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To amend City Code §§ 10-79, concerning the award of franchises and permits to operators of emergency medical service vehicles, and 10-83, concerning the suspension of authorization to operate emergency medical service vehicles, to make modifications to the City’s regulations governing the operation of emergency medical service vehicles in the right-of-way.
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THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That sections 10-79 and 10-83 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2015), as amended, be and are hereby amended and reordained as follows:
Sec. 10-79. Awarding of franchises and permits.
It is in the best interest of the City to create and to regulate a unified emergency medical services system. It is the policy of the City to promote the provision of adequate and continuing ambulance service to transport sick or injured persons in the metropolitan area in order to preserve, protect and promote the public health, safety and general welfare of the public residing in this area. In furtherance of this policy, the City may, from time to time, award or revoke by ordinance franchises or permits for the operation of emergency medical service (EMS) vehicles, subject to such public health, safety, and general welfare requirements as it may impose under this article. The holder of a franchise or permit shall be referred to in this article as an “authorized provider.” Any franchise or permit, other than any franchise granted to the Richmond Ambulance Authority, shall be for a period of two years; however, an authorized provider may apply for a new franchise or permit to replace an expiring franchise or permit. No franchise or permit may be transferred by any means, direct or indirect, including, without limitation, change of ownership or control, trusteeship, and sale of assets. The award of a franchise or permit may be conditioned upon the attainment of norms for quality of care and response times that the City establishes for its emergency medical services system generally.
Sec. 10-83. Suspension of authorization to operate.
The Chief [Administrative Officer] of Fire and Emergency Services may summarily suspend any franchise or permit issued pursuant to this article for any reason involving a danger to public health, safety or welfare, including bankruptcy or insolvency. Such a suspension shall not exceed two weeks in length, and any provider so suspended shall have a right to a hearing before the [Emergency Medical Services Control Board] Chief Administrative Officer, who may (i) reinstate the franchise or permit immediately, (ii) take no action to modify the duration of the suspension pursuant to this section, or (iii) extend the suspension for a period of up to 90 days and impose additional conditions on the authorized provider, either or both. The hearing shall be de novo. It shall comply with due process requirements but shall not be governed by strict rules of evidence or procedure.
§ 2. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.