A. The city is an optional municipal code city with all powers possible for a city or town to have under the Constitution and laws of the state. RCW 35A.11.020. The city is one of the state’s oldest municipalities, incorporated in 1891, and occupies a unique geographical position on Fidalgo Island, at the far northwest portion of Skagit County (the “county”).

B. The city has been required over its history to provide a complete range of municipal services to city residents, as well as providing services to its neighboring community. The services long provided by the city include fire, emergency medical services (“EMS”) and other response. As part of its services to the community, the city has, pursuant to RCW 35.21.766 and other authority, established and maintained a system of advanced life support ambulance service, which has been operated as a public utility of the city for approximately twenty years. The city has provided advanced life support first response ambulance service (“emergency ALS/BLS ambulance service”) through the city’s fire department. Inter-facility transfer ambulance service (“non-emergency IFT ambulance service”) has been provided by the city through an interlocal agreement with Public Hospital District No. 2, Skagit County, Washington (“Island Hospital”), dated March 2, 1998, as amended (the “interlocal agreement”). Non-emergency IFT ambulance service has been operated pursuant to the interlocal agreement as authorized by Chapters 35.23 and 39.34 RCW, rather than as a public utility of the city. The city’s advanced life support/basic life support ambulance service and is sometimes collectively referred to in this chapter as “emergency ALS/BLS ambulance service,” unless the context clearly requires otherwise. The hospital’s inter-facility transfer services is referred to [as] non-emergency IFT.

C. The city is not adequately served by existing private/commercial emergency ALS/BLS and non-emergency IFT ambulance service, and has not been for many years. To maintain quality service to the community, it is necessary to better document the existence of the city’s emergency ALS/BLS and non-emergency ambulance service. Further, it is necessary to establish regulatory standards for the provision of non-emergency IFT ambulance service. The emergency ALS/BLS ambulance service is operated as a public utility of the city, as provided for in this chapter.

D. The city has, in the past, supported county-wide efforts for EMS funding. Current EMS funding for emergency ALS/BLS ambulance service is derived from fees and charges, as well as contracts for receipt of proceeds of an EMS levy paid by city and county residents. The source of EMS funding may vary from year to year, and a stable and secure financial structure is necessary for the city to maintain its emergency ALS/BLS ambulance service.

E. Following recent actions of the county, it appears that for the near term funding will be stable. However, there are no assurances regarding funding sources and the city may in the future increase rates, provide for fees (including taxes), and take other means to support the emergency ALS/BLS ambulance service.

F. The provision of emergency ALS/BLS ambulance service is an exercise of the city’s police power for the preservation of the public health, safety and general welfare of the city. (Ord. 2877 § 1, 2012)