For purposes of sections 7.030 to 7.078, the following means:
Ambulance.
Any vehicle that is constructed, equipped, and regularly provided or offered to be provided for transportation in the recumbent position of persons suffering from illness, injury, disability, or infirmity of any type.
Ambulance/EMS Operator.
An agency or person engaged in the business of furnishing ambulance and/or emergency medical services.
Emergency.
Any non-hospital occurrence or situation involving illness, injury or disability requiring immediate medical or psychiatric services, wherein delay in the provision of such services is likely to aggravate the condition and/or endanger personal health or safety.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
Those pre-hospital functions and services which are required to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including fire apparatus, ambulance, treatment, communications, evaluation, and public education.
Health Care Facility.
A hospital, clinic, or extended care facility that regularly provides medical and/or psychiatric care or services.
Response Time.
The period of time from receipt of a call for EMS assistance until the arrival of EMS providers.
Rules.
Specific requirements for operation of ambulance and emergency medical services pursuant to sections 7.030 to 7.078.
No person shall establish, maintain or operate an ambulance or other emergency medical services business within the city unless a license for that use is obtained from the city. Every place or building where an ambulance or other emergency medical services business is offered, whether for hire or not, shall be deemed an ambulance or other emergency medical services business subject to the provisions of sections 7.030 to 7.078. Each licensee shall meet the standards as described in this chapter.
The provisions of sections 7.030 to 7.078 do not apply to:
(1) 
Vehicles owned by or operated by the United States government or under contract to an agency of the United States government;
(2) 
Vehicles being used to render temporary assistance to licensed ambulance operators in case of a public catastrophe or emergency with which the licensed ambulance of the city are unable to cope, or when directed to be used to render temporary assistance by a public official at the scene of an accident;
(3) 
Vehicles operated solely on private property or within the confines of institutional grounds, whether or not the incidental crossing of any public street, road or highway serving the property or grounds is involved;
(4) 
Vehicles operating from a business location, office or headquarters outside the city, that are transporting a patient from an area outside the city to a health care facility within the city, or vehicles which are passing through without destination in the city;
(5) 
Any person who drives or who attends a patient transported in a vehicle under subsections (1) to (5) of this section;
(6) 
Any doctor or registered nurse who by state or federal license is authorized to attend patients, except emergency medical technicians and emergency medical technician trainees as provided under sections 7.030 to 7.078; or
(7) 
Vehicles operated by another municipality pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Springfield or vehicles operated by a subcontractor of another municipality which municipality has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Springfield for the provision of such ambulance service.
[Section 7.036 amended by Ordinance No. 6262, enacted November 15, 2010]
(1) 
There is hereby created an emergency medical services board for the city of Springfield composed of five members, including one representative from each of the following:
(a) 
Lane County Public Health Department;
(b) 
Lane County Fire Defense Board;
(c) 
McKenzie-Willamette Hospital;
(d) 
Sacred Heart Medical Center; and
(e) 
Lay member of the public.
(2) 
In addition, each ambulance operator’s physician medical director shall hold an exofficio position for so long as he or she continues to act as physician medical director to the ambulance operator.
The emergency medical services board shall meet at the request of the city manager and shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) 
To propose and revise rules necessary to implement sections 7.030 to 7.078. These rules may address, but are not limited to, the following areas:
(a) 
Minimum training and qualifications for emergency medical technicians of all levels employed by a licensee;
(b) 
Minimum level of pre-hospital patient care and clinical sophistication to be provided by ambulance operators;
(c) 
Response time standards;
(d) 
Minimum equipment to be contained by each vehicle of an ambulance operator;
(e) 
Minimum standards for communications systems and personnel;
(f) 
Minimum standards for information including all patient records;
(g) 
Minimum standards for records to be kept by each ambulance operator;
(h) 
The amount of the performance bond that an ambulance operator is required to post under sections 7.030 to 7.078; and
(i) 
The terms and amounts of insurance coverage required under section 7.060.
(2) 
To review and investigate the performance of a licensee upon request of the city, and to make a written report to the city of its findings; and
(3) 
To review and investigate all applications for an initial license or for renewal and to make a written report to the city of its findings.
(1) 
The city manager shall have the authority to approve rules and to take action concerning licenses in accordance with the provisions of sections 7.030 to 7.078.
(2) 
The city manager shall adopt temporary rules that shall expire 180 days from the date of adoption.
(3) 
The city manager, or persons designated by the city manager in writing, shall have the authority to:
(a) 
Convene the emergency medical services board;
(b) 
Administer oaths;
(c) 
Audit records to assure conformance with sections 7.030 to 7.078;
(d) 
Certify official acts;
(e) 
Subpoena and require attendance of witnesses at meetings or hearings to determine compliance with sections 7.030 to 7.078;
(f) 
Require production of relevant documents;
(g) 
Swear witnesses;
(h) 
Take testimony of any person by deposition; and
(i) 
Perform all other acts necessary to enforce the provisions of sections 7.030 to 7.078.
Prior to the adoption, amendment, or repeal of any rule, the city manager shall give notice of intended rule making by:
(1) 
Making copies of the notice of intended rulemaking available to any person who has requested such notice;
(2) 
Publishing the notice of intended rulemaking in a newspaper of general circulation.
The notice of intended rulemaking shall state the subject matter and purpose of the intended action in sufficient detail to inform a person that the person’s interests may be affected, and the time, place, and manner in which interested persons may present their views on the intended action. This notice shall include:
(1) 
A citation of the legal authority relied upon and bearing upon the promulgation of the rules;
(2) 
A statement of the need for the rule and a statement of how the rule is intended to meet the need; and
(3) 
A list of the principal documents, reports, or studies, if any, prepared by or relied upon by the city manager in considering the need for and in preparing the rule, and a statement of the location at which those documents are available for public inspection.
The city manager shall give interested persons reasonable opportunity to submit data or views and shall consider fully any written submissions. Opportunity for oral hearing shall be granted upon request, if such request is made within seven days after giving notice of the intended action. No additional notice of hearing to the general public shall be required.
Notwithstanding sections 7.030 to 7.078, the city manager may adopt, amend, or suspend a rule without prior notice or hearing or upon any abbreviated notice and hearing that the manager finds practicable, if the manager prepares:
(1) 
A statement of findings that the failure to act promptly will result in serious prejudice to the public interest of the parties concerned and the specific reasons for the findings of prejudice;
(2) 
A citation of the legal authority relied upon and bearing upon the promulgation of the rule;
(3) 
A statement of the need for the rule and a statement of how the rule is intended to meet the need; and
(4) 
A list of the principal documents, reports, or studies, if any, prepared by or relied upon by the city manager in considering the need for and in preparing the rule, and a statement of the location at which those documents are available for public inspection. Any rule adopted, amended, or suspended under this subsection is temporary and may be effective for a period of not longer than 180 days. The adoption of a rule under this subsection does not preclude the subsequent adoption of an identical rule under the permanent rule adoption procedures.
Any person may request in writing that the city manager mail the person copies of notices of intended action given pursuant to section 7.044. Upon receipt of any request, the city manager shall acknowledge the request, establish a mailing list, and maintain a record of all mailings made pursuant to requests.
Any interested person may petition the emergency medical services board requesting the promulgation, amendment, or repeal of a rule. The city manager may prescribe by rule the form or contents of the petitions and the procedure for their submission, consideration, and disposition. No later than 30 days after the date of submission of a petition, the emergency medical services board shall make a recommendation on the petition in writing to the city manager.
Unless otherwise provided by ordinance, the adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule by the city manager need not be based upon or supported by evidentiary record.
Each ambulance operator shall:
(1) 
Maintain all appropriate licenses for ambulance services and ambulance vehicles as required by the Oregon Health Division;
(2) 
Comply with the requirements of the Lane County Ambulance Service Area Plan;
(3) 
Conform with the standards, requirements, and maintenance provisions stated in the rules adopted by the Oregon Health Division and under section 7.042;
(4) 
Maintain on file with the city manager, a current list of fees charged for rendering service;
(5) 
Maintain on file with the city manager, a current copy of the name and certificate of each emergency medical technician employed by the ambulance/EMS operator;
(6) 
Maintain and make available, upon request of the city manager, all records required by rules made pursuant to section 7.042;
(7) 
Employ only emergency medical technicians who are certified by the Oregon Health Division and who meet the requirements of rules adopted under section 7.042;
(8) 
Enlist the services of a physician medical director;
(9) 
Make available, upon request, written information to the public concerning rate information;
(10) 
Meet the response times and minimum levels of are required by the rules adopted under section 7.042;
(11) 
Render emergency medical services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Pre-hospital medical services and ambulance transportation shall be available to all persons in the service area without regard to race, color, creed, gender, marital status, national origin or ability to pay;
(12) 
Serve a reasonable and logical service area;
(13) 
Submit to the city, upon approval of license, proof of all insurance required by rule adopted by section 7.042;
(14) 
Submit to the city, upon application for license, proof of all performance bonds required by rule adopted by section 7.042;
(15) 
Notify the city within 10 days of any change in material information contained in the application, related materials, or license.
Applications for licenses issued under section 7.066 together with related information shall be submitted by the applicant in the manner prescribed by rules issued under section 7.042.
(1) 
Within fifteen days after receipt of an application, the city manager may inspect and test all vehicles and equipment and inspect all proposed vehicle location sites and crew quarters.
(2) 
The emergency medical services board shall review and investigate each application and shall make a written report to the city manager with its recommendation as to the ability of the applicant to meet the requirements for a license.
The city manager may issue a license upon finding that the applicant has met all requirements of state and county law, this code, and all rules adopted under section 7.042.
(1) 
A license shall be valid from the date of issuance to the next following thirtieth day of June and shall be renewable annually for a term of one year, commencing on the first day of July.
(2) 
An application for renewal of an annual license shall be submitted to the city at least 30 days prior to its expiration date and shall be accompanied by the appropriate fees and other required documents.
(3) 
The emergency medical services board shall make a written report to the city manager regarding the past performance of the operator/provider applying for renewal 15 days prior to the expiration of the current license.
(4) 
Ambulance/EMS operator shall provide 180 days’ written notice to the city manager prior to terminating service.
(1) 
Upon request of the city manager, the emergency medical services board shall make a written report to the city regarding the past performance of the ambulance operator.
(2) 
The city manager may revoke or suspend a license upon finding that a licensee fails to meet the requirements of this code or is doing business in violation of this code or applicable federal, state, or county laws, ordinances, rules or regulations.
(3) 
Any person whose license has been denied or revoked may, after 30 days from the date of denial or suspension, apply for a license upon payment of an application fee, which shall not be credited to the applicant’s annual license fee.
(4) 
Any person whose license has been denied or revoked for a total of two times within one year, or who has a combined total of four denials or revocations shall be disqualified from applying for a license for a period of two years from the date of the last revocation or denial.
(1) 
Upon finding that a violation of sections 7.030 to 7.078, or applicable federal, state, city or county laws, ordinances, rules or regulations has occurred, the city shall provide written notice to the ambulance operator of the violation and demand that the violation be corrected within a reasonable time as specified in the notice. The notice shall describe with reasonable certainty the violation and the action necessary to correct the violation.
(2) 
If a notice under subsection (1) of this section is given, the licensee shall notify the city when corrective action has been taken, and the city shall then cause an inspection to be made to determine compliance.
(3) 
If the licensee fails to take corrective action within the time required, the city may take action under section 7.070 to revoke or suspend the license.
(4) 
If the city finds that the violation constitutes an immediate danger to the public health and safety, the manager may, by administrative order, direct the immediate succession of activities under the license pending a hearing.
No ambulance operator or ambulance operator’s employee shall:
(1) 
Make a false statement of a material fact, or omit disclosure of a material fact, in an application for a license;
(2) 
Monitor or intercept another’s radio dispatch or transmission for profit or gain;
(3) 
Solicit information as to accident locations by payment of any form of gratuity;
(4) 
Charge for services not performed, make duplicate charges for the same service, or charge rates exceeding those on file with the city manager;
(5) 
Perform services of an emergency medical technician or emergency medical technician trainee unless authorized by state law, this code, and the rules adopted hereunder;
(6) 
Fail or refuse to promptly advise the dispatch office of receipt of a request for emergency medical assistance or when a licensee’s ambulance becomes available or nonavailable to respond to dispatch orders;
(7) 
Respond by ambulance to an emergency call unless so authorized by a dispatch office or under a provision of this chapter or rule adopted hereunder;
(8) 
Fail or refuse to respond to a dispatch order from the dispatch office when the ambulance subject to the call is available for service;
(9) 
Falsify, deface or obliterate any license or certificate required under this chapter; or
(10) 
Violate any federal, state or county law, or any other city ordinance.
In addition to any other procedures and remedies provided by law, violation of sections 7.030 to 7.078 or of rules adopted hereunder is punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 for each violation.
Ambulance operators licensed under sections 7.030 to 7.078 shall notify the city in writing, within five business days of receiving any written or oral notice of any adverse action, including but without limitation, any malpractice suit or arbitration action, or other suit or arbitration action otherwise naming the ambulance operator, and any other event, occurrence or situation which might materially interfere with, modify, or alter performance of any of the ambulance operator’s duties or obligations under sections 7.030 to 7.078. An ambulance operator shall also notify the city of any complaint or action against the operator by any other local, state, or federal agency, including, but without limitation, Lane County, Oregon Health Division, Healthcare Financing Administration, or Drug Enforcement Agency.