HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_99Sep1City of Falcon Heights
City Council
Minutes
September 1, 1999
The meeting was called to order at 8:03 P.M. by Acting Mayor Sam Jacobs.
Present: Acting Mayor Sam Jacobs, Councihnembers Hustad, Gibson Talbot and Kuettel.
Administrator Hoyt
Absent: Mayor Gehrz
Notes of August 18, 1999 and Minutes of August 25, 1999
The workshop notes of August 18, 1999 and the minutes of August 25, 1999 were approved.
Consent Agenda:
Councilmember Hustad moved approval of the consent agenda The motion passed unanimously.
1. General disbursements and payroll
2. Licenses
Consideration of the future of the basic life support ambulance service.
• Acting Mayor Jacobs opened the discussion on the future of the basic life support ambulance service by
reading the following statement from Mayor Gehrz. (attachment 1)
Following this statement, Acting Mayor Jacobs explained that he would vote against continuing the BLS
ambulance service like the Mayor. Acting Mayor Jacobs explained that he had followed this issue for over
two years as the chair of the original task force that recommended the dual response model of emergency
medical services. He said it was understood that this model would continue only if the BLS service was
self-supporting which it is not.
Councilmember Gibson Talbot concurred with the opinion of Mayor Gehrz and Acting Mayor Jacobs by
stating that it was fiscally sound to end the service even though it was a difficult decision to do.
Councihnember Hustad explained that the BLS service was appreciated but as a councihnember he needed
to make a decision that was fiscally sound as well as guaranteed the public health and safety. He believed
that it was time to eliminate the BLS service because the public health and safety and fiscal prudence were
served by this.
Councihnember Kuettel stated that as a citizen, taxpayer and user of emergency medical services she felt it
was time to end the BLS service even though it was a very difficult decision to do so.
Acting Mayor Jacobs asked if there was anyone who wished to speak to the issue with new information that
had not been provided at the prior two workshops on this subject. No one wished to speak.
Councilmember Gibson Talbot moved resolution 99-19 calling for the termination of the Falcon Heights
BLS ambulance license and service as of 12:01 AM on October 18, 1999.
Acting Mayor Jacobs called on Fire Chief Clem Kurhajetz to make a statement. Chief Kurhajetz expressed
• regret over the loss of the service but understood the reasons for the decision. He suggested that a
September 1, 1999 end time for the service made more financial sense.
Page 2
City Council Minutes
September 1, 1999
Administrator Hoyt explained that the city was obligated to fulfill its BLS license until the Minnesota
Emergency Medical Services Board reviewed and administratively approved the arrangement and until the
city of St. Paul had been officially notified of the change in service delivery model. She said that if all this
was in place prior to October 18, 1999 the BLS service could end as of that date.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 P.M.
Res octfully submitted,
Susan Hoyt
City Administrator/Clerk
•