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• City Council Workshop Notes August 18, 1999 Page 2 Falcon Heights Fire Chief Kurhajetz of 1733 N. Hamline Avenue answered questions about training and how the city provides its BLS service. .Chief Huisenga and Mr. Butler were asked questions by the council and by members of the audience including Assistant Fire Chief Sheltie Marvin of 1818 West Larpenteur Avenue, Mr. Jim Stock of 1818 West Larpenteur Avenue and Mr. Joe Martinez, 1717 Fry Street. Several questions dealt with whether or not Falcon Heights BLS/EMTs could be dispatched to medical emergencies that required medical procedures like IVs, comby tubes and other medical that EMTs can do or do with specific certifications in order to decrease the number of times the ALS/paramedics would need to be dispatched to a medical emergency and increase the responses for the BLS service with the idea that this would provide for more BLS transports and revenue and, therefore, keep the BLS service financially stable. Mr. Stock of 1818 West Larpenteur Avenue asked why the mayor had the agenda for the workshop included representatives of the emergency medical services providers. Mayor Gehrz explained that although those in the room were familiar with the city's EMS system that questions had been raised in the public • and, therefore, it was time to go over this information in a public format for citizens. Ms. Jennifer Thienes, the city auditor from Kern DeWenter Viere, reported the analysis of future trends in the rescue fund as an enterprise fund. The four year analysis demonstrated a continued loss over the four years resulting in a continued depletion of the retained earnings and cash balance in the fund. Ms. Thienes explained that the assumptions behind the analysis assumed there would be no capital purchases over four years. Ms. Thienes explained that from an auditor's perspective the city council was behaving responsibly to address a fund that was experiencing a serious loss over time rather than waiting until there was a deficit that required support from other city sources. Ms. Thienes explained that the city created the fund as an enterprise fund in 1990 because it wanted it to be supported through user fees. She said that frequently cities used enterprise funds to run operations like liquor stores to raise revenue for other city expenditures. Assistant Chief Sheltie Marvin asked several specific financial questions about the auditor's findings which Ms. Thienes responded too. Mr. Martinez, 1717 Fry Street, raised questions about the possibility of increasing the number of BLS runs by creating more EMT - I dispatch opportunities, hence more money for the BLS service through charges for transport. Mr. Butler said that the dispatch protocols could be discussed with the medical directors and • review of records could be made. Chief Huisenga, who is a member of the State Emergency Medical Systems Board (EMSB) said that adding another layer of 2