City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: February 10, 2026
Agenda Item: 4.A
1 of 4
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Matthew Hallock, Fire Chief, Fire Department
Subject: Award Nurse Practitioner Agreements for Advanced Provider Unit Program Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Erin Tomlinson for the Advanced Provider Unit for the Fire Department. This recommended award is made as an exception to the competitive bidding process pursuant to Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 2.24.250(i) and 2.24.240(a) and for an amount not to exceed $598,643, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Alex Perez Sandi as a Nurse Practitioner for the Advanced Provider Unit for the Fire Department. This recommended award is made as an exception to the competitive bidding process pursuant to Santa Monica Municipal Code Section
2.24.250(i) and 2.24.240(a) and for an amount not to exceed $598,643, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
Summary
The Santa Monica Fire Department’s Advanced Provider Unit (“APU”) is one of the City’s newest programs to focus on the City’s most vulnerable populations and provide them with resources and better access to the help they need. The APU is staffed with a Firefighter Paramedic and Nurse Practitioner, and the Fire Department has spent the past few months creating protocols, stocking the APU vehicle, and interviewing Nurse Practitioners. While the City has already contracted with three Nurse Practitioners for the first APU, a second APU was recently authorized and more Nurse Practitioners are 2 of 4
needed to ensure maximum coverage and no operational downtime. Staff recommends awarding agreements to Erin Tomlinson and Alex Perez Sandi as Nurse Practitioners for the APU.
Discussion
On October 28, 2025, Council adopted the Santa Monica Realignment Plan which authorized the creation of a second APU within the Fire Department. This supplements the first APU authorized by Council on June 24, 2025, as part of the FY 2025-27 Biennial Budget. The combined APUs supplement the City’s first response capability by having dedicated units to better address the needs of persons experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations.
Each APU is staffed by a Firefighter Paramedic and Nurse Practitioner on a 40 hour per week schedule. Each APU provides the following:
1. Comprehensive Care. The APU can perform comprehensive assessments, treat, and release patients. Unlike paramedics and emergency medical technicians, a Nurse Practitioner can medically clear patients, which keeps low acuity patients out of the hospital. This not only frees up hospital beds for those in need but keeps Fire Department units available as they no longer have to wait for a bed.
2. Homelessness Intervention. The APU can function as mobile urgent care for the unhoused population. In addition to medically clearing individuals, the unit can provide point-of-care testing for conditions such as flu, strep, and blood abnormalities. If issues are detected, the APU can prescribe necessary medications, such as antibiotics, enhancing the speed and efficacy of treatment.
3. Community Paramedicine. The APU can make house calls to Santa Monica residents, providing post-discharge care, testing, and follow-up after hospital release, thus reducing the potential for future 9-1-1 calls.
4. Versatility and Advanced Treatment. The APU can deliver a high level of medical care and intervention. This benefit extends to our partners in the Santa Monica Police Department, as they can rely less on external medical partners to medically clear detainees for booking. Since the APU is a City resource, the City will not incur charges for these services, resulting in cost savings. 3 of 4
The Fire Department opted to contract with Nurse Practitioners rather than create a city position to maximize operational uptime and scheduling flexibility. Over the past few months, staff has drafted job responsibilities and requirements, held an informational session that was attended by over 40 potential Nurse Practitioners, and conducted two rounds of interviews. On September 30, 2025, Council approved three Nurse Practitioner agreements for the first APU which went live shortly thereafter. With the second APU approved on October 28, 2025, the department requires additional Nurse Practitioners to ensure adequate and consistent staffing.
Given that the APU was funded largely to address persons experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations, staff is utilizing the Local Emergency on Homelessness to expedite the process to hire Nurse Practitioners.
Exception to the Competitive Bidding Process
Consistent with the initial Proclamation of the City Council Declaring a Local Emergency on Homelessness adopted by Council on February 14, 2023, and most recently extended on December 16, 2025, the contract awards qualify as an emergency award pursuant to SMMC 2.24.240(a) and subsequently is recommended as an exception to the competitive bidding process pursuant to SMMC 2.24.250(i).
Staff recommends awarding the following agreements for Nurse Practitioners to:
1) Erin Tomlinson: initial 1-year term with a not to exceed amount of $79,553 (including a $12,353 contingency), with four 1-year renewal options, for a total not to exceed amount of $598,643
2) Alex Perez Sandi: initial 1-year term with a not to exceed amount of $79,553 (including a $12,353 contingency), with four 1-year renewal options, for a total not to exceed amount of $598,643
Environmental Review
The agreements for Nurse Practitioners would have no possibility of significant effect on the environment and therefore is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. The medical services provided by the Nurse Practitioners have no environmental impacts and thus would be exempt under the Common Sense Exemption. 4 of 4
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
12/16/2025 Adoption of Resolution Ratifying Homelessness Emergency Proclamation
10/28/2025 Santa Monica Realignment Plan
09/30/2025 Award Nurse Practitioner Agreements for Advanced Provider Unit
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to approve available funding from the General Fund to award agreements with Erin Tomlinson and Alex Perez Sandi to operate as Nurse Practitioners for the Advanced Provider Unit for the Fire Department.
Agreement Request
Contract
FY 2025-26
Request
Amount
Future
Years
Amount
Department Account # Total Contract
Amount
Erin Tomlinson $79,553 $519,090 01190005.550010 $598,643 Alex Perez Sandi $79,553 $519,090 01190005.550010 $598,643 Total $1,197,286
Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval.
Prepared By: Jonathan Tang, Principal Administrative Analyst Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. E Tomlinson - Oaks
B. E Tomlinson - Levine Act
C. A Perez Sandi - Levine Act
D. A Perez Sandi - Oaks