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Lake County supervisors approve revised ambulance ordinance; second reading set for Feb. 25
Summary
The Board of Supervisors voted to move forward with an updated County of Lake ambulance ordinance clarifying permitting and operations for public and private medical-transport providers; fees will be set later when the county updates its master fee schedule.
Lake County supervisors on Feb. 11 voted to advance a revised County of Lake ambulance ordinance that updates permitting and operational rules for public and private medical-transportation providers and addresses inter-facility transfers.
The ordinance—an amendment to Article 9 of Chapter 9 of the Lake County Code—was presented by Dean Eichelman, emergency preparedness coordinator for the county Department of Health Services. “We are seeking your support in approving a revised ambulance ordinance, which was last updated in 02/2004,” Eichelman said, describing the measure as clarifying permit processes, standards and definitions for priority transfers and inter-facility transfers.
The ordinance was reviewed and recommended by the county's Emergency Medical Care Committee. Supervisors asked whether permit fees were included; Acting County Administrative Officer Carter said fees are not yet in the county's master fee schedule and will be considered as part of the annual master fee update in May, with any new fees taking effect July 1. County staff later confirmed the previous permit fee was $150 and that a fee study will be brought forward.
Board members and health and emergency services stakeholders described the revision as overdue and intended to protect the county's 911 system while clarifying the roles of private ambulance providers operating in Lake County. During the public comment period, Chief Cepeda, representing local fire-based emergency services, said the rewrite helps separate public and private responsibilities and supports local control over priority 911 responses.
Supervisors voted to approve the ordinance on first reading and asked the clerk to read the title into the record. The board also moved the ordinance's second reading to the following regular meeting; the clerk confirmed the next meeting is Feb. 25, 2025. The motion passed with no recorded opposition.
What happens next: the county will return with fee recommendations and the ordinance's second reading on Feb. 25, at which time supervisors can adopt the ordinance formally or request further changes.
