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<br />6.4/1-/ <br /> <br />REPORT <br /> <br />To the Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />From the City Manager <br /> <br />July 25, 2005 <br /> <br />Subject <br />Resolution to Amend the Joint Powers Agreement Establishing the San Mateo Pre- <br />Hospital Emergency Services Providers Group. <br /> <br />Recommendation <br />Move to adopt the Resolution to amend the Joint Powers Agreement, which will amend <br />two sections of the original JPA Agreement that has been in effect since January 1 <br />1999, <br /> <br />Background <br />The original Joint Powers Authority establishing the San Mateo Pre-Hospital Emergency <br />Services Providers Group (JPA) was approved by the governing bodies of all 17 member <br />agencies to provide advanced life support services throughout San Mateo County, <br />utilizing our fire departments for paramedic first response. This has been a highly <br />successful, award winning program that has greatly benefited the citizens of our cities and <br />County and has resulted in increased inter-agency efficiencies. <br /> <br />The Executive Committee and Board of Directors for the JPA have recognized that there <br />are potential economic and service benefits for our JPA member agencies if the JPA's <br />mission was broadened to provide for the administration and legal umbrella for other fire <br />related activities being undertaken by our member agencies. At its meeting of December <br />8, 2004, the JPA Board approved amendments to two sections of the original Agreement <br />which, if approved, would permit the JPA to assist member agencies in the management of <br />certain non-medical fire activities. The Board further directed that these amendments be <br />submitted to the governing bodies of the 17 member agencies for their consideration and <br />approval. <br /> <br />During these past six years, the fire service and the Executive Committee have determined <br />that there are, from time-to-time, non-medical related fire functions that could be <br />administered by the JPA, which would simplify the efforts by our member agencies to gain <br />economic and service benefits through joint activities. An example would be the informal <br />joint arrangements that provide breathing air re-supply trucks to respond to fires and refill <br />air tanks used by our fire fighters. These three special purpose trucks serve all <br />departments in the County and would be managed more efficiently and economically by <br />one larger JPA. Another example for potential economic and service benefits is the <br />Hazardous Materials Response Truck that serves all fire departments and agencies in the <br />County. In these cases, a formal structure has been requested to administer the funding of <br />operations, replacement and maintenance that is currently being done informally. <br /> <br />These are examples of voluntary arrangements by our member departments providing the <br />types of services that could be considered by our Board; and that fit within the meaning of <br />