Title
Resolution to Approve a Two-Year Service Agreement with Huron Valley Ambulance for Communication and Dispatching Services for the Ann Arbor Fire Department with the Right to Renew the Service Agreement for One Additional Year at the City's Option ($99,420.00/FY 10 - $109,620.00/FY 11)
Memorandum
The attached resolution is for the fire department dispatching services to be moved to Huron Valley Ambulance Dispatch Center.
This move to centralized dispatching of fire services will benefit regionalized emergency response efforts in which the City of Ann Arbor has taken a leadership role. Successful regionalization could lead to long term fiscal savings by all involved.
Huron Valley Ambulance Dispatch Center currently provides fire dispatching services for 9 area fire departments. By moving to this central location for fire dispatching, it is anticipated that the City of Ann Arbor will benefit from time, cost and resource management coordinated services, including:
Reduction in duplicative/inappropriate emergency services requests leading to reduced response times
Coordination of a unified response management
Fire Services, under the contract's established guidelines and protocols for the dispatch center, will continuously monitor performance measures to insure the volume and quality of service provided to the department, its fire fighters and the citizens of Ann Arbor meet national standards for emergency services dispatching.
Funds for dispatching services were budgeted in the approved FY10 Fire Services budget in the amount of $99,420.00. This funding amount is based on the Fire Services' previous fiscal years call volume of 6,000 emergency responses. During the contract term, the nature and volume of service calls will be quality controlled monthly and oversight will reside with the Fire Chief.
Under the terms of the contract, costs will be re-balanced annually based on the actual number of dispatched calls. The City of Ann Arbor Fire Services will be protected against unanticipated cost adjustments through the volume of services provided and the cost of services being provided to all fire services dispatched by HVA.
HVA received Human Rights approval on May 20, 2009, and complies with the City's living wage requirements.
The Fire Chief and Safety Services Administrator recommend approval of this resolution.
Staff
Prepared by: Assistant Chief Edward Dziubinski, AAFS, Mary Joan Fales, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Reviewed by: Chief Sam Hopkins, AAFS
Approved by: Roger W. Fraser, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor has been a leader in conversations with our governmental neighbors as we attempt to define alternative ways to provide public services in a era when money for public services is constrained, and
Whereas, The City's Fire Services Unit has taken a leadership role in the promotion of regionalization of emergency response services and centralization of fire communication and dispatching services as an integral part in the advancement of regionalization of services, and
Whereas, Huron Valley Ambulance currently provides fire dispatching services for nine other fire services in Washtenaw County, and
Whereas, By contracting for fire communication and dispatching services with Huron Valley Ambulance the City of Ann Arbor Fire Services will benefit from time, cost and resource management efficiencies without negatively impacting the quality of services to City fire fighters or the public, and
Whereas, Fire Services has planned and budgeted for dispatch services in the approved FY10 Fire Services budget and will be included in the Fire Services budget for FY11 based on historical call volumes for emergency responses, and
Whereas, Huron Valley Ambulance received Human Rights approval on May 20, 2009, and complies with the City living wage requirements;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve a service contract with Huron Valley Ambulance for communication and dispatching services,
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to execute the contract for services after approval as to substance by the City Administrator and approval as to form by the City Attorney, and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take all necessary actions to implement this resolution, including if deemed in the best interest of the City authorization of renewal of the contract under the same terms as the initial agreement.