Milpitas authorizes county emergency medical dispatch agreement as staff explores alternatives

The Milpitas City Council on June 16 authorized the city manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with the County of Santa Clara to continue Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) services, amid county cost increases that prompted council members to ask staff to pursue parallel options.

Background and action: Council considered renewing or renegotiating dispatch services as the county has moved to recover more costs from contract jurisdictions. Staff reported that the first‑year contract amount is within a not‑to‑exceed limit and that the city will be billed based on call volume; the council authorized staff to execute the agreement while staff continues working with the county and exploring other models for providing pre‑arrival instructions and related dispatch services.

Legal and policy context: Staff noted a forthcoming state requirement (a Senate bill effective January 2027) that will require jurisdictions to provide pre‑arrival instructions for medical calls. That change makes it important for the city to secure reliable EMD capabilities; staff said options include continuing with the county, forming a multi‑city partnership, contracting with another provider, or evaluating in‑house solutions with fire/EMS.

Council concerns and next steps: Members raised questions about rising county fees and asked the city attorney to investigate the county’s cost‑recovery calculations. Staff committed to continuing negotiations, seeking clarity on costs, and reporting back. The motion to negotiate and execute the agreement passed unanimously.