provision.
Schmidt also noted AMR had raised concerns in the Business Impact Statement about increasing penalties year over year but that the company had signed a three-year agreement that accepts stipulated fines. After brief committee discussion and no public comment, a member moved to approve bill number 2025-5; the chair announced the item passed and the ordinance will be scheduled for City Council consideration on May 7, 2025.
The ordinance changes affect franchise regulation and contracting standards for all ambulance service franchisees operating under City of Las Vegas franchises; the committee record reflects staff recommendation and participated input from at least one franchisee representative.
