The City Council voted 4-1 earlier tonight to adopt a handful of fees for people who call 9-1-1 for a medical emergency, after wrestling with the issue for about 1½ hours. Councilman Steve Abercrombie voted no.
To cushion the financial blow to Tracy residents, the city will allow people to pay a $48-per-year “membership fee” that will allow an unlimited amount of medical calls without paying more than the fee.
The membership fee will be $36 per year for low-income residents, and likely for seniors as well. And City Manager Leon Churchill promised that the city would either tear up the $300 bill for people who genuinely can’t afford to pay it, or reduce it to a level that they can pay.
With a handful of firefighters in the audience, Tracy Fire Department Chief Chris Bosch made his pitch to a skeptical council for “cost recovery,” a concept Abercrombie never agreed with, as he voted against the proposal.
Abercrombie pointed out firefighters work 48 hour shifts and are paid to do whatever comes their way, be it fighting a fire or going to a home for a medical emergency, a task that now takes up 65 percent of their calls.
“It’s not like they’re getting paid by the job,” he said.
The new fees are expected to generate about $600,000 for the Tracy Fire Department, and the fire chief will ask the boards of the Tracy Rural Fire District and the Mountain House Community Services District to OK the fees as well. If they reject the fees, people in Mountain House and those in the countryside outside city limits will not have to pay what Tracy residents will pay, though they’ll get the same service.
The council members who voted for the fees agonized over their decisions.
Firefighters “got into the emergency response business” about 25 years ago, Bosch said, and about two years ago, the council voted to have each firefighter also be a trained paramedic, the highest standard of care for those who respond to medical calls.
Councilwoman Evelyn Tolbert noted that the council vowed years ago not to cut firefighters or police officers, despite the fact the city is in financial straits and will use another $7 million is its reserves to close a projected budget gap.
“What we didn’t say is that we’re going to charge you more for what we’re providing,” she said.
Mayor Brent Ives said the vote was probably the first in a series of tough and unpalatable ones the council will have to make as it tries to get its spending under control while maintaining service to the public.
“This doesn’t feel good,” he said. “I’m going to have to do it.”
Paramedic fees
• Emergency medical call for residents: $300
• Emergency medical call for non-residents: $400
• Paramedic in ambulance with patient: $100
• Car crash response for everyone: actual costs
• Unlock door when someone locks himself or herself out of home or car: $180
Mr. Churchill neglected to say was that since 2001 the City of Reading, PA operates the ambulance service for that community. There is no separate ambulance service response, so therefore insurance will most likely pay for the response of the Fire Dept. because there would not be a double-bill situation.
Makes me wonder what else he has neglected to share -- or in this case chosen to exclude -- regarding other issues.
As far as the other 4 incumbents, let them go look for a job. They don't have a political future in Tracy.
I have only one more comment on this subject -- where in the heck does the City of Tracy find these "less than intelligent" (politically correct, you put in your own word) individuals to run our City? I know it's not an easy job, but really!?!?! In this case they don't even have the backing of their rank and file, much less the average citizen.
You may have started something, we can all do it.... take pics of city cars in unusual places and post them here.
That comment was mine, ok.
ConcernedNeighbor/Amy/Observer
Concerned Neighbor,
Is the FD consolidated with the County FD? IF so, I wonder if the TP could have explained that the Mountain House would come from County instead of Tracy?
I don't know, had wondered if Tracy Press would better explain that?
Will the fire department bill even if they did nothing?
At what point do you get billed $300? When they show up or when they actually do something?
I realize the actual firefighters who have something to do with emergency care had nothing to do with this asinine "EMS" tax. So lets all get together and demand that the Fire Chief be fired!
Send the following letter to:
To: Mayor Brent H. Ives, 333 Civic Center Plaza, Tracy, California, 95376
Mayor Brent H. Ives,
I respectfully request that the Fire Chief be relieved of his duty on the grounds that has demonstrated a level of incompetence which makes him a liability to the city of Tracy. I know there are suitable replacements who can be trusted to faithfully execute the duties required of the office.
Respectfully,
(your name)
City of Tracy Resident
Cat stuck in the neighbor's tree..."
Send up the neighbors dog...the cat will come down on its own. :)
Locked out of house and trying to determine who to call based on cost? Here are the choices.
PD, FD, Locksmith
Also, afterward are there any additional costs? Replace hinges? Replace door? Etc?
Next hypothetical situation:
Cat stuck in the neighbor's tree...
Also, for a car accident our charge is whatever thier costs are? What in the heck does that mean? Wow, that could be HUGE...in addition to all the other regular incurred costs prior to this vote? So they will get paid twice, is what it means. Wow, bend over public....
Is the FD consolidated with the County FD? IF so, I wonder if the TP could have explained that the Mountain House would come from County instead of Tracy?
How much does it cost if you lock yourself out of your house and have to call a locksmith vs. calling the fire department (or 911)?
Does a AAA membershop cost the same $48 dollars?
I also know that if you set off a home (or business) alarm the Police will charge you for that in many other cities.
I know firefighters and they're just like the police, they enjoy the work they're doing and would do it for no added response cost to the taxpayer.
Put the blame on department heads.
The new fees are expected to generate about $600,000 for the Tracy Fire Department, and the fire chief will ask the boards of the Tracy Rural Fire District and the Mountain House Community Services District to OK the fees as well.................
AND THIS CONFUSED ME....
If they reject the fees, people in Mountain House and those in the countryside outside city limits will not have to pay what Tracy residents will pay, though they’ll get the same service.
Residents of Mountain House and those outside city limits WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY WHAT TRACY RESIDENTS WILL PAY.... THOUGH THEY'LL GET THE SAME SERVICE...
Any explanation?
It was not The Fire Department's idea.
Meaning the men and women on the line; who show up to your homes when called did not come up with this idea.
They do not want this to occur, however they cannot control what the talking heads, who claim to represent the fire departmnt, say or do. This in turn makes all of the department look bad.
As for the firefighters, they have always been liked. They show up with the calavary for a fall but they never charged. Now with this scheme they start to fall into the police category, where when you dont want them you get'em and when you really need them there are not enough or they take too long to show up. Which would you prefer? I know, we all would prefer to not pay more, and I agree!!
As I understand, from reading the agendas; these monies do not even go to the Fire department, the city is only making the Department their glorified tax collector. The money goes into the City's pocket for stuff like consultants and raises for the city officials. If these guys want to raise taxes then say "We need to raise taxes" and raise them verses trying to put the blame somewhere else, and take responsibility.
Many of you may not know what the police or firefighters do during the day, all they ask is for you to stop one of them and speak with them. Gone are the days of sitting around playing checkers or eatin' doughnuts. Their tasks and responsibilities have changed but past reputation and a few bad eggs have made it hard for them to change that perception. And with this horrible plan it just makes it all that much harder.