Nogales council okays in-kind EMS support for county taekwondo championship, asks to limit overtime costs

The Nogales City Council voted April 3 to provide in-kind support for the Santa Cruz County Taekwondo Championship scheduled for May 2, 2026 at Nogales High School, approving a staff proposal that includes emergency-medical coverage while urging schedule adjustments to limit overtime costs.

Staff read a letter from the event organizers requesting two EMTs and an ambulance on site for the competition. Council members and staff debated whether the event required a continuously staffed ambulance or whether city personnel could cover peak hours and rely on 911 for other incidents. Council referenced a prior event where a competitor was taken to Holy Cross Hospital for evaluation.

City staff said providing EMTs and an ambulance would create overtime and scheduling obligations. Staff noted an operational threshold of $1,500 in in-kind services the city seeks to stay under when possible; if estimates exceed that figure council authorization would be required.

To limit costs, council and staff discussed arranging EMS presence during higher-contact matches and peak attendance rather than the full event window. Councilmember Mr. Lariva (as referenced in the transcript) and others emphasized focusing limited resources on times of greatest risk.

Following discussion, council approved the request by voice vote and directed staff to work with organizers to mitigate overtime exposure and schedule EMS coverage for peak hours. The clerk will follow up on the logistical details and finalize staffing orders.

The approval permits the event to proceed with city-coordinated EMS support; staff will report final staffing assignments and any costs that require further council authorization.