HUNTINGTON BEACH : Ambulance Service Plan to Be Restudied

The City Council agreed early Tuesday to reconsider a decision of two weeks ago to form an ambulance service operated by the Fire Department.

Councilman David Sullivan requested the delay, claiming the proposal raised “an enormous red flag” and questioning whether all the costs had been considered.

He also attacked plans to add 18 new employees to drive the ambulances.

The city’s ambulance program, if approved for a second time on Aug. 2, would replace Seal’s Ambulance Service, which has operated in the city since the 1960s.

Councilman Victor Leipzig, who voted for reconsideration, said he had confidence in cost and liability projections made by Fire Chief Michael Dolder and indicated he will favor the city program when it comes to a vote again.

Sullivan said he has learned that other cities that operate their own ambulance services are required to subsidize operations. He said he is concerned that the Huntington Beach program would also operate at a loss.

Representatives of the Ambulance Assn. of Orange County, made up of nine private ambulance companies, contended that the fire chief underestimated costs and liability involved.

Dolder said his department can operate the program at a cost of $549,957, while collecting $730,000 in FireMed insurance for paramedic and ambulance service.

That profit, plus other savings and funding sources, will help the city stave off a $470,000 budget cut that would reduce hazardous materials response, he said.

Mayor Grace Winchell and Councilman Earle Robitaille voted against reconsideration.