HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2003-060WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL
NO. 2003 - 27 C
CLEARANCES Date Date Received in Council Office Agenda Date Assigned I
Ong. Dept County Council
10/8/2003
E lUi V E
OCT 0 7 2003
WHATCOM COUNTY
COUNCIL
10/7/2003
Council
Division Head.
Dept Head:
Prosecutor:
Budget.
Executive
SUBJECT:
Resolution supporting Proposition 1 - Levy for Emergency Medical Services
ATTACHMENTS
STMAMRYSTATEMENT:
Related County Contract p'. Should the Clerk schedule a heanng9(Y/N)N Requested Date
Resolution supporting Proposition 1 - Regular Property Tax Levy For County-Wide Emergency Medical Services
RECOMMENDED MOTION (for final action):
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN
2003 - 27 C 10/7/2003. Approved 7 -0, Res. #2003 -060
Related File Numbers. Ordinance or Resolution Number (this item only):
R2003 -60
EMS Resolution, 2003
Proposed by: McShane. Nelson
Sponsored by: Consent
Introduction Date: October 7, 2003
RESOLUTION NO. 2003 -060
SUPPORTING PROPOSITION 1 — REGULAR PROPERTY TAX LEVY FOR
COUNTY -WIDE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
WHEREAS, over the past 29 years, the Whatcom County fire service, and
the Whatcom Medic One paramedic ambulance transport service provided by the
Bellingham Fire Department, have served this community with basic and advanced
life support services; and
WHEREAS, this system is viewed nationally as a state of the art emergency
medical services system, with strong medical oversight, advanced medical training
and procedures, dedicated first responders and experienced paramedics that have
touched the lives of tens of thousands of city and county residents; and
WHEREAS, this system was evaluated in a recent emergency medical
services strategic planning process which envisioned continuation of an integrated
and seamless system of emergency medical response and transportation that
strives to provide high quality care that is; timely and responsive, of high quality
and compassionate, cost- effective and affordable, and sustainable and achievable;
and
WHEREAS, over the past four years the Whatcom County Fire Chiefs and
Fire Commissioners Associations worked closely together with the City of
Bellingham, and formally endorsed maintaining the current fire service based and
integrated EMS first response and Medic One transport program; and
WHEREAS, the City and County should continue to assume joint
responsibility, together with cities and fire districts, for assuring the provision of
integrated pre - hospital emergency medical services throughout the County; and
WHEREAS, the future demand for emergency medical services is forecast to
continue to grow; and
WHEREAS, the available sources of revenue have been negatively impacted
by recent changes in federal Medicare reimbursement regulations and state law;
and
WHEREAS, emergency medical services are essential and should be afforded
a stable and discrete funding base; and
WHEREAS, the state legislature, through RCW 84.52.069, has recognized
the needs and concerns described above, and has provided the mechanism for
achieving a stable funding source for the provision of such emergency medical
services; and
WHEREAS, the emergency medical services strategic plan recommends as
the top priority instituting an emergency medical services levy to provide this stable
funding source; and
WHEREAS, in order to assure such a provision of services, it is both
necessary and appropriate that an additional regular property tax of up to 38.5
cents per $1000 of assessed valuation be levied as provided for in Proposition 1 -
Regular Property Tax Levy for County -wide Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT BE RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council
urges the passage of Proposition 1 - the creation of a county -wide EMS levy, and
urge all Whatcom County voters to vote yes on the proposition.
APPROVED this 7th day of October, 2003.
_ W HATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
ATTEST\ � \\ WHAM COUNTY,
P %" WASHINGTON
Dana Brown- Davis, Clerk of the Council Dan McShane, Council Chair
APPjROVED AS TO FORM:
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Civil D uty Prosecutor