To: Mayor Dave Edler
Councilmember Maureen Adkison
Councilmember Micah Cawley
Councilmember Kathy Coffey
Councilmember Rick Ensey
Councilmember Bill Lover
Councilmember Sonia Rodriguez
Subject: City of Yakima EMS Levy Results and Fire Fighter / Paramedics Proposal
We thank.you for Yakima Fire Chief Hines letter response dated May 5, 2009 which addressed some of our questions to you in our recent correspondence but left many questions unanswered. SOAR remains steadfastly opposed to expanding Yakima Fire Department services at this time to include paramedics on fire engines. Please be reminded once again of the February 3, 2009 EMS levy proposal which failed by a substantial margin with over 59% NO votes.
Even though Chief Hines continues to seek City Council approval to “just” allow the Yakima Fire Department to utilize the paramedic services of two current fire fighters, Chief Hines May 5, 2009 letter to SOAR clearly states his goal is “to place a Firefighter/Paramedic on every neighborhood fire engine.” What is the start up cost and ongoing cost for his clearly stated goal?? Can the City of Yakima afford this goal ?? Please refer to our previous correspondence in which we stated our strong belief that Chief Hines proposal with the two current fire fighters is
just the “nose of the camel in the tent.”
We believe that our City currently has an EMS system that works with private ambulance services and a user pay system. Our City cannot afford to be and do everything for everybody. We must use our limited resources in the most cost effective manner. During times that the City is discussing closing parks and pools due to shortage of resources, it appears unwise to be considering expanding fire department services.
Chief Hines included his August 4,2008 letter to Bob Hall in his response to our concerns. It is interesting to note that year 1987 to 2007 statistics are used by Chief Hines to show that fire calls of an emergency medical nature increased by over 400% during this time period. These same statistics can show an almost 20% decrease in non-medical emergency calls ( we presume fire related calls) during this same time period as shown below:
1987 – 3,189 responses X 0.48 = 1531 / 49.6K= 31 calls per 1000 population
2007 – 9,009 responses X 0.24 = 2160 / 85.0K = 25 calls per 1000 population
We encourage the City Council to look very carefully at all the statistics being presented to you as very different messages can be delivered from the same raw data.
SOAR continues to respect our Yakima Fire Fighters and the job they are paid to perfonn. We believe the City Council should direct the Yakima Fire Department to focus on vital fire fighting services and let the private ambulance services do their job.
Very truly yours,
M.A. (Mel) Tanasse
Save Our American Rights ( SOAR )
To: Mayor Dave Edler
Councilmember Maureen Adkison
Councilmember Micah Cawley
Councilmember Kathy Coffey
Councilmember Rick Ensey
Councilmember Bill Lover
Councilmember Sonia Rodriguez
Subject: City of Yakima EMS Levy Results and Fire Fighter / Paramedics Proposal
June 1, 2009
We thank.you for Yakima Fire Chief Hines letter response dated May 5, 2009 which addressed some of our questions to you in our recent correspondence but left many questions unanswered. SOAR remains steadfastly opposed to expanding Yakima Fire Department services at this time to include paramedics on fire engines. Please be reminded once again of the February 3, 2009 EMS levy proposal which failed by a substantial margin with over 59% NO votes.
Even though Chief Hines continues to seek City Council approval to “just” allow the Yakima Fire Department to utilize the paramedic services of two current fire fighters, Chief Hines May 5, 2009 letter to SOAR clearly states his goal is “to place a Firefighter/Paramedic on every neighborhood fire engine.” What is the start up cost and ongoing cost for his clearly stated goal?? Can the City of Yakima afford this goal ?? Please refer to our previous correspondence in which we stated our strong belief that Chief Hines proposal with the two current fire fighters is
just the “nose of the camel in the tent.”
We believe that our City currently has an EMS system that works with private ambulance services and a user pay system. Our City cannot afford to be and do everything for everybody. We must use our limited resources in the most cost effective manner. During times that the City is discussing closing parks and pools due to shortage of resources, it appears unwise to be considering expanding fire department services.
Chief Hines included his August 4,2008 letter to Bob Hall in his response to our concerns. It is interesting to note that year 1987 to 2007 statistics are used by Chief Hines to show that fire calls of an emergency medical nature increased by over 400% during this time period. These same statistics can show an almost 20% decrease in non-medical emergency calls ( we presume fire related calls) during this same time period as shown below:
1987 – 3,189 responses X 0.48 = 1531 / 49.6K= 31 calls per 1000 population
2007 – 9,009 responses X 0.24 = 2160 / 85.0K = 25 calls per 1000 population
We encourage the City Council to look very carefully at all the statistics being presented to you as very different messages can be delivered from the same raw data.
SOAR continues to respect our Yakima Fire Fighters and the job they are paid to perfonn. We believe the City Council should direct the Yakima Fire Department to focus on vital fire fighting services and let the private ambulance services do their job.
Very truly yours,
M.A. (Mel) Tanasse
Save Our American Rights ( SOAR )
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