Farmers Branch hears request for Stryker equipment maintenance; AED program drives most of the cost

The Farmers Branch City Council spent part of its Nov. 18 study session on a consent-item purchase (K7) to secure maintenance for Stryker medical devices used across the city.

Fire Chief Daniel Latimer said the ProCare package is not limited to stretchers but covers multiple Stryker devices — stair chairs, the Lucas compression device and, importantly, the city’s automated external defibrillators (AEDs). "We manage the whole AED program for the whole city," Latimer said, noting the city has "29 AEDs scattered out throughout the whole city of Farmers Branch" placed in facilities, fleet services and patrol vehicles. He told council that much of the contract cost is tied to maintaining that AED inventory.

Latimer also told council the most recent Stryker purchases recently moved out of their one-year warranty. "We just got out of warranty," he said, and added that two new ambulances expected to arrive next summer (June–July) will come with a new one-year warranty attached. He described a multi-year replacement schedule the department now follows to lower lifecycle maintenance costs.

Councilman Neal led the questioning and, after the briefing, asked that K7 be placed for consideration on the agenda. The study session contained only questions and no formal council action on K7; the mayor encouraged council members to compile further questions for a subsequent meeting. The item remains under consideration and may return to a future consent or regular agenda for formal action.

Budget and next steps: Latimer said the replacement schedule and previously shifting some service to vendor warranties have reduced maintenance costs, but he did not provide a total contract price during the presentation. Council did not vote on K7 during the study session and asked for any remaining clarifications before formal consideration.