Meeting Tonight on Paramedic Plan
An informational meeting on the city’s emergency transportation system and emergency-paramedic response is scheduled for 6 tonight at the Central Library.
City Manager Kevin J. Murphy and Fire and Marine Chief Timothy D. Riley will host the workshop to inform residents about the Fire and Marine Department’s proposal to improve paramedic service in Newport Beach.
In recent meetings of the Public Safety Committee, Riley has proposed a two-part plan that would reduce paramedic response time from eight minutes or less to five minutes or less.
In addition, it would produce for the city a net revenue of between $85,000 and $158,000 a year.
The plan entails phasing out MedTrans and replacing it with a city-run ambulance.
However, MedTrans representatives have said the plan would be unfair and bad business.
Fire and Marine Department officials say city residents would benefit from revenue that now goes to the private company.
Currently, three of six fire stations in Newport Beach have firefighters who are also paramedics.
Under the proposal, all six fire stations would have paramedics.
On May 13, the City Council will consider the proposal.
Tonight’s meeting will take place in the library’s community room, 1000 Avocado Ave.
For more information, call (714) 644-3384.
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