PREPARED BY: MATT RODRIGUEZ DATE OF MEETING: 06/16/2025
SUBJECT:
TITLE
CONSIDER ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO: (1) AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A FIVE-YEAR EMERGENCY SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT (DISTRICT) AND THE CITY OF SAN PABLO (CITY) FOR ENHANCED EMS SERVICES FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING JULY 1, 2025 AND EXPIRING ON JUNE 30, 2030 FOR A COMBINED TOTAL CONTRACT COST NOT TO EXCEED $10,832,273 SUBJECT TO FUNDING AVAILABILITY; AND (2) RATIFYING A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS/DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS TRANSMITED ON MAY 19, 2025 BY MAYOR CRUZ IN SUPPORT OF SAID AGREEMENT BETWEEN BOTH PARTIES
CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution
Body
Compliance statements
FY 2025-27 Council Priority Workplan Compliance Statement
Major Policy Goal: Improve Public Safety is a major policy category adopted under the FY 2025-27 Council Priority Workplan, effective April 7, 2025.
CEQA Compliance Statement
CEQA is not triggered by this agreement. Per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, there cannot be a project unless the proposed action will result in "either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment." The Agreement presents no foreseeable significant adverse impact to the environment. State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5) states that a project does not include "organization or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment."
BACKGROUND
Since May 1, 2015, the City of San Pablo and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District ("District") executed a 5-year agreement (“Agreement”) pursuant to which the City provides supplemental funding to the District for the District’s provision of fire, rescue, and emergency medical incident response services within the City of San Pablo from the District’s Fire Station 70, which is currently located within the City at 1800 23rd Street ("Station 70").
DMC Hospital & Emergency Services Closure
The West Contra County Healthcare District (WCCHCD) Board of Governors, who operated Doctor’s Medical Center (DMC) in San Pablo, proposed a special purpose parcel tax (Measure C) on the May 6, 2014 ballot for voters located within WCCHCD boundaries to maintain local emergency room care, and continue to provide critical medical services, such as intensive care, care for heart attacks, emergency respiratory care and cancer treatment. Unfortunately, Measure C was defeated resulting in the eventual insolvency of DMC, and local emergency medical services in West County region, with closure in 2015.
City of San Pablo Measure K Sales Tax Measure
In June 2014, following the defeat of WCCHCD’s Measure C, local San Pablo voters passed (70.8%) a special purpose quarter (1/4) cent sales tax Measure K, in perpetuity, with no sunset provision. Under adopted Measure K, the City is required to spend the annual Measure K sales tax proceeds to enhance the emergency medical incident response services provided in the City. For period ending June 30, 2024, total annual Measure K Sales tax revenue generated and received by the City for covering all costs associated with the current EMS agreement in effect was $1,020,577, respectively.
2015 Original EMS Agreement
In January 2015, the City and District negotiated an initial 5-year Agreement pursuant to adopted Resolution 2015-016 which funds an additional two-person squad operated out of Station 70, and staffed 24 hours a day, effective May 1, 2015. The City pays for operation of the EMS Squad vehicle, the costs of personnel, equipment and fuel for the EMS Squad, and the costs associated with constructing housing, or other accommodations at Station 70 for the EMS Squad personnel.
Under the terms of the 2015 5-year Agreement, the District must staff Station 70 with a two-person squad comprised of a fire engineer and a firefighter, at least one of which will be a paramedic (the "EMS Squad"), in addition to the existing three-person station deployment comprised of a captain, a fire engineer, and a paramedic. The EMS Squad will be housed at, and permanently assigned to Station 70, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This obligation will remain for so long as Station 70 is in existence.
The EMS Squad personnel is assigned at the sole discretion of the District. Notwithstanding that the EMS Squad is located at Station 70 in the City, the EMS Squad has been used in the same manner that the District would use it if the City were not funding the EMS Squad. At the District's discretion, the EMS Squad may be assigned to provide emergency services at any location as deemed necessary by the District. The EMS Squad does not provide EMS transportation services.
In addition to funding one-time start-up costs totaling $175,000 in FY 2014-15, the City pays the District for the staffing and operation of the EMS Squad in the maximum amount of (a) $1.2 million annually for the first three years of this Agreement, and (b) $1.5 million annually for the fourth and fifth years of this Agreement. However, if the City Council had failed to appropriate sufficient funds in any fiscal year for payments due under this Agreement that are in excess of Measure K funds received, and if other funds are not available for such payments, then the City shall give the District immediate written notice, and the District may thereafter terminate this agreement. Since inception of the 2015 Agreement, both parties, City and District, have fulfilled all financial and operational obligations under said Agreement to date.
Extension/First Amendment of EMS Agreement (2020-2025)
In March 2020, the City and District came to terms on a First Amendment to the 2015 5-year Agreement (“First Amendment of Agreement”) which was approved by the City Council on April 20, 2020 via adopted Resolution #2020-050, with the following recitals, terms and conditions, as follows:
1. Under the modified terms of the current First Amendment of Agreement, the District has permanently assigned the EMS Squad Personnel (as defined in new Agreement) to Station 70 in the City, and the City pays the District for the costs of personnel, equipment and fuel for the EMS Squad Personnel; and
2. The District and the City desired to extend the term of the First Amendment of Agreement for another five (5) years, and to set forth the amounts that the City will pay the District annually during the extended five-year period through June 30, 2025; and
3. The District and the City also desire to amend the First Amendment of Agreement to add provisions whereby the EMS Squad Personnel will be available to staff new Station 70, which will be located at 1800 23rd Street in the City, on or about March 1, 2021, pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding between the District and City for the San Pablo Fire Station Replacement Project approved by the City Council on June 19, 2017 pursuant to adopted Resolution #2017-129.
Current Major Terms And Conditions (2015-2025):
• Old Station 70 EMS Squad Personnel. During the term of this Agreement, and for as long as the District keeps Old Station 70 open, the District shall minimally staff Old Station 70 with a two-person squad comprised of a fire engineer and a firefighter, at least one of which will be a paramedic (the “EMS Squad Personnel”), which is in addition to the existing three-person engine company comprised of a captain, a fire engineer, and a paramedic. The EMS Squad Personnel will be housed at, and permanently assigned to Old Station 70, 24 hours a day, seven days a week until New Station 70 begins operating.
• New Station 70 EMS Squad Personnel. During the term of this Agreement, and for as long as the District keeps New Station 70 open, the District shall minimally staff New Station 70 with the EMS Squad Personnel of a fire engineer and a firefighter, at least one of whom will be a paramedic, which is in addition to the existing three-person engine company comprised of a captain, a fire engineer, and a paramedic. Additionally, the EMS Squad Personnel may be used to staff new EMS Truck 70 and will be assigned to New Station 70, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• EMS Squad Vehicle. During the time Old Station 70 is operating, the District will operate the squad vehicle procured pursuant to this Agreement (the “EMS Squad Vehicle”) for use by the EMS Squad in performing its duties. The EMS Squad Vehicle will be registered in the name of the District and covered by District insurance in the same manner as other District vehicles. The District will continue to use the EMS Squad vehicle as it sees fit for the duration of this Agreement. The District will retain ownership of the EMS Squad Vehicle after termination of this Agreement.
• EMS Squad Personnel and Equipment. EMS Squad Vehicle and New Rescue Truck. EMS Squad Equipment. The EMS Squad Personnel will be equipped with firefighter protective clothing, a cardiac monitor, a defibrillator, necessary radios and communications equipment and other equipment the District determines is necessary to its duties (the “EMS Squad Personnel Equipment”). The EMS Squad Personnel Equipment will primarily be provided by the District from its surplus equipment supply. The remaining EMS Squad Personnel Equipment will be purchased by District after it provides the City with a list of EMS Squad Personnel Equipment that is necessary and in addition to the District supplied EMS Squad Personnel Equipment. The District will invoice the City for the cost of any new or replacement EMS Squad Personnel Equipment it purchases and reimbursement from the City will be limited to the costs of a cardiac monitor, defibrillator, and portable radio equipment for the EMS Squad Personnel. The City will pay the District for the cost of the EMS Squad Personnel Equipment within 30 days of its receipt of an invoice.
• New EMS Rescue 70 Truck. In April 2021, following construction of New Station 70 and placed into service, the District procured at its own cost a new, EMS Rescue Truck 70 into service and staffed it with the EMS Squad Personnel, together with additional District personnel paid for by the District. Since FY 2023-24, the existing EMS Squad and EMS Rescue Truck 70 have greatly expanded EMS dual-capabilities at Station 70 to respond to EMS and rescue calls in the Station #70 service area.
• EMS Squad Assignment. The EMS Squad Personnel and Rescue Truck 70 will be assigned at the sole discretion of the District. Notwithstanding that the EMS Squad Personnel are located at either Old Station 70 or New Station 70, which are both in the City, the EMS Squad Personnel and Truck 70 will be used in the same manner that the District would use it if the City were not funding the EMS Squad Personnel. At the District’s discretion, the EMS Squad Personnel and Truck 70 may be assigned to provide 4 emergency services at any location as deemed necessary by the District. The EMS Squad Personnel does not provide EMS transportation services.
• EMS Squad Funding; Non-Appropriation. The City paid the District for the staffing and operation of the EMS Squad in the following amounts (a) $1.2 million annually for the first three years of this Agreement, (b) $1.5 million annually for the fourth and fifth years of this Agreement with an additional $250,000 ($125,000 per month) to be paid in May 2020 and June 2020, (c) $1,536,000 for the sixth year beginning in July 1, 2020, (d) $1,612,800 for the seventh year beginning in July 1, 2021, (e) $1,693,440 for the eighth year beginning in July 1, 2022, (f) $1,778,112 for the ninth year beginning in July 1, 2023, and (g) $1,867,018 for the tenth year of the Agreement beginning in July 1, 2024; provided, however, that payments due from the City to the District that are in excess of Measure K funds received by the City are subject to annual appropriations by the City.
• Term of Agreement. The term of the current First Amendment to Agreement is from July 1, 2020 until June 30, 2025. Prior to expiration of the term, the parties may extend this Agreement for another five years by executing an amendment to this Agreement that (1) extends the term of this Agreement for another five years, and (2) sets forth the amounts that the City will pay the District annually during the extended five-year period.
Proposed new 5-year EMS Agreement (2025-2030)
In February 2025, the District and City mutually agreed to proceed with the development of a new 5-year EMS Agreement for the next 5-year period from July 1, 2025 and expiring on June 30, 2030.
On March 18, 2025, District and City officials met to discuss current and updated terms and conditions for the new EMS Agreement and mutually drafted a new EMS Agreement for legal review by both agencies. After subsequent legal review by City Attorney and County Counsel, the new EMS Agreement has been mutually agreed to for the upcoming 2025-2030 period, and attached hereto for City Council review and consideration (See Attachment).
For the upcoming 2025-2030 service period, it should be noted that critical EMS service delivery will be sustained at Station #70 through said proposed term of the new EMS Agreement which includes the following noted services and service-related call history, as follows:
Critical Life Safety Services:
• Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) are critically provided EMS services due to paramedics assigned at FS#70; and
• Absence of local emergency care or hospital available in the West County region, following closure of DMC Hospital in 2015, the new EMS Agreement will continue to provide critical life-saving services to San Pablo residents from Station #70 until County-provided EMS ambulance transport is provided for patients to regional emergency room facilities in Martinez, Concord/Walnut Creek or Berkeley/Oakland areas (i.e. Alta Bates will close 2030).
Annual Station #70 Service Calls:
During period ending FY 2023-24, the EMS Truck responded to 4,543 service calls* (194 fewer than the previous year) emergency calls for service: including fractures, respiratory issues, fainting, illness, auto accidents and fires.
County BOS/CCCFPD Board Approval
On May 20, 2025, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors/Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Board of Directors unanimously approved the proposed EMS Agreement and forwarded to the City for subsequent consideration and approval this evening prior to the execution date of July 1, 2025. A Letter of Support was also transmitted in advance of this action on May 19, 2025 by Mayor Cruz to Chair of County BOS/CCCFPD Board of Directors supporting the new EMS Agreement for 2025-2030, and will require formal City Council ratification approval this evening by majority vote via adopted Resolution (See Attachment).
Public Safety Standing Committee Review:
On June 4, 2025, the Public Safety Standing Committee (Pabon-Alvarado; Xavier) were presented with the new EMS Agreement for 2025-2030 period, and recommended its formal consideration and approval to the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Under the terms of the new EMS Agreement for the 2025-2030 period, the City will pay the District for all staffing and operational costs associated with the EMS Squad and Rescue Truck 70 deployment at Station 70 in San Pablo under said new EMS Agreement, effective July 1, 2025. The City’s Measure K sales tax revenue, the voter-approved special purpose sales tax measure passed in June 2014 in perpetuity by local voters, funds all enhanced EMS services costs at Station 70. All projected contract costs during the next 5-year period not covered (or offset) by this direct funding source will be borne as an annual City expense with approximately $900,000 (Year 1) to $1.3M (Year 5) which will be expended under the current Adopted Two-Year GF Budget through June 30, 2026, and appropriated through future multi-year budget(s) adopted by the City Council through June 30, 2030 subject to funding availability
|
New EMS Contract Amount (2025-2030) |
Annual MK Sales Tax Revenue Offset |
Projected Annual GF Subsidy (%) |
|
Year 1 (07/01/25): $1,960,368 |
($1M) est.* |
49% Cost Share (est.) |
|
Year 2 (07/01/26): $2,058,387 |
($1M) est.* |
52% Cost Share (est.) |
|
Year 3 (07/01/27): $2,161,306 |
($1M) est.* |
54% Cost Share (est.) |
|
Year 4 (07/01/28): $2,269,372 |
($1M) est.* |
56% Cost Share (est.) |
|
Year 5 (07/01/29): $2,382,840 |
($1M) est.* |
58% Cost Share (est.). |
|
Total Contract Costs: $10,832,273 |
Total MK Revenue: ($5M) est.* |
54% Cost Share (est.) |
* Estimates only; Annual MK sales tax revenue received annually by City from CDTFA may fluctuate.
ATTACHMENTS:
(1) Resolution
(2) New EMS Agreement between the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and the City of San Pablo for Enhanced EMS services for period 2025-2030, effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2030.
(3) Letter of Support transmitted on 05/19/25 from Mayor Cruz to Chair, County BOS/CCCFPD Board of Directors re: EMS Agreement for 2025-2030
(4) Copy of PPT Presentation to Public Safety Standing Committee on June 4, 2025