Council repeals first-responder fee after heavy public opposition

The council voted to repeal the city's Emergency Medical Services first-responder fee after an extended public comment period in which many residents — including seniors and caregivers — said the fee would deter 911 calls and impose hardship on vulnerable people.

Fire Chief VanLandingham reviewed the fee, noting it was placed in the municipal code in 2021 and had been implemented this year. He said the fee was designed to recover a portion of personnel, fuel and maintenance costs and that earlier projections used conservative collection assumptions. Residents described receiving bills for lift-assist calls and said the charges were causing fear about calling 911. One speaker said they had not called for help to avoid fees and another described paying several hundred dollars for a lift-assist call.

In the face of substantial public concern, council members debated options including targeted carve-outs for group homes, temporary suspension, rescinding past billings and revisiting an alternative structure. A motion to repeal the ordinance, suspend billing and rescind/issue refunds for past charges passed on a council voice vote. Council also directed the city attorney to research whether the city can structure targeted fees for institutional providers and to return with legal options by the December timeframe.