CITY OF LA HABRA HEIGHTS
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF
THE LA HABRA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL
APRIL 22, 2004
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
TITLE: City Manager
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor Borrowe called to order a Special Meeting of the La Habra Heights City Council at 7:00 P.M. on Thursday April 22, 2004, at the Multi Purpose room, 1245 Hacienda Road, La Habra Heights.
2. ROLL CALL
Members present were: Mayor Borrowe, Mayor Pro Tem Douglas, Councilmembers Carroll, Klein and Millsap. Also present were City Manager Hendrickson, Attorney Yvette Abich, Fire Chief Nielsen and Deputy City Engineer Lang
3. FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Borrowe asked Deputy City Engineer Lang to lead the flag salute.
Mayor Borrowe introduced Yvette Abich, an attorney who has joined City Attorney ColantuonoÕs firm.
Attorney Abich reported on the closed session that the Council performed the evaluation and directed the item be agendized for closed session at the next Regular City Council meeting on May 13, 2004.
There were no Public Comments.
OLD BUSINESS
4. AWARD BID FOR THE 2004 STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
A request for authorization to proceed with the bidding process for the 2003-04 Street Improvement Project, and to award contract to the lowest responsible bidder.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorization to award contract to the lowest responsible bidder.
Deputy City Engineer Lang reported that the Public Works Committee was recommending awarding the Slurry contract to Doug Martin for $262,709.25. He further recommended that for the Overlay Contractor we award ÒAlternate 2Ó to Sully Miller for $297,500.00. We are recommending an additional $50,000 for three (3) inches of overlay on the streets. This would be subject to soil tests done on these streets to determine the compaction of the soil beneath the street and the water content in the soil.
Councilmember Carroll asked what the letters under Òstate licenseÓ mean.
Deputy City Engineer Lang noted that they show what they are allowed to do.
Councilmember Millsap asked what the difference is between ÒAlternate 1Ó and ÒAlternate 2Ó.
The Deputy City Engineer answered that ÒAlternate 1Ó would be using Petromat and ÒAlternate 2Ó would be grinding the old pavement and using that as a base and placing the overlay over it. He stated that they thought they would have a better project with ÒAlternate 2Ó. There is a possibility that we might even end up spending less.
Mayor Borrowe stated that on Ardsheal there are very bad ripples. He asked if Petromat would help that condition.
The Deputy City Engineer replied that the ripples would have to be leveled out first, so the Petromat would help, but it would still be a Band-Aid. The Petromat can not be reground and the dump would charge more for the removed Petromat.
Councilmember Douglas noted that sometimes you can not be sure of the new surface adhering to the Petromat.
Councilmember Millsap asked if the bid price includes crack sealing.
Deputy City Engineer Lang explained that on the streets that we are grinding and overlaying we do not have to do the crack sealing.
Councilmember Millsap asked if crack sealing without overlay is a temporary fix.
Deputy City Engineer Lang stated that this is temporary. It does keep the water out so it prevents more damage for a while.
Mayor Borrowe asked if crack sealing could be an option to slurry.
The Deputy City Engineer explained that in cracks over a certain width we do crack sealing and then the slurry.
Councilmember Carroll offered a motion to award the bids as presented. Councilmember Klein seconded the motion.
Councilmember Millsap asked if the work was still on target for the middle of June.
Deputy City Engineer Lang explained that the Overlay Contractor would start the patching two weeks earlier and then the slurry sealers and the Overlay Contractors will do their work and it is hoped it will all be finished by the middle of June. The residents will be notified when their streets will be worked on.
The motion was approved as follows:
AYES: Borrowe, Carroll, Douglas, Klein and Millsap
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
5. CONTINUED COUNCIL DISCUSSION REGARDING PARAMEDIC AND AMBULANCE SERVICES PLAN.
RECOMMENDATION: Not ready to make final recommendations at this point. Seek Council direction.
City Manager Hendrickson stated that Fire Chief Nielsen will give an overview and presentation of the various options. He stated that they have spent a lot of time on this project. He noted that there were several possibilities:
1. Enter into a contract with La Habra.
2. Enter into a contract with a private ambulance company who provide both paramedics and transport.
3. Go with LA County Service.
4. Provide our own paramedic service and contract with a private ambulance company for transportation.
5. The only other choice is to have no medic service, which we could not in good conscience recommend.
The City Manager stated that the City of La Habra found that they were not being paid enough to cover their expenses incurred by us, and what they are asking is a reasonable amount for their service. Their contract with us will become null and void on May 10, 2004. This causes us to look into other alternatives to make sure we do the best for our City. The City of La Habra has agreed to serve us on a month to month basis while we are looking into the alternatives. If we continue with their service they have agreed to extend their insurance plan to us as they do to their residents. He explained that this is for ambulance service, and that whatever residents insurance does not cover, La Habra will accept residents insurance coverage as full payment if they have the $36 per year insurance coverage.
The City Manager explained that the cost for the medics depends on what they do. The medic service could be charged if he does something for you even if you are not transported. In the past, La Habra only charged if you were transported. They charged the Orange County fee of $466 for Advanced Life Support (ALS) plus the medicine and transport charges. This could run $700-$1200. He pointed out that this does not cover the hospital charge.
Mayor Pro Tem Douglas asked if there would be a significant amount of insurance coming back at the end of the year if we have provided our own paramedic service and contract with a private ambulance for transportation.
Mr. Hendrickson answered that there should be about $30,000.
Fire Chief Nielsen explained that we could not bill for anything if we do not transport and the transport company cannot bill for any ALS service unless they are in a contract with an ALS provider.
Mayor Pro Tem Douglas pointed out that the Fire Department does much more than the fire fee covers. He stated that the Fire Department provides emergency services for traffic accidents and medical emergencies. He stated that the residents need to understand what the options are and what they want.
Fire Chief Nielsen stated that 85% of the cityÕs calls are medical.
The City Manager explained that most Fire Departments are similar in their type of calls.
Mr. Nielsen stated that the emergency medical calls average 150 annually with 40% requiring ALS treatment (Paramedic level treatment and care).
Fire Chief Nielsen gave a Powerpoint presentation of the different options before the City. In summary he stated the following:
á Service provided by City of La Habra; $194,000. The plus is that it would continue the same level of service and the Medics and ambulance most likely to be available within ten (10) minutes. In the new service La Habra Heights would not be billed for any differences with patientÕs insurance and residents will be able to join the medical subscription program offered by La Habra.
á Service provided by AMR; $250,000. The plus is that it will increase the level of service over present arrangement due to dedicated Medics and ambulance stationed in La Habra Heights. The City would have no administrative responsibilities. The down side would be the cost of the service. There could also be an AMR ambulance service to provide BLS (Basic Life Support). This would not provide Paramedic services such as medications for heart attacks, strokes, etc. La Habra Heights Fire personnel will respond as usual to all calls. The Fire Chief and the City Manager cannot support the BLS service as Paramedics are so important.
á Service provided by La Habra Heights Fire Department; $215,000. The plus would be Medics are employed by La Habra Heights Fire Department and the program would be controlled by the City. The down side would be that there is no immediate Medic back up, except from LA County. $8,000 would be set aside per year for vehicle replacement. He stated that an ambulance and ALS pass through agreement with AMR could create a revenue stream for La Habra Heights, which would lower the net cost.
Mayor Pro Tem Douglas asked if we provide the service, would we be allowed to transport.
Fire Chief Nielsen explained that prior to 1984 we never did any transporting of patients, so we would not be able to obtain a Ò201Ó right to transport patients or bill. This is the law. It is regulated by the private ambulance service providers.
Mayor Borrowe asked Fire Chief Nielsen why, if we contract with La Habra and they do not go with LA County you would recommend we discontinue the contract with La Habra.
The Fire Chief answered that if La Habra does not have a contract with LA County there is the possibility this could affect their ability to maintain professional conduct with us. This would give us a chance to pursue our own paramedics system.
Mayor Borrowe asked for a further explanation on how having our own paramedics could possibly produce a reduced net cost to the city.
Chief Nielsen answered that it is $215,000 to start up the program, but if we could go with AMR and could collect money back it could end up with a lower net cost. Los Angeles fees are higher than the Orange County fees. We would have to negotiate with AMR on how much we would get back from that.
Councilmember Millsap asked if the insurance program from La Habra covers just Paramedic service.
Chief Nielsen responded that it covers Paramedic Service and Transportation.
Mayor Pro Tem Douglas asked if we know La HabraÕs total recovery amount from insurance on what they have billed people.
City Manager Hendrickson stated that they did not receive the total amount figures for their billing, only what they did not collect and La Habra Heights owed them.
Councilmember Millsap asked if there was any information on accidents involving commuters.
The City Manager answered that the City had received no information on this as the City would not be involved with it. They were probably billed separately.
Councilmember Klein asked if the $36 insurance was self funded by La Habra or do they have an underwriter.
The City Manager explained that he had not asked that question of La Habra.
Councilmember Klein asked if the City Manager could find this out and verify if the charge was per person or household.
Mayor Borrowe asked what the increased charge would be per household in La Habra Heights for going with La Habra.
City Manager Hendrickson stated that his estimate is that it would increase by 20%-25%, or approximately $100 per home.
City Manager Hendrickson explained that one way to judge a service is to check the backup of the service in case there is more than one call at a time and the response time.
Fire Chief Nielsen explained that for in house service we have two units that can be used for Paramedics. Even a fire engine can be used if necessary.
Councilmember Millsap asked if we hired our own Medics, do we have available and willing Medics and if they were hired as Medics would it remove them from being available as firefighters?
Fire Chief Nielsen answered that they would be ready and it would not remove them from being used for firefighting.
Councilmember Millsap asked how the subscription service would be billed.
Chief Nielsen stated that if we go with in house Medics with an agreement with AMR, we would not be responsible for any billing. We cannot charge for any paramedic service as we do not do the transporting. He explained that it is up to the City Council if they want a charge for paramedic service and so the billing would be a little higher than just the transport. It would be collected by AMR. They would then reimburse us for the paramedic part of the bill.
Councilmember Carroll asked what the percentage of the pass back from AMR would be of the $215,000.
City Manager Hendrickson stated that it would be approximately10% of the ALS charge, which would amount to about $19,000.
Mayor Borrowe asked when they might have a final recommendation.
The City Manager stated that they should at least have a temporary decision by May 13 at the next regular City Council meeting. If we decide to go with our own service it will take a while to set it up. We have been offered a month to month basis continuation with La Habra until we can fully analyze that.
Mr. Hendrickson stated that La Habra does not have a contract yet from LA County and would not charge us for that expense or for the second ambulance until they get that in place.
Mr. Hendrickson recommended that we stay with La Habra on a month to month basis for two or three months until be can bring back solid figures for in house service and then make a decision on which direction to go.
Councilmember Carroll asked if we put this to the voter, when would be the last day we could put it on the ballot.
Mr. Hendrickson stated that he believed it was in August.
Mayor Borrowe asked when the Fire Fee could be changed.
City Manager Hendrickson explained that it could be changed at any time, but in order to continue the Fire Fee you would have to hold an election again to reaffirm the assessment and that would be held in March of 2005.
Councilmember Klein stated that he would like to know more about the $36.00 subscription charge and if they could get an arrangement like that if they went in house for service. He also wanted to know if this was per household or per person.
Norm Zezula expressed his appreciation for the service provided by both La Habra Heights and La Habra in past emergency services to his family. He also asked if the cost of building a place to house the ambulance if we go in house has been considered.
Mr. Hendrickson stated that they already have the vehicle so housing will not change from what is already planned.
Councilmember Klein asked when the roadwork is expected to start.
The City Manager stated that it should be just before the end of May that they will start the patchwork of the bad parts. The slurry will not start until the middle of June.
Mayor Pro Tem Douglas asked if there is any further information about the VLF.
The City Manager stated that there is no new information however, there is more consideration of ERAF switching.
Mayor Pro Tem Douglas asked when the budget comes to the City Council.
Mr. Hendrickson explained that it will be at the next meeting, May 13, 2004.
Mayor Pro Tem Douglas asked if the City will be looking into franchise fees for BSI.
City Manager Hendrickson stated that he is looking into what different fees could be placed on the BSI system.
Mayor Pro Tem Douglas stated that he has noticed a lot of mud and debris had been cleaned off of the roads. He asked how the City got the owners to clean this up.
City Manager Hendrickson explained that they had to call out the Public Works Department because it took a front-end loader to clean it up. It was paid by General Funds, but we have an ordinance about how to be reimbursed by the owners. He reminded everyone of their responsibility to keep the road clear at their property edges three (3) feet back and thirteen (13) feet high.
Mayor Pro Tem Douglas warned everyone to keep alert to people and cars that do not belong in La Habra Heights, citing an eight year old who was approached by a car with young people who tried to get money from him.
Mayor Borrowe stated that he had seen car loads of youths loitering for no good purpose.
Mayor Borrowe asked the status of the striping on Hacienda Road.
The City Manager stated that Mr. Lang still plans to have that done this fiscal year.
Mayor Borrowe asked for a report on this at the May City Council meeting.
Councilmember Millsap asked how the preparations were coming along for the Health and Safety Fair.
Fire Chief Nielsen explained that they are coming along well and it should be a very interesting event. He stated that it will be on May 8, 2004 starting at 10:00 A.M.
Mayor Borrowe adjourned the City Council meeting at 8:23 P.M. to the next regular City Council meeting on May 13, 2004.
ATTEST:
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CITY CLERK, JOHN F. HENDRICKSON