Pflugerville to begin negotiations with ESD No. 2 to again provide EMS services
The Pflugerville City Council voted to begin contract negotiations with Travis County ESD No. 2 to provide EMS services, following recommendations from the Public Safety Committee and the termination of its contract with Acadian Ambulance Services.
ESD No. 2, also known as the Pflugerville Fire Department, used to provide EMS services to the city until it said it could not afford to keep providing ambulance service because of an increased call volume. Voters in the area outside Pflugerville approved creating ESD No. 17 to handle ambulance calls in the ESD No. 2 service area. City officials said the district's stipend of about $2.8 million for EMS calls was unsubstantiated.
The Public Safety Committee on Tuesday recommended the city begin negotiations with ESD. 2 due to its familiarity with the city, quality of service, track record of patient care and seamless integration of systems, said Council Member Ceasar Ruiz, a member of the subcommittee.
"The best way for us to proceed, that is not only in the best interest of our constituents, our tax payers but this organization, is to enter into an agreement with Travis County ESD No. 2, while jointly pursuing a way to combine our resources and commit to providing quality and fiscally-responsible service to our residents as a united long-term public service provider," Ruiz said.
The City Council voted 6-1 to begin negotiations, with Council Member David Rogers voting against. Rogers said he does not believe ESD No. 2 is the best choice.
"If the ESD was honest and straightforward and did not engage in a path of deception we could have reached an accommodation," Rogers said.
The Public Safety Subcommittee and city staff interviewed several providers including, Allegiance, Cypress Creek EMS, Austin and Travis County EMS and ESD. 2, said City Manager Sereniah Breland.
Acadian will continue to provide services until July 13. Breland said she intends to begin negotiations with ESD No. 2 this week to broker an agreement before Acadian's contract fully expires.
On Wednesday, Fire Chief Nick Perkins said he is hopeful that both sides will be able to come to terms.
"We are optimistic that we will reach an agreement to ensure the citizens of Pflugerville will have access to the fast, affordable and reliable EMS and advanced life-saving service that this community has come to expect from ESD No. 2," Perkins said.
READ: Two months in, Pflugerville votes to end contract with private ambulance provider Acadian
Council members also discussed the funding of ESD No. 2 that would need to be addressed in negotiations.
The City Council initially approved a contract with Acadian on Nov. 17 after voters had turned down the option of joining ESD No. 17 on Nov. 2.
The Pflugerville Fire Department had said it could not afford to keep providing ambulance service to the city because of an increased call volume and voters in the area outside. Pflugerville approved creating ESD No. 17 to handle ambulance calls in the ESD No. 2 service area
Joining ESD No. 17 would have cost homeowners an extra 10 cents per $100 property valuation. The city's contract with Acadian did not cause any property tax increase, officials said.
"Our voters said no with a margin of almost two to one to additional tax for EMS just seven months ago," said Council Member Kimberly Holiday.
READ: Firefighters union, 2 council members urge Pflugerville go with ESD No. 2 for EMS
On March 8, after only two months of service, the City Council voted unanimously to end its contract with Acadian. Officials voiced dissatisfaction with the quality of service of the private ambulance provider, citing inadequate response times among other issues.
City officials and Acadian said the termination of the contract was mutual, with Acadian having given the city a letter of notice of termination with no cause on Feb. 2.
"Based on discussions concerning changes in the geographic territory to be covered since the (request for proposal) was issued, and proposed changes to the language in the contract, both entities thought it would be best to end the agreement and allow the city to seek alternative options for ambulance service," Acadian said in a statement said.
The city's contract with Acadian began on Jan. 1.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Pflugerville to begin negotiations with ESD No. 2 to again provide EMS services
