Posted by lobo at 04/14/09 03:34PM        Post ID#: #2824

There are several problems as I see it.
1. The people just voted against this.
2. The two existing paramedics and the X number of future hired firefighters that are trained as medics will want to be compensated (~$100,000 per year going rate in Washington). The union will demand this compensation.
3. The $30,000 to buy the equipment this year will become $60,000 next year then they'll need a couple new aid cars at $250,000 each
3b. The city's current aid car is a very expensive Internaional semi truck based rig when the for profit private ambulances use much lower cost van based aid cars. $200,000 aid cars versus $70-80k vehicles.
4. This will lead to the fire dept transporting. Other E. Wash. cities that transport such as each of the Tri Cities and Walla Walla charge just to show up and then they charge more than the private Yakima ambulance companies to transport. Is this what we want? Right now ambulance service costs the taxpayers nothing in Yakima, unless they call for this service. I don't call an ambulance every time I have a headache or minor illness, a lot of people do make those calls.
5. Currently we are being served by ~ 9 private ambulances and 5 public fire engines. This is a great model that other communities should look into. In fact I'd like to see the city outsource and bid out garbage service, street and park maintenance for starters. The savings can be put into law enforcement where our city is nationally ranked #3 for stolen cars.
6. Somebody has to be in charge at the scene, that is the paramedic. So if there are two medics and four EMT's at the scene who's in charge? The government guy? No thank you! When the US Air flight landed in the Hudson the Captain was in charge and the First Officer supported him and did what he was told.

I am a private business owner and have done my research on this topic by talking to people on both sides. The city has talked recently about getting into competition with other businesses such as the grave marker companies. Do I have to worry about my government getting into competition with my business too?

Kathy Coffey is good at promoting the great things about Yakima. Keep in mind... her paychecks have always been generated by the taxpayers. Think about that next time you see her driving through town in her Mercedes with studded tires tearing up our already battered streets.

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Posted by heywood at 04/14/09 09:54PM        Post ID#: #2837

There is a HUGE problem with this. Yes it is the money it takes to maintain this, yes it is the money coming out to start this up when a week ago the news was reporting on a budget short fall that may result in the lay off of existing firefighter(s). But even more than those reasons the fire chief has not presented factual documentation to support the NEED to have paramedics and to what extent they would be of value for our dollar. I do believe that the fire department has the best interest of our public, but this is a doomed proposal without realistic solid justification for the money. In watching the video of Randy Rashcko addressing the city council he is obviously very passionate about this, and that is great to feel so strongly about your job, but it boils down to that just because there are good people on the fire department we should not pass what ever they want. In a time of our city and nation being in turbulent financial times, our city leaders need to be taking a long hard look at this to make sure they are making an informed decision.

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Posted by sjuan at 04/14/09 10:07PM        Post ID#: #2838

Lobo, you are correct that these fire fighters will eventually demand to be paid for their extra training. When they do, people like Cathy Coffee will make the argument that Yakima will lose firefighters if funding is not increased. This is typical of how government ignores what the voters decide.

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