To: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
From: Health Services
Meeting Date: November 3, 2026
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Department Contact: |
Tami Bartolomei |
Phone: |
707-510-5770 |
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Item Type: Regular Agenda |
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Time Allocated for Item: 15 Minutes |
Agenda Title:
title
Discussion and Possible Action Including Acceptance of Presentation and Status Update from Mendocino County Fire Safe Council and Mendocino County Fire Chiefs Association on Development of a Public Ambulance Joint Powers Agreement
(Sponsor: Health Services)
Vote Requirement: Majority
End
Recommended Action/Motion:
recommendation
Accept presentation and status update from Mendocino County Fire Safe Council and Mendocino County Fire Chiefs Association on development of a public ambulance joint powers agreement.
End
Previous Board/Board Committee Actions:
None.
Summary of Request:
This is an informational update from the Mendocino County Public Health Emergency Medical Services Program on how six local public ambulance providers are working together to explore ways to support emergency medical transport in our rural communities. These agencies are Anderson Valley CSD, Coast Life Support District, Covelo Fire Protection District, Elk CSD, Long Valley Fire Protection District, and the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority. County EMS has not yet participated in these development meetings.
Rural ambulance services face severe financial challenges because the fixed costs of 24/7 operations are spread over fewer transports. Recent federal data show that nationwide, the average cost for rural public agency ambulance transport is roughly $2,800, while average billing revenue is only $1,300, leaving a gap of $1,500. Locally, the majority of patients transported by these agencies are covered by Medicare or Medi-Cal, which reimburse at the lowest rates. Together, these six agencies handle about 30% of the county’s 911 emergency ambulance dispatches, with some serving our most remote areas.
To help mitigate these challenges, these public providers are drafting a Joint Powers Agreement that, once executed by the local boards, the agreement will formally establish a partnership between the agencies. Today’s presentation is for information to let the Board of Supervisors know this planning is under way. No Board action is being requested at this time Subsequent presentations will likely detail future allocation requests for PG&E settlement funds set aside in 2021 for “JPA assessment and implementation”.
Alternative Action/Motion:
None-This is information only.
Strategic Plan Priority Designation: A Safe and Healthy County
Supervisorial District: All
Supplemental Information Available Online At: N/A
Fiscal Details:
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source of funding: N/A |
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current f/y cost: N/A |
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budget clarification: This item is information only and has no immediate fiscal impact. |
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annual recurring cost: N/AA |
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budgeted in current f/y (if no, please describe): N/A |
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revenue agreement: N/A |
AGREEMENT/RESOLUTION/ORDINANCE APPROVED BY COUNTY COUNSEL: N/A
CEO Liaison: Megan Shandel, Deputy CEO
CEO Review: Yes
CEO Comments:
FOR COB USE ONLY
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Executed By: Deputy Clerk |
Final Status: Item Status |
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Date: Date Executed |
Executed Item Type: item |
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Number: |
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