Council approves multi‑year EMS agreement with CareFlight; staff say contract includes response-time penalties

Chief Holcomb presented the negotiated EMS agreement with CareFlight and recommended council approve the contract and authorize the city manager to execute it. He said staff and the city manager negotiated terms intended to provide high-quality emergency medical services for Forney as the city grows and noted the city's legal counsel and external reviewers assisted in the process.

Chief Holcomb described performance standards in the contract: "priority 1 calls, care flight's gotta be on the scene 8 minutes and 59 seconds or less. Priority 2 is an 11 minute 59 2nd or less. And then priority 3 is a 14 minutes and 59 seconds." He also described a penalty structure: a $2,500 penalty clause plus an additional $250 for every priority‑1 call that misses the standard. Chief Holcomb and staff said the contract would provide four ambulances in the city, include transition/exit provisions if the city launches its own service, and contained a 180‑day performance-notice clause. Following council Q&A about oversight, ambulance availability and exit rights, Councilmember Schlenzker moved to approve the contract and Councilmember Helm seconded; the motion passed.

Chief Holcomb also said the agreement is "expected to save the citizens...approximately 1,800,000 the 1st year" compared with the prior AMR contract and estimated larger savings over five years. Staff noted some performance-based language and reciprocal indemnification provisions to protect the city, and that operational contact points with the county remain important for resolving performance issues.