For the purpose of this chapter, the words and phrases listed
below shall have the following meanings:
Ambulance.
An emergency medical services vehicle staffed and equipped
under state law to provide basic life support or advanced life support
emergency ambulance transportation services or non-emergency ambulance
transfer services.
Authorized ambulance provider.
The entity under a contract with the city and holding a franchise
granted by the city to provide described ambulance services to the
city’s residents and persons found within the city.
Emergency ambulance service.
The operation of an emergency medical services vehicle to
transport patients to an emergency room at a hospital or a facility
providing emergency medical care in response to an unscheduled emergency
call whose location is within the city limits.
Emergency medical services (EMS).
The services used to respond to an individual’s perceived
need for immediate medical care and to prevent death or aggravation
of physiological or psychological illness or injury.
Emergency pre-hospital care.
The care provided, including but not limited to basic and
advanced life support care, to the sick and injured either on the
scene of an emergency or during transport to an emergency room at
a hospital or a facility providing emergency medical care.
First responder.
The provision of immediate on-scene care to ill or injured
persons excluding the furnishing of ambulance services to those persons
located within the city limits unless requested as mutual-aid or for
a disaster related response.
Non-emergency ambulance transfer service.
The operation of an emergency medical services vehicle to
transfer patients for non-emergency, previously scheduled, medical
treatment from a point originating within the city limits. The transport
of a patient for unscheduled medical treatment or evaluation at an
emergency room at a hospital or a facility providing emergency medical
care is not a non-emergency ambulance transfer service, but rather
a provision of emergency ambulance services.
Originates.
For the purposes of this chapter, a call for EMS “originates”
within city limits if the person in need of EMS (emergency prehospital
care or ambulance service) is physically located at an address or
location within the city limits.
Standby and special event coverage.
Any situation where a previously announced event places a
group or gathering of people in a general locale sufficient in number,
or subject to activity that creates the need to have non-ambulance
emergency pre-hospital care capability on site.
(Ordinance 1520-21-10-12, passed 11-12-21; Ordinance 1526-21-12-14, passed 12-14-21)
All calls for EMS that originate within the city limits shall
be responded to solely by the city’s authorized ambulance provider,
except as provided herein.
(Ordinance 1520-21-10-12, passed 11-12-21; Ordinance 1526-21-12-14, passed 12-14-21)
It shall be unlawful for any person or service, other than the
city’s authorized ambulance provider, to furnish, operate, advertise
or otherwise engage or profess to be engaged in the service or operation
of an emergency ambulance service or non-emergency ambulance transfer
service that originates at an address or location within the city
unless said person or entity is:
(1) Rendering
assistance upon request to patients in case of a major catastrophe
or emergency with which the authorized ambulance providers of the
city are unable to cope;
(2) Transporting
or transferring a patient who is picked up from a location beyond
the limits of the city and taken to a location within the city;
(3) Transporting
or transferring a patient who is picked up from a location beyond
the limits of the city and taken to a location beyond the limits of
the city and only incidentally passing through the city;
(4) Operated
by an agent or employee of the federal or state government if such
service is done in performance of his official duties.
(Ordinance 1520-21-10-12, passed 11-12-21; Ordinance 1526-21-12-14, passed 12-14-21)
(A) Emergency
ambulance service or non-emergency ambulance transfer service shall
not include any stand-by or special events coverage within the limits
of the city, but only if said stand-by or special events coverage
does not result in any ambulance transport originating within the
limits of the city. If any stand-by or special events coverage results
in an ambulance transport originating within the limits of the city,
it is considered an emergency ambulance service transport for purposes
of this chapter and regulated herein.
(B) Upon
request by law enforcement and fire department officers, the authorized
ambulance provider shall furnish ambulance stand-by coverage at emergency
incidents involving a potential danger to the personnel of the requesting
agency or the general public.
(Ordinance 1520-21-10-12, passed 11-12-21; Ordinance 1526-21-12-14, passed 12-14-21)
First responders are not required to obtain a franchise.
(Ordinance 1526-21-12-14, passed 12-14-21)
Applications for an emergency ambulance service and non-emergency
ambulance transfer service franchise may be solicited by the city
through a request for proposals from time to time as deemed necessary
by the city to ensure appropriate emergency services are being provided
within its jurisdictional limits. The requirements and selection criteria
will be included in any request for proposals initiated by the city.
(Ordinance 1520-21-10-12, passed 11-12-21; Ordinance 1526-21-12-14, passed 12-14-21)
(A) Any
person who uses the ambulance services of the city’s franchise
holder shall be charged for such services. The franchise holder may
from time to time adjust certain rates as authorized by the contract
or by filing an application with the city secretary for consideration
of the city council.
(B) The
city council hereby expressly reserves the right, power, and authority
under any franchise granted, to review the charges for the services
of the franchise holder to its customers, fully reserving to the city
council all the rights, powers, privileges, and immunities, subject
to the duties, limitations and responsibilities which the Constitution,
the laws of the state, and the charter confer upon the city.
(Ordinance 1520-21-10-12, passed 11-12-21; Ordinance 1526-21-12-14, passed 12-14-21)
A franchise granted under this shall not exceed a period of
twenty-five (25) years.
(Ordinance 1520-21-10-12, passed 11-12-21; Ordinance 1526-21-12-14, passed 12-14-21)