ITEM NO. 10
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CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT |
| TO: |
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council |
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| FROM: |
Arron Brown, City Manager |
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| BY: |
Sheryl Garcia, Administrative Services Director/City Clerk |
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| DATE: |
01/14/2026 |
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| SUBJECT: | Consideration of Fees for the Emergency Medical Services Subscription Program for Fiscal Year 2026/2027 and Scheduling of Public Hearing
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Recommendation:
Consider proposed EMS Program fees for Fiscal Year 2026/2027; and set a public hearing on the proposed EMS Program fees for June 10, 2026.
Background/Analysis:
On November 6, 2019, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 187, establishing a voluntary Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Subscription Program. The program consists of an annual EMS Subscription Fee, collected through the property tax roll for participating properties, and an EMS Response Fee, charged on a per-call basis to non-subscribers who receive emergency medical services.
Initial EMS program fees were adopted on June 3, 2020, and set at $192 annually for the EMS Subscription Fee and $1,483 per call for the EMS Response Fee. As part of the Comprehensive Citywide User Fee and Rate Study adopted on December 14, 2022, updated EMS fees were recommended, including an increase to the EMS Subscription Fee and a reduction to the EMS Response Fee. The City Council deferred consideration of those recommendations at that time.
On March 8, 2023, the City Council approved a reduction of the EMS Response Fee to $1,356 per call while maintaining the EMS Subscription Fee at $192. On June 12, 2024, the City Council increased the EMS Subscription Fee to $309 to address additional program costs, including the fire station purchase, equipment reserves, and cost-of-living adjustments, while retaining the EMS Response Fee at $1,356. Most recently, on June 11, 2025, the City Council declined to increase EMS program fees and approved maintaining the EMS Subscription Fee at $309 annually and the EMS Response Fee at $1,545 per call.
The City Council conducts an annual review of EMS program fees and is required to set a public hearing to either revise or confirm them. A 90-day public notice period is provided, during which property owners may opt in or opt out of the subscription program. Existing subscribers remain enrolled unless they opt out.
The current EMS program fees are:
Initial EMS program fees were adopted on June 3, 2020, and set at $192 annually for the EMS Subscription Fee and $1,483 per call for the EMS Response Fee. As part of the Comprehensive Citywide User Fee and Rate Study adopted on December 14, 2022, updated EMS fees were recommended, including an increase to the EMS Subscription Fee and a reduction to the EMS Response Fee. The City Council deferred consideration of those recommendations at that time.
On March 8, 2023, the City Council approved a reduction of the EMS Response Fee to $1,356 per call while maintaining the EMS Subscription Fee at $192. On June 12, 2024, the City Council increased the EMS Subscription Fee to $309 to address additional program costs, including the fire station purchase, equipment reserves, and cost-of-living adjustments, while retaining the EMS Response Fee at $1,356. Most recently, on June 11, 2025, the City Council declined to increase EMS program fees and approved maintaining the EMS Subscription Fee at $309 annually and the EMS Response Fee at $1,545 per call.
The City Council conducts an annual review of EMS program fees and is required to set a public hearing to either revise or confirm them. A 90-day public notice period is provided, during which property owners may opt in or opt out of the subscription program. Existing subscribers remain enrolled unless they opt out.
The current EMS program fees are:
- $309 annually for the EMS Subscription Fee
- $1,545 per call for the EMS Response Fee
Staff do not recommend changes to these fees for Fiscal Year 2026/27, as they are anticipated to adequately cover the ongoing costs of the EMS Program.
Upon City Council direction, staff will mail the required public hearing notice in accordance with Municipal Code Section 3.44.030(c)(4) and schedule the public hearing for June 10, 2026.
Upon City Council direction, staff will mail the required public hearing notice in accordance with Municipal Code Section 3.44.030(c)(4) and schedule the public hearing for June 10, 2026.
- Fiscal Impact Yes/No:
- No
Additional Fiscal Information:
There is no fiscal impact associated with setting the public hearing on the proposed EMS Program fees for Fiscal Year 2026/27. If the City Council elects to revise the EMS program fees, any resulting fiscal impacts will be evaluated.