PISMO BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAF REPOR
Agenda Item #9.F
Meetin Date: September 1, 2026
TITLE:
Support for the City of Paso Robles Proposal for Emergency Medical Services
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution supporting the City of Paso Robles in submitting a proposal for the County of San Luis Obispo’s emergency medical services contract.
DISCUSSION:
The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors holds the statutory authority to contract for ambulance services within the county by the State EMS Act. The County is preparing to release a competitive process to award the ambulance services contract, which represents a critical opportunity to modernize and improve EMS delivery countywide.
Currently, the City of Pismo Beach, through its Fire Department, is responsible for providing fire prevention and suppression, hazardous materials mitigation, and rescue operations within the City’s jurisdictional boundary. However, ambulance transport services are contracted through the County.
The seven incorporated cities’ city managers and the San Luis Obispo County Fire Chiefs Association have unanimously expressed their support for the City of Paso Robles, acting as the Lead Agency, to submit a proposal for the County ambulance services contract.
This initiative is intended to foster a community-based EMS model with stronger accountability and transparency.
The Paso Robles-led model will:
Provide an innovative EMS delivery model where the City of Paso Robles serves as the lead agency, subcontracting to a private ambulance provider, with oversight provided by an executive committee made up of the seven cities’ city managers ensuring transparency and accountability.
Enhance service delivery with greater local involvement and oversight. Provide additional funding for EMS-centric programs and allow reinvestment into City services.
Foster regional cooperation by uniting the cities, community service districts, and fire agencies in a shared vision for EMS improvement.
Support proactive and preventative programs addressing mental health, substance abuse, and services for unhoused community members. Reinvest excess revenues after operational costs back into local communities to improve public health outcomes.
Council Agenda 9-1-2026 9.F-1
By adopting the resolution provided as Attachment 1, the Pismo Beach City Council is supporting an opportunity for enhanced ambulance services and a more sustainable EMS system that is responsive to the evolving needs of the Pismo Beach community.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Council adopt a resolution (Attachment 1) expressing support for the City of Paso Robles to submit a proposal for the San Luis Obispo County Ambulance Services Contract and supporting a more robust, transparent, and accountable ambulance transport system that reinvests in the San Luis Obispo County Emergency Medical System (EMS) and other community health initiatives.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact from this report. Should the application submitted by Paso Robles be selected, the participating cities would fund the start up until reimbursements from Medicare, insurance, and self-pay revenues are received. These start up costs would be a loan that is repayable to each agency by the City of Paso Robles with the first monies received after expenses being utilized to repay all of the funding agencies. It is estimated that the City of Pismo Beach’s contribution would be roughly $1 million, reflecting its share of the calls for service within the city.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
Submitted by: Silas Clarke, Assistant City Manager
City Manager Approval:
Council Agenda 9-1-2026 9.F-2
RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-XXX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PISMO BEACH,
CALIFORNIA SUPPORTING THE CITY OF PASO ROBLES IN SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL FOR THE COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO’S EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICES CONTRACT
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Pismo Beach controls, through statutory authority and policy, the provision of fire suppression, emergency medical services (EMS), hazardous materials mitigation, and rescue operations within its jurisdictional boundaries; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to state law, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors holds authority over the regulation and contracting of ambulance transport services within San Luis Obispo County; and
WHEREAS, the opportunity to submit a proposal for the County of San Luis Obispo’s ambulance services contract allows for significant improvements to the ambulance transport system through a more dynamic community-based model; and WHEREAS, the Pismo Beach City Council supports an enhanced ambulance transport system that is robust, transparent, accountable, and which reinvests revenues back into local communities after expenses to support proactive programs addressing mental health, substance abuse, and the needs of unhoused community members; and WHEREAS, this proposed model will also provide additional funding for EMS-centric programs and allow direct reinvestment into local EMS operations, including the City of Pismo Beach’s Fire Department, thereby improving overall public safety and service delivery within the city; and
WHEREAS, the seven city managers representing the incorporated cities of San Luis Obispo County, as well as the San Luis Obispo County Fire Chiefs Association, have unanimously endorsed and expressed support for the City of Paso Robles submitting a proposal for the County ambulance services contract; and WHEREAS, a Paso Robles-led model would foster strong local partnerships, accountability, and transparency, as well as encourage collaborative governance across jurisdictions that directly benefit all communities within San Luis Obispo County, including the City of Pismo Beach; and
WHEREAS, the City Council believes that this approach offers an opportunity to build an EMS system that is more responsive to community needs and better aligned with modern public safety practices, while ensuring that revenues are invested back into the people and services of San Luis Obispo County.
Council Agenda 9-1-2026 9.F-3
Attachment 1
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Pismo Beach as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Pismo Beach hereby expresses its strong support for the City of Paso Robles to submit a proposal for the County of San Luis Obispo’s ambulance services contract.
SECTION 2. The City Council further supports the pursuit of a comprehensive, transparent, and accountable Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system that prioritizes community needs, reinvests revenues locally, and provides sustainable funding for EMS- related and preventive public health programs.
SECTION 3. The City Council encourages the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors and all relevant decision-makers to give favorable consideration to this model, which will yield direct and meaningful benefits to residents of Pismo Beach and all communities throughout the County.
UPON MOTION OF Council Member , seconded by Council Member , the foregoing resolution was adopted by the City Council of the City of Pismo Beach this 1st day of September 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
RECUSED:
Approved: Attest:
________________________ ________________________
Ed Waage, Mayor Erica Kirkwood, City Clerk
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal of the City of Pismo Beach on _______________________.
________________________
Erica Kirkwood, City Clerk
Council Agenda 9-1-2026 9.F-4
Attachment 1