Fort Worth committee reviews 'lift assist' report and eyes fees for repeat institutional calls

The Fort Worth Public Safety Committee discussed a written report on Feb. 3 showing a large share of nonemergency “lift assist” calls come from independent living and similar private facilities and asked staff to study a fee policy targeted at repeat institutional calls.

The committee’s discussion centered on whether to recover some costs from institutions that repeatedly request assistance. An Unidentified Speaker said the city has been providing the service at no cost and recommended the mayor and council consider “some sort of fee structure for those nonemergency lift assist fees, especially for those private facilities.”

Interim Fire Chief Ray Hill told the committee these calls are concentrated at independent living facilities: “Actually, it's the independent living facilities, and we do have a high number of repeat, dispatches to those places. So those are the majority of our nonemergency lift help.” He confirmed the city currently provides the assistance at no charge but that staff will evaluate options.

A staff representative said the review of lift-assist calls is part of a broader examination of fire, EMS and public safety fees and that recommendations would likely return as part of the city’s overall budget process. “We are planning to come back to you later in the year, probably as part of the overall budget process to make recommendations,” staff said.

Several members urged care in any fee design to avoid charging private individuals who rely on the service. An Unidentified Councilwoman told the committee frequent individual users should not be charged and recommended that any policy be focused on institutions that, by design, should have staff to assist residents.

The committee did not vote on a fee policy at the meeting; staff will return with further analysis and specific recommendations for council consideration as part of the budget process.