Council Supports Bringing Ambulance Service In-House

City Council threw its support Tuesday behind a staff recommendation that Murrieta provide its own ambulance service.

"We are a city for a reason, and we have an opportunity to increase our level of service to our citizens, and I would like to see us provide that," said Councilman Alan Long, who works as an Anaheim fire battalion chief.

Anaheim is among the cities that contracts for its own ambulance services, while providing its own paramedic services.

Long said Anaheim's residents receive a response time of under five minutes.

For Murrieta to gain local choice or control over its ambulance services comes at a time when (AMR). Under AMR's $2-billion contract held since 1998, Murrieta is allotted two ambulances. The city would need to petition the county Board of Supervisors if it wants to separate itself from that pool.

The county is set to extend AMR's contract on Oct. 17, and requested input from its shareholders, prompting the response from Murrieta that it would like to operate its own services.

Ambulances, as in the case of AMR, are not funded by taxpayers. Services rendered are billed to patients or their medical providers.

Murrieta Fire Chief Matt Shobert said the move would require three ambulances and 18 new personnel.

"Tonight we are going to disucss what some call a controverisal issue," Shobert said prior to being questioned by Council about the feasibility of it. "Tonight we are going to discuss the right thing at what I think is the right time."

Council directed staff to prepare a report outlining the costs and the timeframe.

City Manager Rick Dudley said the information should be fairly easy to obtain, as several cities--many in San Diego County--provide their own service.

The city also asked that the county at the very least open up its bid process, as AMR's contract has been extended every three years without going out to bid.

"This is not directed negatively at AMR, but I think competition would enhance services in Riverside County," Shobert said.

Murrieta Fire Department has a response time of six minutes, 30 seconds, often arriving in advance of AMR, Shobert said. In providing in-house services, the response time could go down to less than five, he said.

With three hospitals located in or near Murrieta, Council said it only made sense.

Mayor Randon Lane said what mattered most to residents was response time.

A year and a half ago, Lane said his wife fell ill in their home. He called 911 and the first to arrive were Murrieta Fire.

"My fire chief is telling me it is clear that we have better response times...we have to look at what is best for Murrieta," Lane said.

"And we have said it here tonight, that the more control we have at the local level the better it is for our residents who rely on us.

"They don’t care about rates and bid processes, they care about who is going to get them to the hospital quicker."

CLARIFICATION: This article previously stated the Anaheim Fire Department provided its own ambulance services. That was incorrect. It contracts for private services.