Title
Discuss and consider action approving an amended contract with Acadian Ambulance Services for EMS services in the City and extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) and authorizing the City Manager to execute same.
Summary
On December 21, 2021, the City of Pflugerville was notified by Travis County ESD No. 2 (ESD No. 2) that at the request of Travis County, the ESD No. 2 will provide EMS and ground ambulance response for the County’s unincorporated area, outside of ESD 17 & outside the City of Pflugerville, that are within ESD No. 2, through March 1, 2022. This includes the City of Pflugerville extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ), the City of Hutto ETJ, and the City of Round Rock ETJ. From January 1 - March 1, 2022 the ESD No. 2 will finalize an interlocal agreement for service in these areas.
This item is to consider adjustments to the City of Pflugerville’s contract with Acadian Ambulance Services of Texas as Acadian is currently contracted to support Austin-Travis County EMS response in the ETJ in addition to the Pflugerville City limits. All current dispatch/notification, emergency communications, and CAD data sharing procedures/practices for these areas served will remain in place utilizing the current system(s).
Earlier this year, the City of Pflugerville received a Revised Corrected Statement of Services indicating that ambulance services would terminate at the end of calendar year 2021.
The City’s Fire & EMS Assessment (June 2021) addressed future options and recommendations for service for consideration. The five options included: maintain the status quo, engage a private ambulance provider, establish a city-owned third service EMS, engage Austin-Travis County EMS or establish a City-based fire and EMS department. Based on the correspondence received in July, the status quo would cost the City of Pflugerville approximately $2.79 million per year.
Travis County ESD17 was created in as a result of a creation petition and subsequent election in May 2021 applicable primarily to the Austin ETJ. Later, petitions to annex the city of Pflugerville and the Pflugerville ETJ were circulated and that election was held on November 2, 2021. In that election, all related measures by Pflugerville and Pflugerville ETJ voters rejected the annexation into Travis County ESD17.
In conjunction with the EMS Assessment conducted by AP Triton earlier this year, a Request for Information (RFI) was issued to five providers, 3 private and two public. This process, and the resultant information, was helpful to understand the landscape and the assessment recommendations and was followed up by an informal Request for Proposals (RFP) in which 3 private and 1 public provider responded.
In pursuit of option 2 in the report, the City Council approved an agreement with Acadian Ambulance Services to provide ground ambulance service in the City and the City's exterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) with the obligation to be up and running on January 1, 2022. This timeline has allowed staff to engage with other entities and Acadian in the steps necessary to integrate a private provider into the 911 infrastructure. Within the City Limits, Acadian would be the exclusive provider of emergency ambulance services as well as non-emergency transports. In the Pflugerville ETJ, these services were not exclusive.
The purpose of this item is to consider adjustments to the Acadian Ambulance agreement accordingly.
Prior City Council Action
On October 12, 2021, the City Council approved the selection of Acadian Ambulance Service and authorized the City Manager to enter into contract negotiations.
On October 26, 2021, the City Council discussed the item and moved that it be postponed to a future date.
On October 30, 2021, the City Council discussed the item and moved that it be postponed to a future date.
On November 9, 2021, the City Council approved an agreement with Acadian Ambulance Services.
On December 30, 2021, the City Council discussed the item in executive session.
Deadline for City Council Action
Action has been requested for January 11, 2021
Funding Expected: Revenue __ Expenditure __ N/A _x_
Budgeted Item: Yes __ No _x_ N/A __
Amount: There is no cost to the city of Pflugerville directly attributed to this contract.
1295 Form Required? Yes _x_ No __
Legal Review Required: N/A __ Required _x_ Date Completed: 11/5/2021
Supporting documents attached:
Acadian Ambulance Services Agreement approved on November 9, 2021
Recommended Action
Approve the contract as amended with Acadian Ambulance Services for EMS services in the City, and extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) as appropriate, and authorize the City Manager to execute same.