CHAPTER 17
AMBULANCES

17.1 Purpose.

The purposes of this chapter are to enact regulations for the operation of ambulance service to protect the public and its health, safety, and welfare by assuring that adequate emergency ambulance service will be provided to the residents of the City of Fairfield.

17.2 Definitions.

Unless otherwise specifically provided, or required by the context, the following terms have the indicated meanings in this chapter.

(a)    "Emergency" means a situation in which there is a perceived physiological or psychological need for immediate medical care, based on an injury or other unforeseen, acute physical or mental disorder which apparently threatens life or function.

(b)    "Ambulance" means any privately owned vehicle specifically constructed, modified, equipped, or arranged and used for the purpose of transporting sick or injured persons, and which responds or may respond to medical emergency calls in this city.

(c)    "Ambulance service" means the activity, business, or service for hire, profit, or otherwise, of transporting in medical emergency situations one or more patients by ambulance on any of the streets, roads, or highways in the City of Fairfield.

(d)    "Attendant" means a trained, qualified individual who, regardless of whether such individual also serves as driver, is responsible for the care of ambulance patients and who has met all license and other requirements in applicable state laws and regulations.

(e)    "Driver" means an individual who drives an ambulance and who has met all license and other requirements in applicable state law and regulations.

(f)    "Dispatched emergency response" means ambulance services rendered at the request of the city’s communication center.

(g)    "Dispatched emergency response list" means that list of ambulance service operators found by the chief of police to meet the requirements of this chapter and who will be contacted by the city communications center in accordance with regulations adopted by the chief of police to respond to calls for emergency ambulance service. (Ord. No. 93-9, § 15.)

17.3 Driver and attendant standards.

In addition to the requirements of state law and regulations applicable to drivers and attendants, each ambulance responding to a dispatched emergency response call shall be staffed by at least one driver or attendant who is an EMT P who meets the qualifications specified in Health and Safety Code § 1797.172.

Each ambulance responding to a dispatched emergency response call shall be equipped so the EMT P personnel may perform at the scene of the emergency all the services described in Health and Safety Code § 1797.172.

17.4 Location and availability of ambulances.

(a)    Each ambulance service operator on the dispatched emergency response list shall station on a 24 hour a day basis the ambulances dedicated to dispatched emergency responses within either the city limits of the City of Fairfield, or within a radius of three miles from Fairfield city hall.

(b)    If only one ambulance service operator qualifies to be placed on the dispatched emergency response list, the operator shall dedicate and station a minimum of two ambulances, available in accordance with subsection (a), for dispatched emergency responses.

(c)    If more than one ambulance service operator qualifies to be placed on the dispatched emergency response list, each ambulance service operator shall dedicate and station a minimum of one ambulance, available in accordance with subsection (a), for dispatched emergency responses.

(d)    In the event an ambulance service operator on the dispatch emergency list is temporarily without a staffed ambulance meeting the standards of section 17.3 for any reason, the operator shall immediately notify the city communications center. Other operators with staffed ambulances will be called until the staffed ambulance meeting the standards of section 17.3 is reported as back in service.

17.5 Dispatched emergency response list.

Each ambulance service operator desiring to be placed on the dispatched emergency response list shall furnish the chief of police with the following information: (Ord. No. 93-9, § 15.)

(a)    The name and address of each applicant and of each owner of the business or any interest therein.

(b)    All names under which the applicant has engaged, does or proposes to engage in ambulance service.

(c)    A description of each ambulance, including the make, model, year of manufacture, vehicle identification number, and current state license number.

(d)    Evidence that the applicant has obtained all license and permits required by state law and regulations for ambulances and ambulance service operators.

(e)    The address from which the ambulances will operate.

(f)    Such other information as the chief of police reasonably deems necessary to a fair determination of compliance with this chapter. The chief of police shall review each ambulance operator annually to determine compliance with all applicable regulations.

The chief of police may issue regulations to implement this chapter. (Ord. No. 93-9, § 15.)

17.6 Removal from emergency response list.

The city council finds and declares that the provision of emergency ambulance service by persons not meeting the qualifications of this chapter constitutes a serious threat to the health and safety of the citizens of Fairfield.

(a)    Should the chief of police determine that an ambulance service operator no longer meets the qualifications of this chapter, he may without notice or hearing order the removal of the operator from the dispatched emergency response list.

(b)    Such operator shall be notified in writing or in person within two business days from the taking of such action.

(c)    An ambulance service operator removed pursuant to this section may request a hearing within three business days from notification of his/her removal seeking reinstatement by delivering a written request to the city manager. Upon receipt of a timely request, the city manager shall schedule the hearing within five business days, and render a decision within three days from the date of the hearing. The decision of the city manager on reinstatement to the list shall be final forthwith. (Ord. No. 85-44, § 1.)