Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 7002 ••4 ' ORDINANCE NO, JOO Z AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 6-17 OF CHAPTER 6 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS (1964) , AS AMENDED, WHICH CHAPTER REGULATES THE OPERATION OF AMBULANCES, BY INCREASING FROM $25.00 TO $32.50, THE BASE PAY FOR TRANSPORTING ONE (1) PATIENT; MAKING THIS ORDINANCE CUMULATIVE OF PRIOR ORDI- NANCES; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES AND PROVISIONS OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PRO- VIDING A PENALTY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS: SECTION 1, That Section 6-17 of Chapter 6 of the Code of the City of Fort Worth, Texas (1964) , as amended, be, and the same is hereby amended to read as follows: "No operator shall exceed the maximum rates established by the following schedule: " (a) $32,50 base fee for transporting one (1) patient; an additional $20.00 for transporting a second (2nd) patient; an additional $15,00 for each addi- tional patient; " (b) $5.00 for the administration of oxygen to each patient; " (c) $5.00 per one-half hour charge for waiting in excess of fifteen (15) minutes; " (d) $15.00 charge for each unfounded request for service; " (e) $35.00 maximum charge for trans- porting one (1) patient within the limits of the city. "Total charges per service shall be equally divided among those patients transported simul- taneously, "The collection of such cha:rges shall be the sole responsibility of the operator. " SECTION 2, That this ordinance shall be cumulative of all provi- sions of the Code of the City of Fort Worth, Texas (1964) , as amended, with respect to regulating the operation of am- bulances, except in those instances where the provisions of this ordinance are in direct conflict with the provisions of such Code, in which instances said conflicting provisions of such Code are hereby repealed. SECTION 3, That it is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that the sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses and phrases of this ordinance are severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section of this ordinance shall be declared void, ineffective or uncon- stitutional by the valid judgment or final decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, such voidness, ineffectiveness or unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the remaining phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs and sections of this ordinance, since the same would have been enacted by the City Council without the incorporation herein of any such void, ineffective or unconstitutional phrase, clause, sen- tence, paragraph or section. SECTION 4, That any person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and each such person shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each day or portion thereof during which any violation of any of the provisions of this ordinance is committed, continued or permitted, and each violation shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars ($200,00) , SECTION 5, That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after the date of its passage and publication, as -2- required by law, and it is so ordained. APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY: S. G. JOHNDROE, JR. , CITY AT11OR19EY ADOPTED: 13 )77 4 EFFECTIVE: -3- "NE 1 City of Fort Worth, Texas BAILIFF ORAHAN Mayor and Council Communication BRADSHAW DATE REFERENCE SUBJECT: Change in Ambulance Rates PAGE NUMBER 1 5/13174 G-2426 i or As provided in the contract, on April 5, 1974, Ray Crowder Funeral Home, Inc. contacted the staff with a request for a change in the rate for ambulance calls and an increase in the subsidy paid by the City. This request was referred to the Health Department and the Emergency Medical Services Committee for recommendations. An analysis was made of the changes in cost experienced by Ray Crowder result- ing from the Minimum Wage Bill that became effective on May 1, 1974, and the increase in fuel costs during the past twelve months. At the same time, an analysis was made of operating results during the twelve months ending February 28, 1974. The analysis shows that Ray Crowder was earning approxi- mately 7 per cent before taxes on their ambulance operation, but that their costs have increased 23.6 per cent for fuel, tires, and labor since January 1, 1974. An increase from $25.00 to $32.50 per call with no change in subsidy would offset this cost increase and leave their earnings at the same rate if future results are consistent with past results and there are no additional price increases. Records at the company indicate that a major portion of the revenue received by Ray Crowder for ambulance service is paid through medicare or other insurance claims. Very few calls are paid directly by the users of the ser- vice. The Emergency Medical Services Committee at their regular meeting held on May 1, 1974, voted to recommend to the City Council an increase from $25.00 to $32.50 per ambulance call. Other major cities in Texas have a charge of from $50.00 to $75.00 per call. Recommendation In accordance with Paragraph 17 of Contract No. 7349, it is recommended that effective May 14, 1974, and continuing until the expiration date of the con- tract, the charge per ambulance call be changed to $32.50, and that the City monthly payment remain at $12,000 per month. RNL:ms i SUBMITTED BY: DISPOSITI BY COUNCIL:' ZPROESSED BY APPROVE OTHER (DESCRIBE)02_- ECRETARY ,CA DATE CITY MANAGER