Title
Emergency Medical Services, a division of the Chief Administrative Office, recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 116-2026, to comply California Health and Safety Code, Division 2.5., Chapter 4., Section 1797.230 by establishing policy related to County contracts for emergency ambulance services;
2) Make findings that it is appropriate to engage an independent contractor to provide pre-hospital emergency medical and ambulance transport services, as Agreement 10009 is with or among another governmental entity or agency;
3) Make findings in accordance with Procurement Policy C-17 Section 3.4.3, to exempt Agreement 10009 from the competitive bidding process as North Tahoe Fire Protection District is the only provider in the Tahoe West Shore zone of County Service Area (CSA) 3 who can provide pre-hospital emergency medical and ambulance transport services in compliance with Health and Safety Code and the EMS Plan, so competitive bidding would produce no economic benefit to the County;
4) Approve and authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to sign the finalized Agreement 10009 with North Tahoe Fire Protection District for the provision of pre-hospital emergency medical and ambulance transport services in the Tahoe West Shore zone of CSA 3, for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, contingent upon approval by County Counsel, Risk Management, and the North Tahoe Fire Protection District’s Board on June 23,2026; and
5) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute any necessary amendments relating to Agreement 10009, excluding term extensions and increases to compensation, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: Majority of the funding for this agreement is from the CSA 3 Special Tax (Tahoe West Shore area) and ambulance service fees; CSA 3, which includes the Tahoe South Shore and the Tahoe West Shore, receives supplemental funding from the General Fund to support ambulance services.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On October 4th, 2021, Governor Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 389 (“AB 389”). The new law which became effective January 1, 2022, amended California Health and Safety Code, Division 2.5., Chapter 4., Section 1797.230 (HSC 1797.230) to require the County Board of Supervisors to adopt, by ordinance or resolution, a written policy setting forth issues to be considered for the inclusion in any County contract for emergency ambulance services entered into or renewed on or after January 1, 2022.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS), a division of the Chief Administrative Office, is recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign the Resolution to satisfy the requirements for policy adoption under HSC 1797.230 by establishing policy related to County contracts for emergency ambulance services. The Resolution states that when entering into contracts for the provision of EMS, the County shall consider the following issues: employment retention requirements, experience serving similar populations, efforts to serve vulnerable populations, financial requirements, and public information and education activities.
The EMS Division is also recommending the Board waive the competitive bidding requirements in accordance with Procurement Policy C-17 Section 3.4.3 and approve and authorize the Chair Chief Administrative Officer to sign the Agreement 10009 with North Tahoe Fire Protection District (North Tahoe). North Tahoe is the only provider of pre-hospital emergency medical and ambulance transport services in the Tahoe West Shore zone of CSA 3 that can provide services in compliance with Health and Safety Code and the EMS Plan. The Board has previously determined that in accordance with County Ordinance Section 3.13.030, it is appropriate to engage an independent contractor for ambulance transportation as the contract is with or among another governmental entity or agency.
The recommended agreement is for a three-year period beginning on July 1, 2026. North Tahoe ambulance services are billed by the County’s ambulance billing provider. The County remits 93% of actual collections to North Tahoe and retains the other 7%, to cover the cost of collection services. In addition, 100% of the special tax revenue collected within the zone and a supplemental wilderness response area payment of $25,098.41, with an annual increase for inflation, is remitted to North Tahoe as payment for their services. There are no substantive changes from the current agreement, which expires on June 30, 2026.
Agreement 10009 will be included on the North Tahoe Fire Protection District’s Board of Directors agenda for approval on June 23rd, 2026; the same day the Board of Supervisors is considering this Agreement. The Agreement attached to this item is in draft form as it has not been approved by North Tahoe and one contract provision related to HSC 1797.230 has not been finalized. Therefore, staff are recommending that the Board authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to execute the finalized Agreement after it is approved by North Tahoe, contingent upon final approval by Risk Management and County Counsel, as long as the compensation provisions and term of the Agreement remain unchanged from the draft Agreement attached to this item.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decide not to approve the agreement, there would be a lapse of ambulance services in the CSA 3 Tahoe West Shore area.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
June 27, 2023, Legistar file 23-1138 the Board approved Agreement 7810 with North Tahoe Fire Protection District for ambulance services in the CSA 3 Tahoe West Shore area through June 30, 2026.
August 25, 2020, Legistar file 20-0990 the Board approved Agreement 5217 with North Tahoe Fire Protection District for ambulance services in the CSA 3 Tahoe West Shore area through June 30, 2023.
August 27, 2019, Legistar File 19-1203 the Board approved Amendment II to Agreement 001-S1711 extending the term for one additional year of services.
January 3, 2017, Legistar File 16-0786 (Version 2) the Board approved Amendment I to Agreement 001-S1711 authorizing the location of an Advanced Life Support Engine in the Meeks Bay area.
August 16, 2016, Legistar File 16-0786 (Version 1) the Board approved Agreement 001-S1711 with North Tahoe Fire Protection District for ambulance services in the CSA 3 Tahoe West Shore area.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel, Risk Management, Procurement & Contracts
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Majority of the funding for this agreement is from the CSA 3 Special Tax (Tahoe West Shore area) and ambulance service fees. The County supplements the Wilderness Response funding, which is $25,098.41 in the first year of the agreement, and increases annually to account for inflation.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on the Resolution and send the certified resolution to the Chief Administrative Office, attention Serena Lemmons.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Emma Owens, Chief Budget Officer