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As the CEO of Medstar/Ukiah Ambulance, and a resident of the City of Ukiah, there is no denying that adequate fire protection is a vital part of public safety, and it is a service that we have happily worked alongside for over 85 years. Medstar Ambulance is a local 501(c)(3) Nonprofit public charity, that operates without subsidies or special tax measures while responding to 7,000 emergency and non-emergency calls for service in 2023.
My concern with Measure V is the proper appropriation of collected funds. In the full text detail of Measure V, it assures voters that all funds raised by this measure will be used within the local community to improve fire protection and emergency medical response, which begs the question, why will Ukiah Valley Fire Authority (UVFA) be providing services in Willits and Clearlake in the near future?
During a City of Ukiah regular council meeting on October 2, 2024, the board approved and authorized the City Manager to sign a lease agreement with Umpqua Bank to finance the purchase of three new ambulances, gurneys, and monitors/defibrillators to support a 3-year inter-facility transport agreement between the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority and Adventist Health. Equipment purchased cost over $700,000, and totaled to over $800,000 after interest. In the agreement, which was approved in the City of Ukiah’s regular board meeting on August 7, 2024, UVFA agreed to provide nonemergent transportation to three Adventist Hospitals: Ukiah Valley, Howard Memorial, and Clear Lake.
Why is UVFA providing non-emergency transportation services? And why is money being spent to provide a service to a hospital in Clearlake? Measure V states that emergency calls for medical and fire emergencies in the Ukiah Valley have increased dramatically since 2004, so what is the reason for entering into an agreement in which resources will be sent to Willits and Clearlake? Perhaps the current 911 ambulance provided by the City of Ukiah is in debt, and this is its long-shot solution to a serious financial problem. Most people likely remember the City of Ukiah terminating its ambulance operations in 2013 due to financial problems.
In 2021, the district annexed the City of Ukiah for fire service, which cost homeowners in the City $120 per year for parcel taxes, and per the City’s attorney, David Rapport, such tax funds were supposed to cover an annual revenue shortfall of $500,000. The next year, a 2022 sales tax measure passed, which was to fund fire agencies county-wide, but concern was raised that the lion’s share of the funds would be received by UVFA. Are all of these recent tax measures being pushed to fund its faraway non-emergency ambulance service?
I do not necessarily assume that Measure V funds will be used to finance ambulance services out-of-county, but I do question the source of this non-emergency ambulance funding, and I also question whether the citizens of Ukiah and the District are subsidizing a fallible ambulance endeavor?
I also want to encourage voters to go onto Transparent California’s website to view the salaries, overtime and benefits of four fire department employees that totaled over 1 million for 2023.
The City of Ukiah and UVFA should consider revising their current service description of “providing the very best fire, rescue, and medical care to the citizens of the City of Ukiah and the unincorporated areas of Ukiah Valley.” The City should provide its citizens with a clear understanding of how their taxes are being used, and how they will be used in the future to benefit the citizens of Ukiah.
Leonard Winter, President and Chief Executive Officer
These are good questions. Perhaps Willits and Clearlake should shoulder some or all of these costs for nonemergency transport. Like does the UVFA have any agreements With the City of Willits and/or Clearlake to lease their crew / equipment for nonemergency transport ? Clearlake is a bit of a drive from Ukiah….just saying
There is NO such thing as a “nonprofit”!! What does that hollow term even mean? You’re letter is littered with references towards money & resources. What’s wrong with one community extending a helping hand to another? I’m sure this is all above my head but I’ve no doubt it’s a all money motivated! You’re probably losing money or, at the very least, being asked to do more for the same pay. Join the club! This is a selfish & self centered pllea for sympathy.
Want me to call you a whaaambulance!?
I can’t believe I’m the first to say it!!!!!