11-26-12 Personnel & Finance Committee Health & Public Safety

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PERSONNEL & FINANCE COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 26,2012 HEALTH & PUBLIC SAFETY 4:16 P.M. P &F Committee Members Present: Karen White, Gavin Ferlic, David Varner, Henry Davis, Citizen Members: Tamara McNally HPS Committee Members Present: Dr. Fred Ferlic, Henry Davis, Karen White, Tim Scott Citizen Members Present: Kyle Chamberlin Other Council Members Present: Derek Dieter, Valerie Schey, Oliver Davis Others Present: John Murphy, Chief Cox, SBFD, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Mark Neal, Scott Ford Agenda: Bill No. 62-12 Ambulance/Medical Fees Update—Taxicabs The issue before the joint committee hearing of the Personnel &Finance and Health& Public Safety Committees was embodied in Bill No. 62-12 H &PS Dr. Fred Ferlic chaired the bill's review presented by South Bend Fire Chief Steve Cox. The Chief explained that Medicare adjusts the allowable reimbursement for medical and ambulance fees on an annual basis. Because the fees charged users of their services have not been adjusted since 2008 the City was in effect leaving money"on the table." In other words, not taking the allowable reimbursement. These fees are accounted for in the City Fund #288 which was set up in the 1980's as a dedicated fund for fire dept. capital expenses. Revenues deposited annually in the fund average about $2.5 million. In that expenses historically are less than revenues, another part of the bill would allow up to a million dollars be drawn of by the City for other purposes. Chief Cox assured Councilmembers that the$1.5 million would comfortably cover anticipated capital costs. Valerie Schey asked a couple of clarification questions. Henry Davis cautioned against short changing the fire department Citizen Member Tamara McNally asked if a bill could include an automatic escalator clause to coincide with Medicare allowances. Council Attorney Kathy Cekanski-Farrand allowed that she was working on that provision which is possible would come before Council in another bill. Ultimately Gavin Ferlic motioned the bill go to full Council favorably including the move to $1,000,000 as a maximum amount available to be drawn down by the City. David Varner seconded and all concurred.