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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: December 15, 2020 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-b <br /> SUBJECT: Second Reading: Emergency Services Franchise by Ordinance Priority Care <br /> Ambulance <br /> DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Priority Care Franchise Agreement Dinah Jeffries, Emergency Services <br /> Franchise Certificate Director (919) 245-6123 <br /> Kim Woodward, Emergency <br /> Medical Services EMS Operations <br /> Manager (919) 245-6133 <br /> PURPOSE: In follow up to First Reading Approval at the December 7, 2020 Business meeting, <br /> to approve on Second Reading the granting of a Franchise by Ordinance to Priority Care <br /> Ambulance Inc. (Priority Care) and the Franchise Agreement under which they will operate. <br /> Approval on "Second Reading" is based on State law requirements that a franchise by <br /> ordinance pass two readings in order to be granted by the Board of Commissioners. <br /> BACKGROUND: On February 2, 2010 the Board held a Public Hearing to determine the need <br /> for supplemental ambulance services in accordance with North Carolina General Statute § <br /> 153A-250(a). At that time, the Board made the determination that franchise ambulance services <br /> were necessary to assure the provision of adequate and continuing ambulance service. State <br /> law requires that the Board of County Commissioners grant franchise agreements through <br /> County ordinance. The ordinance is required to pass two readings in order to be granted. <br /> Orange County has historically granted franchise agreements for convalescent transport and <br /> emergency ambulance services and for rescue service. The convalescent transport ambulance <br /> services franchises are only used to provide non-emergency convalescent transport to medical <br /> facilities typically for the care and treatment of a resident's long term health needs. Franchisees <br /> may also provide surge capacity in a basic life support (BLS) capacity during a widespread <br /> emergency that stresses the capacity of Orange County Emergency Medical Services. Orange <br /> County Emergency Services provides all other emergency response services for basic and <br /> advanced life support (ALS) needs in the County. <br /> Emergency Services has reviewed the overall Emergency Services System in the County to <br /> confirm that franchise services continue to be necessary to assure the provision of adequate <br /> and continuing ambulance services and to preserve, protect, and promote the public health, <br /> safety and welfare. As a result, the Department is recommending four franchises for ambulance <br /> service and one for rescue service. <br />