PRESENTATION BY METROPOLITAN AMBULANCE SERVICES TRUST

to City of Parkville January 4, 2000, 6:00 p.m.

PRESENT:

Mayor William M. Quitmeier

Alderman Linda Arnold

Alderman Brian Atkinson

Alderman Marvin Ferguson

Alderman Jack Friedman

Alderman David McCoy

Alderman Gerry Richardson

Alderman David Rittman

City Administrator Patrick Hawver

Police Chief Bill Hudson

Superintendent of Streets Alan Schank

Resident Dagmar Wood, ad hoc Ambulance Committee

Resident Rhoda Powers, ad hoc Ambulance Committee

Southern Platte County Fire Protection District Chief Richard Carrizzo

MEDIA:

Gene Gentrup and Nancy Jack for Southern Platte Press

Marte Zirschky for Platte Dispatch

FOR MAST:

John Sharp

Jim Jones

Jason White

MAST representatives gave a slide presentation of information given in attached flyer. They said they had been serving the Parkville community for many years without a contract, but would be glad to sign one of the City of Parkville would like to do that.

Mayor Quitmeier asked how many ambulances were stationed in southern Platte County and where. Mr. Jones said in the northland there is one at I-29 and N.W. 64^th Street, another at I-29 and North Oak, and another at I-35 and Antioch. The two latter locations are in Clay County. They can also bring one in from Kansas if needed. They try to have enough units on hand to move them around as needed. The area north of the river has been harder to serve.

The mayor asked the average response time to areas south of the river, for instance Ward Parkway. Mr. Sharp said response is generally quicker to areas south of the river because they are easier to serve.

Mayor Quitmeier asked the time line for the possible takeover of fire protection services in Kansas City by the Kansas City Fire Department.

Chief Carrizzo responded, saying SPFPD met in December and decided they wanted to work better together with MAST rather than setting up their own ambulance service. They believe MAST is here to stay. They support MAST. Mayor Quitmeier said he appreciated their stepping forward when there was a need. The chief said he believed MAST will not be dropped by Kansas City. SPFPD’s presentation on ambulance service was just an idea, and they have decided instead to work closer with MAST. Mr. Sharp said MAST shares that concept.

Mr. Atkinson, a former Parkville reserve police officer, said many times MAST and SPFPD both responded to calls, and he observed that they worked really well together.

Mr. McCoy said there is interest in having an ambulance stationed in Parkville, and asked whether that would happen. Mr. Sharp said some of their units are posted at fire stations. They analyze where calls from and try to put units where they can be closest and have quickest response times to calls. They also try to send units to any kind of gathering , small or large. They are trying to promote their membership program in this area.

Mr. Rittman said when officials walked through MAST’s facility a few years ago they were told MAST was trying to improve response times in Parkville area, and asked if the numbers were still the same. Mr. sharp said they recently expanded their fleet to 60 vehicles. Eight years ago they had 20+. They hope to add three more units. He couldn’t tell where they would be at any given time of day. They have not been as successful as they want to be in getting response times down north of the river. They have made real progress in the last several months. They will continue to work on that until times are where they should be. In Kansas City their average response time is 8 minutes 30 seconds. Mr. Rittman asked what works for them in getting times down. The number of calls from Parkville is low. They probably can’t get to the same level of response as in Kansas City, but they can get closer.

Mr. Atkinson said typically the police are on the scene first, then SPFPD, then MAST. This area probably has one of the best first responder systems anywhere. Mr. Sharp agreed, saying MAST is part of a team that functions together.

Mr. Richardson asked if they track times just for Parkville. Mr. Sharp said yes, in Parkville the average response time for the last three months has been 8 minutes 44 seconds. Mr. Jones agreed, saying response time is improving up with new equipment, maps and AVL. (AVL is an automatic vehicle locators with which dispatchers can track the movements of ambulances to assure they are moving in the right direction.)

Chief Carrizzo explained the procedure for 9-1-1 (ambulance) calls. They go to the 9-1-1 operator, who transfers them to MAST at the same time as the information goes to SPFPD, which responds probably a few seconds before MAST.

Mr. Sharp invited everyone down to their headquarters on Eastwood Trafficway. He would like to show them the AVL system in action.

Mrs. Wood said in 1995 the ad hoc Ambulance Committee studied ambulance services and made a written recommendation favorable to MAST. She said it is very important that the City stays in communication with MAST and SPFPD and updates the information they need to service the city. Mr. McCoy asked how that is handled. Mr. Hawver said a couple of weeks ago the mayor asked him to get a map together. SPFPD gets plats because they do plat approval. He agreed we need an updated system to get information to both MAST and SPFPD. The mayor said a map is also needed in the Board Room.

Mayor Quitmeier thanked MAST representatives, Chief Carrizzo, and residents for being there.

Submitted by ________________________________________

City Clerk Barbara J. Lance - January 21, 2000