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County. City Manager Everett said many people believe there is a better way to provide paramedic services. Presently the fire department responds to all medical calIs and 99% of the time arrives there first. City Manager Everett said a better way to provide paramedic services would be to allow one paramedic on each of the engine companies throughout the County, letting Baystar have only one paramedic on their ambulance, and probably fewer ambulances. Staff believes that configuration would improve response time, have the same number of paramedics at the scene, and substantially reduce the cost to Baystar. City Manager Everett said in order for this plan to work it would have to be done by the vast majority of fire districts and major cities in the County, and with a private sector company. He said the plan would save money for the ambulance company, based on their reports to the licensing agency, San Mateo County. The plan also includes some of that savings being funneled back in the form of revenue from Baystar to fire departments. If Baystar is not interested in a joint proposal according to the proposed plan, then it could come from fire departments and some other private provider. In response to Council questions, City Manager Everett identified other city and fire department officials interested in approving this concept. He said it was the intent to see if other agencies in the County, and the County itself, were interested in the concept, to see if cities, fire departments and districts could form a JP A and negotiate with Baystar or another provider to see if there were significant savings that could be shared. City Manager Everett said page 3 of the resolution states this proposal will not result in any additional expenditures ITom the General Fund. City Manager Everett said the viability of the plan rests on the major cities and districts participating; if the private sector is prepared to share significantly in the savings this plan would bring about; and if the unions are careful and maintain cost containment in their requests for higher wages and payment for paramedics. The County is preparing to issue an RFP, but will delay it if there is sufficient evidence that cities and fire districts are prepared to move forward. . In response to Council questions, City Manager Everett said the assumptions of the plan would be tested during the next phase and described the concerns of other cities around a central dispatch, that is working so successfully for Redwood City and six other cities. City Manager Everett described the other agencies and the unions' support for this initial phase. Mayor Hartnett asked if anyone in the audience wished to speak to this issue. No one came forward. Mayor Hartnett said he believed there was support for this concept and it appeared that if Baystar was unwilIing there were other private providers who would be interested, leading to a competitive situation. He added that there would probably be a cost to Redwood City because the City did not have a paramedic base in the Fire Department. Mayor Hartnett REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 54 AUGUST 12, 1996 MINUTES Page No. 433 PAGE 20