HomeMy WebLinkAbout4805 Ordinance - Amending PMC 3.35.010 Ambulance UtilityOrdinance – Amending PMC 3.35.010 - 1
ORDINANCE NO. 4805
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PASCO, WASHINGTON,
AMENDING PASCO MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 3.35.010 AMBULANCE
UTILITY FEES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2026, AT 80 PERCENT.
WHEREAS, a revenue requirements study to determine the monthly availability (utility)
rate was jointly conducted between contractor FCS Group and City Staff covering the years range
of 2026 through 2030; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Pasco hereby determines that the total costs
necessary to regulate, operate, and maintain the ambulance utility is accurately described in the
FCS Group cost-of-service study; and
WHEREAS, FCS has prepared and provided several cost-recovery scenarios in the cost-
of-service study to assist the City Council in evaluating rate options; and
WHEREAS, RCW 35.21.766 requires that the cities or towns that operated an ambulance
service before May 6, 2004, and commingled general fund dollars and ambulance service dollars,
may reasonably estimate that portion of general fund dollars that were, as of May 5, 2004, applied
toward the operation of the ambulance service, and at least seventy percent of such estimated
amount must then continue to be applied toward the total cost necessary to regulate, operate, and
maintain the ambulance utility.
WHEREAS, the amount required to be maintained as a subsidy from the general fund per
RCW 35.21.766 for the City of Pasco is $420,000 per year.
WHEREAS, notwithstanding the required continued contribution of $420,000 as required
by RCW 35.21.760, Scenario 3 of the cost-of-service study prepared by FCS, proposes to achieve
80% total cost recovery for EMS operations through utility rates and other revenues of the
remaining costs, maintaining a moderate level of General Fund support (other than the
aforementioned required $420,000) for community benefit and system sustainability; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the rate structure proposed in Scenario
3 of the cost-of-service study prepared by FCS, appropriately balances the City’s financial needs
with the goal of minimizing impacts on residents.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PASCO,
WASHINGTON DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That Section PMC 3.35.010 entitled “Ambulance Utility” of the Pasco
Municipal Code is hereby amended and shall read as follows:
Ordinance – Amending PMC 3.35.010 - 2
3.35.010 Ambulance Utility.
2023
2026
2024
2027
2025
2028
2029 2030 Reference
Monthly Utility
Rate per ERU
$16.66
$28.17
17.42
$29.57
18.61
$31.03
$32.55 $34.12 3.85.080
Ambulance Service
Business License
$150.00 $150.00 $150.00 $150.00 $150.00 3.85.080
[Ord. 4622 § 1, 2022; Ord. 4406 § 1, 2018; Ord. 4369, 2017; Ord. 4322, 2016; Ord. 4253, 2015;
Ord. 4139, 2014; Ord. 4053, 2012; Ord. 3913, 2009; Ord. 3800, 2006; Ord. 3718, 2005; Ord. 3708,
2004; Ord. 3677, 2004; Ord. 3645, 2003; Ord. 3610, 2003; Code 1970 § 3.07.010.]
Section 2. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or word
of this ordinance should be held to the invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent
jurisdiction, such invalidity or unconstitutionality thereof shall not affect the validity or
constitutionality of any other section, subsection, sentence, clause phrase or word of this ordinance.
Section 3. Corrections. Upon approval by the city attorney, the city clerk or the code
reviser are authorized to make necessary corrections to this ordinance, including scrivener’s errors
or clerical mistakes; reference to other local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations; or
numbering or referencing of ordinances or their sections and subsections.
Section 4. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take full force and effect January 1,
20026 after approval, passage and publication as required by law.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Pasco, Washington, on this 1st day of
December, 2025.
_____________________________
David Milne
Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________ ___________________________
Debra Barham, MMC Kerr Ferguson Law, PLLC
City Clerk City Attorneys
Published: December 7, 2025