04/22/1974 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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. .' -- . ~\ ,....,..-. COil' ampbe11 suggested postponement for a week would give the oppor- tU.l1.itpt or Planning Commission corrunent, noting several Corrunission members 'pn:sent, since the study would relate to the kinds of decisions faced by that i body. . ; Councilman Keller favored postponement to give an opportunity for incorporation jof d~ta from other studies now. in progress into the requested report. Mrs.Bea1 replied that waiting for completion of other studies would mean indefinite . postponement. She thougoc the study should be 'prepared now and updated as 'other information became available. ,- i- , Vote was taken on the motion to ask staff for analysis of cost of study on growth costs. Motion defeated, Council members Bea1, Campbell, and Murray voting aye; Council members,Wi11iams, Hershner, Keller, and Mayor Anderson vO,tine]"" no; .___------- Comm 4/1()~14 . Approve I :Mayor Anderson suggested that the matter be brought back for discussion, and . Councilman Hershner explained that his "no" vote was with the understanding ithe issue would be brought back as a regular item on a future agenda. Counci1- ,man Williams said he would support the motion once the resuLts of the corrununity goals update was known. In answer to Mrs. Bea1's suggestion that the budget ,would be prepared by that time, Mr. Williams cited other instances of funding ;studies during a budget year. . : :It was understood the item ipre~empted by other topics; would be on the April 24 commi ttee agenda unless. Manager noted the Community Schools report held .over for a couple of weeks on which the School District needed Council feed- 'back soon. Councilman Murray hoped discussion on the School report would take ;p1ace soon, noting need for d!~c~~sion or that in budget sessions a1so~ B. Ambu;lance Rate Increase Request - Copies of present and proposed ambulance rates werE' previously distributed to Council members. The proposea ra'tes were recommended' by a joint Eugene-Springfield commi ttee charged wi th reviewing request from Eugene/ ' Springfield Ambulance Services, Inc., for change in the rate structure. The Spiing-: field City Council adopted the recommendations as presented. Memo from Finance \ 'Department was read explaining the request for rate increase and subsequent audit of the Ambulance Services financial records, and calling attention to the request that adjustment of charges 'for all supplies be made upon written notification to the City finance office. Manager pointed out specific changes in the rates pro~ :posed by the joint committee, noted investigation had covered current rates in :othe,y areas, and prices for supplies had been compared to those purchased from sl.!-rg,ica1 supply companies. Letter from Ruth Edwards, Springfield councilwoman i and Jne0ber of the joint committee, was read supporting the rate increase and sug- 'gest.ing a review by the LCOG Comprehensive Heal th Planning Corruni ttef;'!, to achieve 1 .SOme__form,..of Lane County subsidy to relieve Eugene and SprinqFie1dvcitizf;.ns, of some 'Of tl:teburden of "lost reve1?ue" costs to the Ambulance' Services. Also noted', ' 'was a. letter from members of Triangle Lake Emergency Action Services supporting the I'a te increase. Councilman Williams questioned the request that future adjustment ,in charges for supplies be made upon "written notification to the foinance department." He wondered about the basis for those charges. Sherm F10gstad, .finance director, explained that the ~ording in the resolution which would adopt the changes provided that adjustments would be made to current prices upon "wri tten notification to and approval of the city finance officer." He explained that any charges to be adjusted would have to be comparable to then current prices on medical supplies at hospitals and clinics. i~ the area. ' He said the cost of supplies was higher to the ambulance services than to hospitals because of purchases in smaller quantities; larger purchases \ were not practicable because of fairly rapid deterioration. Councilwoman Campbell asked for an estimate of possible reduction in charges if a County subsidy was achieved. Bill Leonard, president of the Ambulance Services, explained that because of varying situations he didn't want to be "locked in" on a 'figure but would estimate possibly a 10 to 15% reduction if the County did have money available. :Councilman M!irray wondered whether the start-up fee should reflect the type of ambulance used in view of the difference in cost and operation between the in- tensive care unit and the regular unit. Mr. Leonard said probably in the future the r.;ttes could be structured from that approach but there was not enough operating exper.ience with the, intensive care unit to' warrant it now. He said that.patients picked up by the van were not really subsi'dizing those picked up by the intensive '. --.----,.-- --. .. -----. ..' . ". ,,--,. - --. --. . . .. .. ,.-.. ----- ---,"..-... , 4/22/74 - 5 Ufo