Cascade council approves Lifeline gas ambulance after staff recommendation

Oct. 27, 2025 — The Cascade City Council voted to approve purchase of a Lifeline-model ambulance with a gasoline motor after staff recommended the vehicle as the best balance of cost and serviceability.

Kim, a staff member who presented ambulance quotes to the council, said the Lifeline option with a gas motor would save the city about $10,000 compared with a diesel-powered alternative. She said the department expects the current Lifeline (a 2016 unit) to last roughly 20 years and that lead time for a new unit is about two to two-and-a-half years.

"Our vote is for a Lifeline and a gas motor, and that would save us $10,000 going a gas over a diesel," Kim said, summarizing the staff recommendation.

Council members pressed staff on operational details. Members noted a local fueling constraint at a station on Victor Road and discussed options to prevent incorrect fueling, including fuel-card controls and prominent dash decals to identify diesel-equipped rigs. Kim said the city could use fleet cards that restrict the type of fuel purchased and provide centralized accounting.

Oliphant moved to accept the department's recommendation to purchase a Lifeline ambulance with a gas engine; Delaney Rokow seconded. The council recorded the motion in a roll-call vote and approved the purchase unanimously.

The council's approval un-tabled Resolution No. 102-25 (authorizing the ambulance purchase) and directed staff to proceed with the procurement and contract details. Council members said they expect staff to include safeguards — such as labeling and fueling controls — in procurement specifications to reduce the risk of misfuelling.

The city will provide delivery and financing details to the council as those items are finalized.