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Council approves countywide EMS study contract with Matrix Consulting Group
Summary
The Moscow City Council approved a professional services agreement to fund and host a countywide emergency medical services (EMS) study to assess sustainability and regional coordination; the city will provide the initial $50,000 of funding and the study team aims to complete work by year‑end.
The Moscow City Council on May 19 approved a professional services agreement with Matrix Consulting Group for an EMS study that will review countywide emergency medical services and recommend options for sustainability and coordination.
Brian Nickerson, Fire Chief, presented the item and said the city received 10 proposals and used a four‑person review panel to score and select Matrix Consulting Group as the consultant best suited to review a small‑agency, countywide system. Nickerson said the city will provide the first $50,000 for the study, and that “the volunteers will pick up the other $20” for the agreement, as presented. He said the study kickoff should begin in the coming weeks and hoped for completion by the end of the year or shortly after.
Council members asked for scope and participation details. Nickerson said participation by other county agencies has been uneven during the review process; two of five county organizations participated in the selection review but the study will invite broad participation during the kickoff and outreach phases. He said Matrix will examine call volumes, use of ambulance units, and opportunities for shared resources such as joint purchasing or service consolidation.
Councilmember Gina (last name not specified) and others noted recent instances where city ambulances were dispatched outside the city and said a countywide review could help plan for resource sharing. Nickerson said the department operates four ambulances and that recent operational pressure included multiple out‑of‑city ambulance transports in a short span.
The council moved and approved the Matrix Consulting Group professional services agreement by recorded vote: Gina (last name not specified), Bryce (last name not specified), Julia (last name not specified) and Sandra (last name not specified) voted aye.
Why it matters: The study will produce recommendations about EMS sustainability and potential countywide coordination that could affect ambulance deployment, costs and service levels across the county. City staff said the study’s findings will be recommendations, not mandatory orders, and that participating agencies will choose which recommendations to implement.
