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• <br /> 7 ' <br /> New Section 23. Findings and Declaration. <br /> The provision of emergency medical services is a governmental function in support of <br /> public health and safety. The City of Everett,pursuant to RCW 35.27.370 (15) and other <br /> authority has, since the enactment in 1974 of Ordinance No. 282-74, provided Fire Department <br /> emergency medical services and other emergency responses for the City of Everett and for <br /> other cities with which it has contracted for such services. The provision of transportation of <br /> patients by ambulance or other suitable conveyance to the hospital, clinic or other location <br /> where professional medical care is available, is a necessary element of the emergency medical <br /> service function. As part of these services to the community, the City has established and <br /> maintained both ALS and BLS medical services. The Fire Department provision of BLS <br /> services began in 1974 with primary financial support from the General Fund. The Fire <br /> Department provision of ALS services began in 1983 with the passage of the first EMS property <br /> tax levy. The cost of ALS medical services comes primarily from the EMS fund with <br /> supplemental support in some years from the General Fund. In addition, some incidental <br /> expenses for BLS medical services are paid out of the EMS fund. Because of the impact of <br /> Initiative Measure 747, the current EMS funding is now inadequate to maintain even the <br /> requirements of the current level of ALS and BLS service much less to meet the anticipated <br /> future needs of the City for ALS and BLS service. It is the goal and intent of this ordinance <br /> that: 1)rates be set for charges to be made for those using the EMS transport services so that <br /> the City can be reimbursed from insurance and other proceeds for the cost of providing such <br /> services; 2) EMS levy funds and reimbursement from the insurance and other proceeds be <br /> sufficient to provide the financial support of all EMS services; 3)the Fire Department be <br /> authorized to provide for transport of patients in all ALS situations; 4) the Fire Department <br /> BLS transport shall be in those situations as specified in Section 24 herein; 5) any expansion of <br /> BLS transport services beyond the current level of BLS transport services as specified in <br /> 3 <br />