HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1990 0620 CC REG ITEM 11IMARTIN J. BURKE'
JAMS$ L 1RAOSMAW, JA
MARK C- ALLEN, JR.-
MAAfiN L. BUNKE'
CARL K. NEWTON'
J. ROf LRf FLANOPICK'
NORMAN E. OAARt
EOWARO M. FOX0
DENNIS A SLIRKE'
LELAND C OOLLCY'
COLIN LLNI'IARO'
T-OMAS J. VCCLLY'
NEIL F. VLAGER'
DRIAN A. PICAIK-
CHARLES M. CALOERON'
PCTCA M, TMORSON'
JERRY M. PATTEASON
HAROLD A BRIDGES'
CNEAYL J. KANE'
RAYMOND J. FIJLNTEB'
VIAOINIA N. RlfOLA
S. PAUL SRUOUCAA
8. OCRCK STAAATS MA
DOUGLAS C. HOLLAND
06M d. KIRC -[A
MIOHCLE VAOON- RIVCRA
scarf R, rICLO
MARY RLOUS GAYLe
RUFUS C, YOUNG, JA.
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BURKE, WILLIAMS & SORENSEN
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MARYANN LINK QOCOKIND
TIMOTHY B. MtOSKGP
POYAL M, SORCNSEN
DIANA L rILLD
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RITA J. TAYLOR
STLVLN J. DAWSON
JAMEO I, RIQALI
JAMES R. FELTON
TICARY R KAV /MANN
STEPHEN R. ONSTOT
JAIM{ AACVAW
F OANICLS CPAWFOAO,
June 15, 1990
MARIANN% WOO
u6HN E, CAVANAud-
MARK O. - CN*L %Y
PETER 0. TREMBLAY
C. MIC -ACL ZWLI§ACK
NOOCR T 'TO
Mr. Craig Phillips
Administrative Assistant
CITY OF MOORPARK
799 Moorpark Avenue
Moorpark, California 93021
JR ?ARK. CALF .-,.
City Council Meei ng
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1310 NONOCPOSA 01 1E
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ONANOC COUNTY Or CL
3400 1P18TOL sTNCET
S "TE 640
COSTA MESA, CALI /ORhIA 09016
(7141 SAS -SSSf
L-GHTON PLAZA
7300 COLLEGE BOULLVARM
SW.TC 440
OVERLAND PANT, KAN5AS 68!10
49,11, 336 -6700
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WRITER'S DIRECT DIAL
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01359 -001
Re: Health and Safety Code - Emergency Medical Services
Dear Craig:
This letter is in response to your May 29, 1990
letter requesting our opinion on the above - referenced
matter.
Your letter did not specify any deadline for our
response. By telephone on Wednesday, you requested an
answer by June 20, 1990. Yesterday, Thursday, you asked if
we could provide an answer by June 15th.
The shortened time frame necessitates a brief
answer to your question.
Turning to the issue of whether California Health
and safety Code sections 1797, et seq., regarding emergency
medical services, preempt creation of local ambulance and /or
paramedic services, our research indicates there is
widespread disagreement between cities and counties on this
question. We understand there is litigation pending in Los
Angeles County on this very point.
Mr. Craig Phillips
June 15, 1990
Page 2
We believe there is
may provide emergency medical
County has established an EMS
1797.200.
good argument that the City
services even though Ventura
program under Section
There is a large body of case law holding that the
providing of ambulance service is a proper municipal
function. (City of Lomita v Count of na
148 Cal.App.3d 671, 673. y AM es (1983)
that governmental entities other tthan ecountieslcan sprovide
emergency services because Sections 1797, et seq. contain an
"express legislative policy that emergency medical services
shall be provided to the fullest extent possible throughout
the State." (64 onps.Atty. en 588, 594.)
reoSolcities curre
entl be
interpreted to do more than encourage
Providing emergency services to transfer those services to
the County. However, that does not necessarily mean the
City is preempted from ever establishing its own program.
In addition, Section 1797.224, dealing with the County's
authority to create exclusive operating areas, specifies
that "[njothing in this section supersedes Section
1797.201•" Thus, arguably the City is included in the
exclusive operating area only if it agrees to become part of
a County emergency medical services program.
To conclude, in the
contrary, we believe there is
1797, et seq, do not preempt
emergency services.
absence of case law to the
a good argument that Sections
the City's authority to provide
Please contact us if you have any questions
regarding this matter.
Very truly yours,
CH YL J. =KANE
CITY ATTOR, MOORP
BURKE, WILLIAMS & SORENSEN
Py Peter D. Tremblay
PDT:apa or BURKE, WILLIAMS & SORENSEN
cc: Steve Kueny, City Manager
Cheryl J. Kane, City Attorney