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San Marcos staff urged to plan city‑run EMS as council presses for worker protections and timeline
Summary
After a consultant presented three EMS delivery models, city staff and council members said they would pursue planning for a city‑based emergency medical services department while forming a transition team to resolve labor protections, asset transfers and timing within months.
A consultant who reviewed San Marcos’s emergency medical services (EMS) delivery told the City Council on Jan. 20 that a stand‑alone, city‑operated EMS would be the most cost‑effective, and council members signaled they are inclined to begin planning for a city‑run EMS — provided staff resolve labor protections, the hiring transition and timing with partner agencies.
Matrix Consulting Group Vice President Robert Finn summarized the study’s findings and recommendations, telling the council the analysis compared three models: continuing the current regional nonprofit contract; integrating EMS into the fire department; and creating a standalone city EMS department. "We'd recommend that you begin planning for city‑based EMS," Finn said, arguing the model offers direct local control, dedicated EMS leadership and better financial transparency.
The report found San Marcos currently faces rising call volumes (about 9,400 calls a year under current projections, rising toward 21,700 by 2040), performance measures that are close to but in some measures above suburban benchmarks, and…
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