[{"_1":2,"_96":-5,"_97":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,84],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6181940,"mediaKeyId","5110755-37eb032b522a8d75ecaf7d678cae6a00","parentId",5110755,"title","Council hires Emergency Ambulance Services to provide Westminster 9‑1‑1 ambulance transport","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",25500000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5110755-37eb032b522a8d75ecaf7d678cae6a00&start=25500&end=25500","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5110755-37eb032b522a8d75ecaf7d678cae6a00/thumbnail_25500000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6181940/Westminster/Orange-County/California/Council-hires-Emergency-Ambulance-Services-to-provide-Westminster-911-ambulance-transport","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181940-88eca74dec3431b8247440f395de47ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442873&Signature=KdqbbShhETPQQc5zP~5oUXUsNEXVNl051vqP5e7BS4bHtgbArk7lNvItKbDquASattqme7LMZj5I-Yz974Ux5KsVsX5N6EwYV800rA0QWja2ak-48F4uLIc6pReSHLckkKNufNvXiEG3-oDLpMy4DiIPUS9MBX6loXly2tHHo0VXk6OSkA5B2yR3l7-xH9S08LIzNkM108NHSDRdqbI~Jf15zuUYu0b0FBc~a3im7VPh439gbtfO9ZxpDcsyxgHwakLc5GZA1bP0H6e0lnspq9-ZSYic8VKAV2dwYBudZ7RVZUM1tO1G1hhyXk~EW8qEtULm8iWyE9H01cMHCadBvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Westminster, CA","date","2025-06-12T07:39:54Z","article","The Westminster City Council on June 11 approved a five‑year contract with Emergency Ambulance Services to provide basic life‑support ambulance transportation in the city and also authorized a seven‑year ambulance billing services contract with Whitman Enterprises.

The action followed a two‑phase procurement supported by consultant AP Triton. Consultant Rich Buchanan told the council the city’s EMS demand, payer mix (an above‑average share of Medicare and Medi‑Cal patients), and call volumes made a third‑party transport model the most fiscally practical and operationally reliable approach. Buchanan said the review evaluated experience with 9‑1‑1 response, surge capacity, quality assurance, financial stability and pricing.

Two bidders met the city’s 9‑1‑1 experience and performance requirements; AP Triton and the city’s selection panel recommended Emergency Ambulance Services as the city’s top scoring proposer. Council approved a five‑year contract for ambulance transport, $8,311,461.91 across the five‑year term, with two one‑year renewal options. The council separately approved a seven‑year billing agreement with Whitman Enterprises at 3.75 percent of net collections to handle ambulance billing and collections.

Consultant Buchanan said Westminster’s current system — County Fire paramedics for ALS first response plus the private ambulance contractor for transport — meets or exceeds national response‑time percentile targets and that the selected proposer demonstrated adequate surge capacity and local familiarity. Buchanan also told council the city’s estimated billed revenue and conservative recovery assumptions translated to a positive net revenue contribution to the city under the third‑party transport model; he said other models (city‑run ambulance or municipal ambulance operator) would not improve that fiscal outcome without different trade‑offs.

Council members asked for contract performance reporting and monitoring. The awarded transport and billing contracts require monthly performance metrics and allow for contractual penalties and corrective steps if service standards are not met. The council recorded unanimous (5‑0) roll‑call votes approving the contracts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","WM City Council Meeting_6-11-2025","oneSentenceSummary","After a consultant review and competitive RFP, the council on June 11 awarded a five‑year emergency ambulance transport contract to Emergency Ambulance Services and approved a seven‑year billing agreement with Whitman Enterprises; staff said the vendor selection was based on performance, 9‑1‑1 experience and surge capacity.","taxTitle","Westminster, Orange County, California","taxId",4241,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":42,"_43":77,"_45":77,"_46":78,"_48":79,"_50":80,"_52":81,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":82,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":83,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6181945,"Council favors admin support for code enforcement, questions costs to expand ADU water‑meter crew",2736000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5110755-37eb032b522a8d75ecaf7d678cae6a00&start=2736&end=2736","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5110755-37eb032b522a8d75ecaf7d678cae6a00/thumbnail_2736000.jpg","/articles/6181945/Westminster/Orange-County/California/Council-favors-admin-support-for-code-enforcement-questions-costs-to-expand-ADU-watermeter-crew","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181945-47a0b9946e6573c4285f6c2e4c95fe58/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442873&Signature=OUMR-9ovVIc88Of0uENyxtUvixxsYy-2~FMx7EHHVds3RQxPlMMGGHLMtPcsQWPsFJzD48njG5s4MNo5IB30CWVUenZ73KGVaXAWMUZ0JMKSEvRD~DaVhSAQhv12euzI0JpNiFolPoVJORXFjlo40AyJJbAMfdKfRQpoxAH~MQwLWkYBzTJoqmZA0uNcndvRli~K-AA~TzC1V1NddFsBkcnNd5Jahjslzc9NbZRGDbdSG~2w6u6u2KjdhFMTwUbrnVZ7T6VVSmwQXkQWIB9MzPv-q39B0sBfz79Fj2klVuMzHoVF50J4fH6zKJZ7VwBSgxCe-GNihIu38qMXsFDsRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a June 11 study session on the proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget, staff presented three cost options the council had requested: (1) an additional code‑enforcement officer and a clerical (administrative) assistant, (2) a new ADU water‑meter installation crew, and (3) potential revenue ideas not yet in the budget.

Staff said the fully burdened cost of an additional code‑enforcement officer is about $97,400; an administrative assistant would be $94,295. The public‑works water division estimated that accelerating the current ADU meter backlog would require a four‑person crew (foreman, equipment operator, two water technicians) plus heavy equipment, with a total first‑year cost (staff + equipment) of roughly $872,000. Staff estimated additional meter‑installation fees could be increased and cover some — but not all — costs.

During discussion, several councilmembers said an administrative assistant would produce the greatest immediate benefit: clerical work, phone intake and case logging now absorb officer time and reduce field hours. Councilmembers expressed support for adding the administrative position in next year’s budget, and staff said a current vacancy for a code officer is in process of being filled.

Council discussion on the ADU meter crew was more cautious. Staff said the water division currently installs one to two ADU services per week and that the current waitlist of about 45 requests could take up to nine months under the existing cadence. The proposed crew would reduce the waiting time to about three to four months but would carry about $500,000 in equipment up front and $370,000 in annual staff costs. Staff also said with current fees the crew would recover roughly half of its annual costs and that a new fee schedule could raise charges to reflect true costs (staff suggested fees could rise to about $11,000 per meter installation under a revised schedule).

Council consensus at the study session: approve an administrative assistant in the budget, and defer approval of the ADU meter crew and heavy‑equipment purchase pending more analysis of fee changes and alternatives, including the option for property owners to hire contractors for their ADU meter work. Several councilmembers asked staff to return with further analysis of true cost recovery, alternative contractor models and whether overtime arrangements could temporarily ease the backlog without a new crew and equipment purchase.

Councilmember Mark Wynne urged staff to analyze the broader trade‑offs — unpaid time taken from other water‑system work when field crews are diverted to meter installs — and to provide a clearer estimate of total fiscal exposure before committing to equipment purchases.

No appropriation was approved at the June 11 study session; staff will return with a recommendation for the formal budget adoption meeting on June 25.","During budget study, council members backed adding an administrative assistant to the code‑enforcement division to free officers for field work; they expressed concern about a proposed water division crew and heavy equipment purchase to speed ADU meter installs because user fees currently do not fully cover the start‑up costs.",{"_33":85,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":86,"_41":87,"_43":88,"_45":89,"_46":90,"_48":91,"_50":92,"_52":93,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":94,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":95,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6181950,"Westminster officials report faster permit processing, new e-plan review and code-enforcement metrics",1101,1559000,2660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5110755-37eb032b522a8d75ecaf7d678cae6a00&start=1559&end=2660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5110755-37eb032b522a8d75ecaf7d678cae6a00/thumbnail_1559000.jpg","/articles/6181950/Westminster/Orange-County/California/Westminster-officials-report-faster-permit-processing-new-e-plan-review-and-code-enforcement-metrics","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181950-8e6f029765784bf7404fc2319c9b3cc9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442873&Signature=TYu7-3cX70XUrdw3p1U2~A9VCjnNOjMvkTlz6nnspCHQ72dBvFb1fN2NBZ1AOuUkTN-5U88d9OvUhTo41umjeZM8Jm~QAZRJeP8ow29FbZ1QyeSL3rMzZTRmyZ6ZUEVYXDhAcBpkGBDxWqlf9LLUrhMMpnTO1JlaSdDXP2RnGmAl-sj5VFA962CPSChR0PVAIcBZZ7~cINyadicpnY1EYUWukEN0mqS8sforuNCSATx7lckoOYHTxhqqK7dvfh7pwPktsoqpus9DDlMFHpxARJCiM2dnXvRh1z55BS6cuaRgKsBw5BCPpZkZYwRy4F9K4yAsNyfwCIU49ZF6x7DscQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a June 11 study session, Westminster interim community development director Ashton described changes underway in the Community Development Department, including wider use of EnerGov and a new e‑plan review option intended to speed permit processing and improve public access.

Ashton said EnerGov now provides workflows that let staff track every phase of a case, identify deadlines and measure workload, and that the city’s Westminster Build portal lets applicants check status remotely and schedule inspections. He said the city launched a soft e‑plan review in December and had processed 127 e‑permit submittals — about 14 percent of submittals — and planned a full advertising push once early issues are resolved.

The department also published standard processing timelines and wrote procedures to reduce review cycles, Ashton told the council. \"We are trying to limit our cases to two reviews,\" he said, adding that the city now aims to move cooperative, applicant‑cooperative cases — such as several recent commercial projects — through faster than before.

During public comment, resident Terry Raines and others praised the steps but urged quicker implementation and greater transparency around older internal memos that previously guided staff interpretations.

Councilmembers pressed staff for specifics about the e‑plan rollout, ADU processing and the department’s use of technology. Ashton and Principal Planner Ken Fichtelman said the city had eliminated a separate zoning screening step for accessory dwelling units, allowing zoning review to run concurrently with building plan review. The city has also produced six pre‑drawn ADU plans available for free and reported processing about 213 ADU permits so far this year.

On code enforcement, Interim Code Enforcement Manager Sergio Vrino reported a marked increase in cases: officers initiated more proactive cases, expanded evening and weekend vendor sweeps and increased measurable productivity. The department reported 901 cases handled in the first half of 2025 versus 354 in the same period of 2024, and an increase in identified violations from 280 to 829 over that span.

Ashton and Fichtelman told council they are drafting more policies and performance metrics and that some recommendations from a June 2024 organizational review could not yet be implemented because of recruitment and budget limits. Councilmembers praised the progress but pressed for faster hiring and for a plan to sustain improvements when the interim director leaves.

Council direction: staff asked for council approval to initiate certain zoning code edits that would clarify which cases require planning commission review versus staff approval; Fichtelman said those code text amendments would still be subject to public hearings under the planning commission and city council, and would let staff prepare ordinance language more quickly when changes are needed by state law or to remove obvious procedural barriers.

City staff said they will return to council with drafts of those zoning code amendments and with follow‑up reporting on performance indicators as the department continues implementation.","City staff told council in a June 11 study session that new technology, written procedures and performance standards have reduced review times for many permits, expanded e-plan submittal, and raised code‑enforcement productivity; staff said more work remains and asked council to allow zoning code edits to improve process clarity.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council hires Emergency Ambulance Services to provide Westminster 9‑1‑1 ambulance transport

Council favors admin support for code enforcement, questions costs to expand ADU water‑meter crew

Westminster officials report faster permit processing, new e-plan review and code-enforcement metrics