NO! to a Franchise Ordinance for Non-Emergency Ambulance Transfer Service Without Evidence!

The requirement for any person or business to engage in the non-emergency ambulance transfer service within the City of Georgetown or its ETJ is a mechanism for controlling private enterprise, aggregating additional power to the City, and another method of acquiring funds for the City.  A franchise or license granted by the City is a barrier to entry for persons or businesses to engage in a legitimate business.

A typical ordinance requires that a non-emergency ambulance service provides for "public convenience".  In addition, the burden of proof shall be upon any applicant to show clear, cogent and convincing evidence that the public convenience will be served by granting a non-emergency ambulance transfer service franchise.

Typical requirements are:

1.  Provide liability insurance with the City named as an additional insured.

2.  Establish a performance bond.

3.  Pay a franchise fee to the City - 3% to 5% of revenues.

4.  Inspection of books and records at any reasonable time.

5.  Standards for vehicles, equipment and personnel.

6.  Maintain a 24 hour dispatch service for non-emergency ambulance transfer service.

7.  City may fix and regulate rates for non-emergency ambulance transfer service.

Is this the kind of burden that should be imposed on people and businesses when no evidence has been presented that indicates a significant issue?  As stated in a previous post, the City needs to establish a complaint system so that citizens of Georgetown can submit their complaints along with any documentation to substantiate their grievance.  At the end of a year, the data should be analyzed to see if the City needs to enact an ordinance to assure the public safety and convenience is being met.  Until then, no ordinance establishing a franchise or license for non-emergency ambulance transfer service need be enacted!