HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - September 18, 2002LODI CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2002
C-1 CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
The City Council Closed Session meeting of September 18, 2002 was called to order by Mayor
Pennino at 6:22 p.m.
Present: Council Members — Hitchcock, Howard, Land, and Mayor Pennino
Absent: Council Members — Nakanishi
Also Present: City Manager Flynn, City Attorney Hays, and City Clerk Blackston
C-2 ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION
a) Actual Litigation: Government Code §54956.9(a); one case; Citizens for a Quiet Kofu Park
vs. City of Lodi, San Joaquin County Superior Court Case No. CV 014871 (CA)
C-3 ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
At 6:22 p.m., Mayor Pennino adjourned the meeting to a Closed Session to discuss the above
matter.
The Closed Session adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
C-4 RETURN TO OPEN SESSION / DISCLOSURE OF ACTION
At 7:02 p.m., Mayor Pennino reconvened the City Council meeting, and City Attorney Hays
disclosed the following action.
In regard to Item C-2 (a), there was no reportable action taken by Council.
A. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
The Regular City Council meeting of September 18, 2002 was called to order by Mayor Pennino
at 7:02 p.m.
Present: Council Members — Hitchcock, Howard, Land, Nakanishi, and Mayor Pennino
Absent: Council Members — None
Also Present: City Manager Flynn, City Attorney Hays, and City Clerk Blackston
B. INVOCATION
The invocation was given by Captain Frank Severs, Lodi Salvation Army.
C. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Pennino.
D. AWARDS / PROCLAMATIONS / PRESENTATIONS
D-1 Awards — None
D-2 Proclamations — None
D-3 (a) Mayor Pennino presented a Certificate of Recognition to Alison Wong -Bertsch, owner of
Memories for the Making, who has received national recognition in being named "one of
the ten best scrapbook supply stores in the country' by Better Homes and Gardens
Magazine.
D-3 (b) Mayor Pennino presented a Certificate of Recognition to Douglas Eigenhuis, employee of
Lodi City Cab, for exemplary service in assisting stranded motorists in Lodi.
D-3 (c) Katie Whitmire, member of the Greater Lodi Area Youth Commission, provided an update
to Council on the Commission's activities and accomplishments and presented the Teen
of the Month award to Cristal Wong from Liberty High School.
Continued September 18, 2002
D-3 (d) "Update on the activities and accomplishments of the Library Board of Trustees"
NOTE: This item was heard following the Consent Calendar.
With the aid of an overhead presentation, Christine Lavond, member of the Lodi Library
Board of Trustees, provided the following information:
➢ In 1999 Library Administration embarked on a long-range planning process,
leading to the development of the library's mission, which encompasses providing
community members with the opportunity to learn to use the computer, have
access to meeting rooms, and information to succeed academically.
➢ In the fall of 2000 the library introduced a patron's self check-out machine.
➢ The library has a circulation of 300,000 items annually.
➢ On a monthly basis the library has 25,000 to 30,000 visitors.
➢ 10,000 youth attend the children's programs annually.
➢ Beginning April 7, 2002 the library opened to the public on Sundays from 1:00 to
5:00 p.m.
➢ In 2000 the library received a literacy grant from the California State Library.
➢ 70 tutors teach adult students to read and write English; last year tutors devoted
4,000 hours.
➢ In 2001 the Library Board of Trustees commissioned the development of a library
facilities master plan, which proposes to expand the current facility with a two-
story addition, doubling its size.
E. CONSENT CALENDAR
In accordance with the report and recommendation of the City Manager, Council, on motion of
Council Member Nakanishi, Hitchcock second, unanimously approved the following items
hereinafter set forth except those otherwise noted:
E-1 Claims were approved in the amount of $2,095,679.45.
E-2 The minutes of August 21, 2002 (Regular Meeting), August 27, 2002 (Shirtsleeve
Session), and September 3, 2002 (Shirtsleeve Session) were approved as written.
E-3 Received the report of the sale of scrap metal.
E-4 Approved the specifications for 21,000 feet of #2 jacketed 15kV concentric neutral
underground electrical cable and authorized advertisement for bids.
E-5 Approved the plans and specifications for one Multifunction Primary Injection Test Set and
authorized advertisement for bids.
E-6 "Adopt resolution approving replacement purchase of an AS400 mid-range computer from
Logical Design, Inc., of Rancho Cordova, CA ($120,817.78)" was removed from the
Consent Calendar and discussed and acted upon under the Regular Calendar.
E-7 Adopted Resolution No. 2002-190 authorizing the appropriation of an additional $15,200
for costs associated with providing temporary office facilities and other associated costs
not originally anticipated, such as electric, data, and phone hookups, as well as providing
for handicap access for the current Animal Shelter.
E-8 Accepted improvements under Type II Polymer Modified Slurry Seal, Various City Streets,
2002 contract.
E-9 Accepted improvements under Lodi Station Parking Structure, 50 North Sacramento
Street, contract; and received notification of Contract Change Orders.
N
Continued September 18, 2002
E-10 Adopted Resolution No. 2002-191 appointing to the California Transit Insurance Pool
(CaITIP) Board of Directors the City of Lodi Senior Human Resources Analyst as Director,
and the City of Lodi Transportation Manger as Alternate Director.
E-11 Set public hearing for October 16, 2002 to consider electric rate changes for all classes
excluding Residential SHARE Program and Residential Medical Rider due to California
Independent System Operator (CAISO) charges.
F. COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC ON NON -AGENDA ITEMS
None.
G. PUBLIC HEARINGS
G-1 Notice thereof having been published according to law, an affidavit of which publication is
on file in the office of the City Clerk, Mayor Pennino called for the Public Hearing to
consider the Technical Equipment Purchase Proposal for Local Law Enforcement Block
Grant Program.
Police Captain Main reported that in July 2002 the Police Department applied for a grant
in the amount of $85,000, which would include matching funds of $8,500. The matching
funds will come from the 2002-03 Police Department budget. An advisory board met on
August 7 and it was the consensus of the board to use the grant funds for police
technology.
In reply to Council Member Land, Captain Main confirmed that any purchases from the
grant will first come to the Council for approval.
Hearina Opened to the Public
None.
Public Portion of Hearing Closed
MOTION / VOTE:
The City Council, on motion of Council Member Land, Howard second, unanimously
adopted Resolution No. 2002-192 approving the Technical Equipment Purchase Proposal
for Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program.
H. COMMUNICATIONS
H-1 Claims filed against the City of Lodi — None
H-2 Reports: Boards/Commissions/Task Forces/Committees — None
H-3 Appointments — None
H-4 Miscellaneous
a) City Clerk Blackston presented the cumulative Monthly Protocol Account Report
from July 1 through August 31, 2002.
REGULAR CALENDAR
1-1 "Adopt resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of
Understanding between the City of Lodi and various railroads to construct track
improvements allowing abandonment of the existing Lodi Avenue railroad tracks; and
adopt resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Mark Thomas &
Company ($428,054) for final design services and authorizing the City Manager to
execute Measure K Cooperative Design and Construction Agreements; and appropriate
$7,275,000 for the project"
Continued September 18, 2002
Public Works Director Prima reported that staff has been negotiating with three railroads
regarding this project. The main goal of the project is to remove the railroad tracks on
Lodi Avenue from the main tine UP, track to Cherokee Lane, with a secondary goal to
maintain proper rail service to all industries on the east side. The solution arrived at was
to reactivate the old Kentucky House branch along Lockeford Street and Victor Road.
This involved rebuilding the track and the connections at the main line and rebuilding
tracks along Lockeford Street and Victor Road, in addition to building a new track
connection at the CCT near the Eastside Winery. The project also included constructing
an interchange yard along the main line tracks north of Lockeford Street to allow traffic
that is on the main line track to drop cars off, and the CCT to pick them up to take them to
the industries. The preliminary cost estimate for the project was $7 million. The railroads
have agreed to accept the concept plan and a maximum contribution from the City of $6.7
million. The City needs to design the improvements and acquire land for the track
connection. The Council of Governments will be providing grant money through the
Measure K program.
In reply to Council Member Howard, Mr. Prima stated that City funds (budgeted in 2001-
03) will be coming out of the street impact fees, because as part of the project, the City
will be acquiring right of way to allow eventual widening of Lockeford Street and Victor
Road.
Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock asked what projects the City is giving up by using Measure
K funds on this project.
Mr. Prima explained that the history of the project goes back to the Measure K element
that had funding for grade separations. Only one grade separation in Lodi was identified
in the Measure K expenditure plan, which was on Lodi Avenue. The cost of the grade
separation was over $13 million and Council decided to drop the project and asked that
the Measure K money ($3 million) be redirected to the railroad track removal project.
Subsequent to that, the City was able to obtain additional funding from Measure K out of
the Congestion Relief Program.
Council Member Howard clarified for citizens that the first step is paving over the railroad
tracks. The track removal will be done later, as the rail plan is developed.
Mayor Pennino noted that in addition to paving over the tracks, staff will begin working
with property owners on an entrance off Lodi Avenue to the Orchard and K -Mart shopping
center.
MOTION/ VOTE:
The City Council, on motion of Mayor Pennino, Land second, unanimously adopted
Resolution No. 2002-193 authorizing the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of
Understanding between the City of Lodi and various railroads to construct track
improvements allowing abandonment of the existing Lodi Avenue railroad tracks; and
adopted Resolution No. 2002-194 authorizing the City Manager to execute a professional
services agreement with Mark Thomas & Company, Inc., for final design services
associated with the Lodi Avenue railroad track removal, authorizing the City Manager to
execute Measure K Cooperative Design and Construction Agreements for the project,
and further appropriating funds in the amount of $7,275,000 for the project.
1-2 "Adopt resolution approving the City of Lodi Fire Department Paramedic Business Plan
(Ambulance Transportation Program) allowing the City to provide paramedic service and
implement an emergency transportation program"
City Manager Flynn stated that the matters under consideration are: 1) whether the public
sector should provide a service that is already being provided by the private sector,
2) whether the Fire Department should have paramedics on staff; and if so, 3) whether
the Fire Department should also have ambulance transport to help offset the cost of
4
Continued September 18, 2002
paramedics. He noted that this will need to be brought back for funding discussion during
2003-05 budget meetings.
Chief Pretz believed that the Fire Department's proposal will enhance public safety and
pre -hospital emergency care. It will provide rapid response though the use of dual role
firefighter paramedics and provide timely transport of sick and injured people to the
nearest facility. Chief Pretz read the following letter into the record (filed):
"This letter will represent Lodi Memorial Hospital's support of improving the
ambulance service in the Lodi area. As you know, Lodi Memorial Hospital has
experienced significant growth in the number of ambulance arrivals to our
emergency room over the past few years. The increase in arrivals was 15%
greater for 2001 compared to 2002 and averaged 13 per day in 2001. The
increase has only been 2% for the first 6 months of this year, yet this growth is
substantial and challenges our resources to provide good quality care.
Although the increases in ambulance arrivals are not solely from the Lodi area,
all the ambulance stations that bring patients to us have increased. As we plan
our future we anticipate that this increase in ambulance arrivals will continue.
"We are not in a position to determine the economic impact of another ambulance
service in the Lodi area, but would be supportive of any move to increase the
response time and quality of care delivered to our Lodi residents. I trust that our
city council will give your proposal sufficient thought and make the appropriate
decisions for the Lodi community. Signed Joseph P. Harrington, CEO"
Chief Pretz reported that records indicate the Council has been concerned about
ambulance service for several years. In October 2000 the Fire Department was directed
by Council to continue to evaluate a paramedic program. In January 2002 the
Department presented Council with preliminary options. Council then directed the Fire
Department to further define options and report back, which it did in July 2002. The
Department was then directed by Council to develop a business plan to include
emergency medical transportation. In October 2002 a former American Medical
Response (AMR) supervisor reported to Council that there were only two ambulances in
Lodi and they were used for interfacility transport when necessary.
Chief Pretz stated that the Fire Department's proposed emergency medical services
program would be implemented over a three-year period. Describing the program, he
reported the following information:
Prior to fiscal year 2003-04 it would be necessary to hire an Emergency Medical
Services (EMS) Coordinator.
➢ In 2003-04 six firefighter paramedics would be hired and one ambulance would
be purchased, along with all necessary equipment. The Fire Department would
then begin providing service to the City of Lodi in Zone 4. Chief PretZ noted that
earlier in the year the Department was informed that it has been approved to
receive an Office of Traffic Safety grant in the amount of $33,000 for the
purchase of an ambulance.
In 2004-05 six additional firefighter paramedics would be hired and a second
ambulance would be purchased and placed into service.
➢ In 2005-06 three additional firefighter paramedics would be hired and a third
ambulance would be purchased to serve as a reserve.
In describing the financial aspect of the program, Chief Pretz provided the following
information:
➢ Gross billing charges are based on five calls per day for the first fiscal year, seven
calls per day in the second fiscal year, and ten calls per day in the third fiscal
year.
➢ A 64% to 65% collection rate is assumed.
5
Continued September 18, 2002
➢ The total expense for the transportation proposal in the first year is $764,184, the
second year cumulative total is $1,246,632, and the third year cumulative total is
$1,542,740.
➢ The proposed voluntary subscription service for emergency ambulance transport
was calculated at $36 a year, with 30% of the 20,692 households participating,
totaling $233,488 in revenue. The annual subscription service would cover all
members of a household. If AMR provided the emergency ambulance transport,
the City would pay them $150 per transport.
➢ If the cost recovery proposal was instituted, the cost to the City to provide
paramedic services would be $62,000 in the first year; without it, the cost would
total $592,000.
In response to questions posed by Council Member Land, Chief Pretz reported that
according to figures obtained from Lodi Memorial Hospital they receive 4,055 ambulance
arrivals annually. His calculations assume that the Fire Department will receive 30% to
40% of those calls, at an average of five per day in 2003. NFPA 1710 will require
additional fire personnel, which Chief Pretz anticipated requesting in July 2003. He
reported that in 2001 there were 301 times that ambulances arrived in excess of the eight
minute response time. The ambulance compliance rate in 2001 with the county response
time requirement was 89%.
Council Member Land reported that on November 2, 2000 the City of Lodi Fire
Department had a meeting with AMR to request that at least one ambulance be stationed
in the City after 8:00 p.m.
In reply to Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock, Chief Pretz explained that the difference in
collection rates from city to city depends on how soon the billing goes out, the payer mix,
the number of indigent persons, etc. After speaking with various billing agencies, he
believed that a 65% collection rate assumption was a conservative number. He
acknowledged that 15 paramedics works out to be one per company and that he would
likely need to ask for additional personnel to cover for vacations, sick time, etc. The
results of a survey of current Lodi Fire Department firefighters found that only two or three
are interested in becoming paramedics. Chief Pretz explained that his proposal is to hire
paramedics and train them to be firefighters. In reference to the Joint Powers Authority,
he stated that paramedics and ambulances would not be excluded from coverage. In
response to a communication Ms. Hitchcock stated she had received pertaining to taking
calls outside the city limits, Chief Pretz stated that he did not believe it would cause a
labor problem.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
• Tim Bonifay representing Healthcare Workers Union Local 250 of the Service
Employees International Union stated that it represents 75,000 healthcare workers in
northern California, of which 2,700 are Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and
paramedics. Mr. Bonifay noted that he is representing the workers of AMR. He
pointed out that if the Council approves the Fire Department's proposal, the City will
be paying for a service that it gets for free now. It has the potential to displace good
paying jobs. He asserted that if the Fire Department really wanted to provide a better
service it would respond to AMR's offer of a public-private partnership to assist in
training firefighters to become paramedics, and place them on first responder units.
He reported that there has been discussion at the County Board of Supervisors level
to place a moratorium on new ambulance permits and to consider a Request for
Proposal (RFP) for ambulance transport for the entire county. He stated that
problems in Stockton have increased by multiple EMS transport agencies in the city.
In summary, Mr. Bonifay stated that the Lodi Fire Department's proposal will cause
job loss, cost the City money, it fails to improve the system, wastes taxpayer dollars,
and further fractures an already troubled system.
Council Member Howard stated that if there were job losses it would be because of
the actions of AMR, not the City.
:7
Continued September 18, 2002
Mr. Bonifay countered that there are a limited number of calls in the community and
he indicated that the demand probably would not support six ambulances.
In answer to Council Member Nakanishi, Mr. Bonifay reported that AMR offers its
employees a 401K with a 6% matching contribution from the employer.
Chris Schamber stated that he has been a Lodi resident for 15 years and has been
working in the emergency medical field in San Joaquin County for the past six years.
He believed that if paramedics were on every fire engine, the highest level of service
would be on scene. If the Fire Department places paramedics only on ambulances,
the City still runs the risk of not having a paramedic on the first response unit. He
warned that government cutbacks in Medicare funding will have a significant negative
impact on taxpayers because 38% of ambulance transport revenue is from this
source. Currently there are three full-time ambulances in Lodi from 7:00 a.m. to
7:00 p.m., with four calls per ambulance. If the Fire Department adds two or three
additional ambulances, it not only decreases the exposure of the paramedics and
EMTs running those calls, but it also reduces the City's chance of getting the revenue
it needs to survive. AMR paramedics generally have over ten years of experience.
He pointed out that comparing Lodi's proposal with Sacramento is not realistic
because they run between 15 to 20 transports per ambulance per shift. In reference
to the subscription program, he noted that if the Fire Department and a private
ambulance company each had three ambulances covering the City and splitting calls
at an average of 12 per day, every three days there would be 36 calls to the hospital,
i.e., 18 for the Fire Department and 18 for the private company. If the City had to pay
$150 for every call taken by the private ambulance company, as outlined by the Chief,
it would be a significant cost, which he believed was not adequately calculated for in
the financial proposal.
Lou Meyer, Chief Executive Officer of AMR's Northern Pacific Region, did not believe
that the Fire Department's proposal would enhance the level of service currently
being provided. He pointed out that according to Chief Pretz' financial calculations, by
the end of the second year of the program, he is projecting to take 100% of the
transport revenue in the community. Mr. Meyer noted that AMR is not planning on
leaving the community it has worked in for the past 30 years. He stated that the only
approach that appears to enhance the level of service to the community is to place
paramedics on engine companies. AMR stands by its previous offer for a public-
private partnership concept, whereby it would assist in funding the difference between
the salary of a firefighter and a firefighter paramedic. Mr. Meyer explained that the
Chiefs financial proposal is flawed because he used the total number of transports to
Lodi Memorial Hospital without deducting for the number of diversions coming from
hospitals in Stockton and the Galt transport system coming into Lodi. The billable
transports in the City of Lodi are 3,400. Of 12 calls per day, 20% must be deducted
for dry runs, i.e. when patients are not transported. Mr. Meyer estimated that there is
$550,000 of underreported costs in the Fire Department's proposal. In addition, it
understates the reality of the subsidy that will be needed. He projected that the
subsidy will increase further in year four of the program when the Medicare fee
schedule becomes fully implemented. In reference to the subscription program, he
noted that most cities have an 18% to 30% participation rate. Participation is affected
by factors such as the amount of rental property and Medicare and Medi -Cal
population in a community. Lodi has a 38% Medicare and 21 % Medi -Cal population.
Medi -Cal recipients will not buy a subscription because they do not have a co -pay or
deductible. The actuarial risk of the subscription program is not addressed in the Fire
Department's proposal. There is a revenue risk of $144,000, which is the amount
that would represent the waived co -payments from the existing payer mix. From an
actuarial standpoint the maximum revenue that can be assumed is the premium
revenue less the at -risk amount of the population. There is also significant exposure
using a subscription program in a system with more than one provider, and this is not
addressed in the proposal. He reiterated the earlier speaker's comments regarding
pending action by the County Board of Supervisors. Mr. Meyer reported that the CAD
data coming from the Stockton Fire Department is in error. AMR hired experts to
review the data and they have testified that it is flawed. AMR significantly exceeds
7
Continued September 18, 2002
response time requirements under the County EMS Act. In summary, Mr. Meyer
stated that the Fire Department's proposal does not enhance the level of service to
the Lodi community and it will result in an unnecessary drain on the City's general
fund.
In response to questions posed by Council Member Land, Mr. Meyer stated that the
governing body given the authority to oversee the EMS system is the County Board of
Supervisors. He explained that the reason AMR hired an attorney to go before the
Board of Supervisors was because ambulances were being placed in stations without
any organizational approach and a system should be in place to serve the best
interest of the community. Mr. Meyer confirmed that there are currently 'three
Advanced Life Support (ALS) units and one Basic Life Support (BLS) unit in Lodi.
AMR is not going to downgrade those units and will continue to monitor the system to
see if an enhanced level of service becomes necessary due to increased demand.
He reported that tomorrow, AMR is having an inspection of a third station within the
city limits, which will house the third ambulance in the community. He declared that it
is never the intent of AMR to have only one ambulance in the City of Lodi because it
takes more than that to do the job. He confirmed that AMR is willing to pay the
difference in salary between a firefighter and a firefighter paramedic, which was
estimated at approximately $7,600. In addition, he reported that AMR owns the
Northern California Training Institute and has agreed to place Lodi firefighters in the
classes to obtain paramedic training. He explained that through an RFP process,
AMR became the sole exclusive provider for emergency medical transport services in
Santa Clara County. AMR has deployed Supplemental Transport Ambulance
Resource (STAR) units in the cities of San Jose and Santa Clara. The units are
placed in fire stations. AMR provides the ambulance and the fire departments of
these cities provide the paramedic and EMT to staff them when it is necessary to use
the units. Mr. Meyer offered to place a STAR unit. under a similar arrangement in
Lodi.
• Pat Patrick read the following letter from the Lodi Chamber of Commerce into the
record (filed):
"After much consideration and separate review by our Government Relations
Committee and the Board of Directors, the Chamber Board is formally going on
record in opposition to the current proposal to establish a City -run ambulance
service.
"Our reasons for this position are not without recognition that the Lodi Fire
Department is second to none and we are confident the department would
operate an exemplary emergency transport service.
"We find the plan to be unfavorable to private business, for which the Chamber
stands. Those identirtable and defining needs, which would call for a City -
operated service have yet to be proven through our investigation or to our
satisfaction. The 'state of the market' for emergency transport is driven by
competition from other service providers as well as County government's control
of the system, under which transport must operate. This makes income truly
unpredictable. Therefore, we believe this is an unnecessary risk of tax dollars.
"We believe it has not been satisfactorily proven the current provider, American
Medical Response, has performed poorly, thus putting in jeopardy the citizenry
and the employee workforce of Lodi County Emergency Medical Service verifies
AMR to be meeting or exceeding their mandated criteria and service levels.
"if, in your minds this is about service, safety, and protection — add paramedics to
current firefighting equipment. If it is about a source of revenue, our Board is
concerned about the dependability of a positive cash flow from such a service.
We believe the opportunity to recoup all associated costs providing emergency
Continued September 18, 2002
transport service is more determined by the number of providers in the market,
County configuration of service, and non -emergency transport billing contracts.
Even expertly operated by our City Fire Department personnel, considering these
factors are out of Lodi's control, how can anyone, no matter how good, be
confident of a profit?
"if 'breakeven' is not achieved, then City ambulances will be subsidized by tax
dollars. Why risk entering a new business field with uncontrollable market
determinants, if we do not have to?
"!n conclusion, if AMR has been negligent in their levels of service, then bring
public pressure to bear. As our City Council, you are capable of galvanizing a
community's focus as wed as that of the media's, to demand the people and
businesses of Lodi be adequately protected at acceptable levels. We have not
heard that degree of tenacious resoluteness from this Council, nor from the Fire
Department, nor from the County Emergency Medical Services regarding AMR's
service. Why?
We remain open to be supportive of other plans should they be developed."
In summation, Mr. Patrick stated that there appears to be an unstable market right
now. He defined "unstable" as meaning there are many ambulance providers
providing service in Stockton that is driving change into the system. It is an
inopportune time for the City to invest in this endeavor. Some providers have
expressed an interest in providing ambulance services to Lodi, which would further
reduce the opportunity of a return for the Lodi Fire Department. He has spoken with
Elaine Hatch Director of the County's EMS who agreed that the numbers coming out
of the Stockton Dispatch Center are flawed. If the Fire Department were to get into
the ambulance business and be licensed by the County, the Lodi ambulances would
have to go outside the city limits. Mr. Patrick believed this to be another
disadvantage. He remarked that if this issue is about better service, then there must
be a better plan than what was presented tonight.
Council Member Howard believed that AMR's offer to pay the salary differential and
provide training for firefighters proves that there is a profit to be made through
transport. She asked Mr. Patrick, as a business individual, why the City should not try
to gain as much cost recovery as possible by providing the service of transport. As a
comparison, she stated that by not doing so, it would be akin to the Chamber of
Commerce offering the Farmers Market and similar events, without collecting any
revenue for them. She emphasized the importance of having a business plan and
recovering as much cost as possible.
Terry Piazza warned that if the Council approves the Fire Department's proposal the
people of Lodi will have to live with it from now on, as there will be no way out of it.
The union will control all the people and the private ambulance company will be gone.
He noted that nothing in the letter Chief Pretz read from Joseph Harrington indicated
that the hospital was in support of the Fire Department taking over ambulance service
in the City. He believed that Chief Pretz' financial calculations did not adequately
reflect the costs. He asked Council not to get the City into a position that it can never
get out of.
Michael Parker, President and Chief Operations Officer for Priority One Ambulance,
stated that his company is the second largest ambulance provider in California.
Priority One began providing service in Stockton two months ago. He provided
Council with a copy of its county application for license (filed). Priority One attempted
to provide service to the Lodi area, but found that the ambulance ordinance and
zoning made it difficult. He agreed that the data from the Stockton Dispatch Center is
flawed. He disagreed that Lodi would have local control if its Fire Department
provided ambulance transport, because Stockton is required to dispatch the closest
unit. When a call comes in to the 911 center it will be transferred from the Lodi Police
Department to Stockton where it is screened as a secondary piece out. The moment
they receive the call and start typing in their CAD system is when the eight minutes
starts. The City of Stockton Fire Department has printers and as soon as Stockton
I
Continued September 18, 2002
has the address, it automatically goes out to the Fire Department who responds with
an engine. It can take the call taker up to two additional minutes before AMR can
start responding. Mr. Parker stated he has been at Fire Station #3 with his paramedic
units and has watched engine 3 leaving on route to a call, and yet he did not yet have
the information from dispatch. The ambulance then follows the engine for a minute
before it receives the call. He too believed that the costs in the Lodi Fire Department
proposal are flawed. He stated that Lodi will pay $10 per call per dispatch to run 911
calls with an ambulance whether or not a patient is transported. The County will not
allow Lodi Fire Department to operate with just one ambulance. At a minimum, it will
be required to purchase two ambulances.
In response to Council Member Howard, Mr. Parker reported that Priority One's
headquarters is located in Rancho Cucamonga, California. The company has been in
existence for six years and is a spin off of Priority One Long Distance, a California
public utility. Mr. Parker stated that he believed Chief Pretz' financial report was off
by hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• Julie Ballard reported that she has heard complaints from Lodi firefighters questioning
why they have to enter into a mutual aid agreement. She stated that if they did not
want to respond to Lower Sacramento Road and Harney Lane, they certainly would
not want to respond to the Delta area. She warned Council that union issues will be a
big problem for them if the Fire Department's proposal is approved. She was in
support of the Fire Department putting paramedics on engines for first response care.
Walt Saxton stated he was an emergency room nurse for Kaiser South Sacramento.
He believed that the Fire Department's report was inaccurate. Many patients taken to
emergency rooms are brought in from outside areas, so using hospital figures to draw
conclusions from is faulty. He stated that most firefighters do not want to be
paramedics and the quality of care that firefighter paramedics provide is not at the
level of private sector paramedics. Due to the shortage in paramedics, the City would
have to pay a significant amount of money in overtime for coverage. Recruiting and
retaining paramedics will be difficult. He supported placing paramedics on engines,
but not providing ambulance transport.
• Sandy Wichman, President, Professional Firefighters Local 1225, believed that there
would be even more problems getting ambulances in the City if paramedics were
placed on the engines and the Fire Department was not allowed to provide transport
services.
• Dennis Haugan stated that there has not been a public outcry for the Fire Department
to take over the City's ambulance service; however, much has been expressed in its
opposition. Many questions have gone unanswered. He suggested that much more
study needs to take place before the Council should make a decision.
John Beckman agreed with statements made by the following speakers: Pat Patrick,
Terry Piazza, Lou Meyer, Chris Schamber, Julie Ballard, Walt Saxton, and Dennis
Haugan. He pointed out that the letter from Joe Harrington stated only that he would
be supportive of anything that improves the care in the community. He did not say
that Lodi needed faster ambulance response times. Mr. Beckman supported placing
paramedics on engines to enhance patient care in the community, but did not see the
need for the Fire Department to take over ambulance transport.
• Bob Johnson disclosed that his son is an AMR paramedic and works in Stockton. He
read a letter dated February 2002 from Roger Speed of the Heath Services Agency
into the record:
"in order to promote their plans the fire departments in the cities of Lodi and/or
Stockton may state that there is a crisis in ambulance service in their cities. This
is not backed up by evidence or reliable facts. The fire department in Stockton is
10
Continued September 18, 2002
alleging there is a shortage of ambulances; however, no valid information has
been presented to demonstrate this problem is true. EMS staff has made
repeated requests for the past three years to get information which will
substantiate these charges. The fire department staff in Stockton and Lodi have
also alleged there are quality problems in ambulance responses, i.e, slow
response. Yet these complaints have not been documented and presented to the
EMS agency staff to examine or investigate. In the past several weeks EMS has
met with representatives from the representatives of the fire departments of the
City of Stockton, Lodi, AMR Regional Manager, and the City Manager for the City
of Lodi. EMS agency offered to bring aft interested parties together to address
these issues, but this invitation was rebuffed by the city fire departments."
Mr. Johnson referenced another letter from Elaine Hatch, in which it mentioned that
the County EMS hired a consultant to review the data from the Dispatch Center. The
consultant's preliminary findings are that the current data is not sufficiently reliable.
Through May 2002 the EMS agency has not received any reports or patient
complaints about ambulances not responding or where delays resulted in poor patient
care. At the July Shirtsleeve Session of the City Council an emergency room doctor
stated it was his opinion that there was no problem relative to ambulance service.
Mr. Johnson questioned why no one has seriously explored the offer by AMR to
provide training and salary subsidy for paramedics. This is a significant benefit with
no additional cost to the community. Under Chief Pretz' proposal, if a citizen in Lodi
uses an ambulance they will be paying for the service through their insurance, taxes,
and a subscription fee. He emphasized that the Council should consider the financial
impacts that NFPA 1710 will have on the City's budget.
Terry Dockter reported that one month ago he had an accident in Bodega Bay and
was rendered ambulance service from Marin County to a Sebastopol hospital. He
received a bill from Bodega Bay Fire Protection District, with a post office box in
Sacramento, which is their billing agency. The ambulance cost was $1,856. The bill
for five hours in the hospital was $1,149. He noted that he is uninsured, and if the bill
he received is any indication of what it would take to fund Lodi Fire Department
paramedics and ambulance service, he was opposed to it.
Dale Jones stated he had served as a paramedic for Lodi Ambulance, Life Medical,
and AMR. His final position with AMR was as the Director of Operations. Currently,
he is a consultant for the City of Stockton ambulance division. He stated that when
the City of Lodi communicates a need for more ambulances, AMR adds them only
temporarily until the issue dies down. He believed that putting paramedics on
engines would be a great improvement for the community. He commented that his
wife is an emergency room nurse and has witnessed delays in transfers due to the
lack of ambulances.
Council Member Land reported that 69% of calls are for emergency medical and half of
those are ALS 1 calls. He expressed support for placing paramedics on Fire Department
engines and allowing AMR to provide transport.
Council Member Nakanishi supported the Fire Department providing paramedic services
to improve patient care, but was opposed to ambulance transport, due to financial
concerns and the risk involved.
Mayor Pennino also favored providing paramedics on Fire Department engines, but was
opposed to transport. He believed that benchmark standards should be developed, and
encouraged emergency service providers to sit down together and work on ways to
improve response times within the county. If benchmarks are not met, then the Council
should reconsider the Fire Department providing ambulance transport. He asked the City
Manager to look into the issue of finding locations to place ambulances in the community.
He was supportive of allowing other private ambulance providers to serve Lodi. He
voiced strong opposition to subscription services.
Continued September 18, 2002
Council Member Howard stated that she was delighted to hear that the Council was
unanimously in favor of having paramedics in the Fire Department. She believed it was
important to provide transport services as well. She stated that there are firefighters who
would like to work as firefighter paramedics. The City has lost some very qualified and
talented firefighters to other areas that provide paramedic transport services. It is
important to recruit and sustain the employees that come to Lodi. She reiterated the
importance of having a business plan if the City is going to have additional costs
associated with placing paramedics in the Fire Department. She acknowledged that there
are discrepancies in Chief Pretz' proposal; however, she believed that they are
insignificant to the "bottom line" and after a few years of the initial start up costs, the
program would break even. She conjectured that the Council would be addressing this
topic in the years to come. She described scenarios in which the Fire Department
providing transport services would be beneficial, most specifically, that of having an
adequate volume of ambulances in the City for response.
Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock stated that as a Council Member she has an obligation to
look at providing as much revenue as possible to offset the cost of services. She voiced
support for the Fire Department's proposal.
MOTION #1 /VOTE:
The City Council, on motion of Council Member Land, Nakanishi second, unanimously
directed the Lodi Fire Department to proceed with providing paramedics on its engine
companies and present the City Council with a plan during the 2003-04 budget cycle to
phase in the program.
MOTION #2:
Council Member Land made a motion, Pennino second, to direct the Lodi Fire
Department to form a public1private partnership with American Medical Response (AMR)
for the following services as offered by AMR:
• AMR will provide paramedic training to Lodi Fire Department personnel through its
affiliate Northern California Training Institute;
• AMR will provide remuneration of the 15% salary differential between firefighter and
paramedic; and
• AMR will place Supplemental Transport Ambulance Resource (STAR) units at Lodi
Fire Stations and negotiate a flat rate for each use.
DISCUSSION:
Council Member Howard stated that she was not in favor of a partnership.
Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock agreed and added that the City needs to maximize its
revenue for the additional cost of providing paramedics.
VOTE:
The above motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Members — Land, Nakanishi, and Mayor Pennino
Noes: Council Members — Hitchcock and Howard
Absent: Council Members — None
RECESS
At 10:40 p.m., Mayor Pennino called for a recess and the City Council meeting reconvened at
10:50 p.m.
12
Continued September 18, 2002
REGULAR CALENDAR (Continued)
E-6 "Adopt resolution approving replacement purchase of an AS400 mid-range computer from
Logical Design, Inc., of Rancho Cordova, CA ($120,817.78)"
At the request of Council Member Hitchcock, Information Systems Division Manager
Mann explained that the City has a five-year old computer that will not be supported by
IBM in the near future. An opportunity now exists to replace it for a 50% discount. A new
computer will provide upgradeability of the City's software and it will result in dramatic
improvements in performance.
In reply to Mayor Pennino, Mr. Mann reported that the current AS400 operating system
has been upgraded to version 4.
City Manager Flynn stated that $50,000 a year had been budgeted for the purpose of
upgrading the system.
MOTION / VOTE:
The City Council, on motion of Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock, Howard second,
unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2002-195 approving the replacement purchase of
an AS400 mid-range computer from Logical Design, Inc., of Rancho Cordova, in the
amount of $120,817.78.
ORDINANCES
J-1 Ordinance No. 1717 entitled, "An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Lodi
Repealing Ordinance No. 1713 Relating To The Adopting Of The Redevelopment Plan
For The Lodi Redevelopment Project No. 1" having been introduced at a regular meeting
of the Lodi City Council held September 4, 2002 was brought up for passage on motion of
Council Member Land, Howard second. Second reading of the ordinance was omitted
after reading by title, and the ordinance was then adopted and ordered to print by the
following vote:
Ayes: Council Members — Hitchcock, Howard, Land, Nakanishi, and Mayor Pennino
Noes: Council Members — None
Absent: Council Members — None
Abstain: Council Members — None
K. COMMENTS BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ON NON -AGENDA ITEMS
• Council Member Nakanishi stated that he was looking forward to participating in the upcoming
Grape Festival Parade.
Council Member Howard announced that she just returned this evening from a conference in
southern California hosted by the California Peace Officers Association, COPS West. She
stated that one of her goals during her term on the Council is to establish a task force that
specializes in high-tech and identity theft crimes. At the conference it was reported that one in
four Americans will be the victim of identity theft. Joining her at the conference was Police
Chief Adams, who is the second vice president for the California Peace Officers Association,
and Lieutenants Noblett and Somera. Chief Adams attended a specialized program with a
focus on homeland security. In reply to Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock, Ms. Howard reported
that federal funding for California was approximately $398 million, of which 75% will go toward
municipal agencies.
Council Member Land stated that The Woman's Club did a fantastic job in coordinating the
September 11 ceremony and asked that a thank you be prepared for them. He thanked
Mayor Pennino for attending F & M Bank's flag raising ceremony. He announced that Lodi
House is having a fundraiser on October 13 at Jessie's Grove Winery. He received a letter
from a citizen thanking Police Officers Dave Griffin and Dale Eubanks, as well as Joseph
Wood and Nancy Baker, for their assistance with a neighborhood issue.
13
Continued September 18, 2002
• Council Member Hitchcock commented on the nice dinner that Lodi Century Assembly
Church put on to highlight its Adopt -A -Block program. She asked City Attorney Hays what
effect the recent decision from the a Circuit Court of Appeals had on the PCE/TCE issue.
City Attorney Hays said the decision was non substantive and did not deal with the merits of
the case.
• Mayor Pennino announced that effective September 26, cable channel 26 would be televising
Lodi City Council meetings live and replaying the meetings at 3:00 p.m. on Fridays. He
commented that in addition to the September 11 memorial at the Veterans Plaza there was a
candlelight vigil coordinated by the evangelical community. He thanked staff and Council for
approval of the railroad track removal project on Lodi Avenue.
Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock inquired when her request for a closed session to consider a
second opinion on the PCE/TCE matter will be placed on the agenda.
Mayor Pennino replied that an update on the issue will be scheduled, and discussion about a
second opinion can occur at that time.
COMMENTS BY THE CITY MANAGER ON NON -AGENDA ITEMS
City Manager Flynn announced that the first regularly scheduled meeting in October has been
canceled, due to Council's attendance at the League of California Cities annual conference.
He reported that an article entitled "California Starved for Energy — US Businesses Had a
Feast" in Monday's issue of the Wall street Journal mentioned Electric Utility Director Alan
Vallow. He announced the following birthdays: Emily Howard September 25, Charlene Lange
September 29, Vicky McAthie September 30, Mike Pretz October 2, Susan Hitchcock October
3, and Keith Land October 13.
M. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at
11:10 P.M.
ATTEST:
Susan J. Blackston
City Clerk
14