Title:
Consider and take action on a resolution authorizing a mutual aid agreement with the City of Friendswood for Emergency Medical Service (Fire Chief)
Background:
Approval of this item will authorize a mutual aid agreement with the City of Friendswood for Emergency Medical Service
League City EMS has an established history of providing ambulance mutual aid to neighboring jurisdictions, including the City of Friendswood. While these responses support regional emergency services, they also require League City to commit personnel, ambulances, medical equipment, and operational resources outside its own jurisdiction.
League City recorded 20 responses into Friendswood in FY26, 39 in FY25, 44 in FY24, 40 in FY23, and 31 in FY22, for a total of 174 responses over five fiscal years. This represents an average of approximately 35 responses annually. For comparison, League City requested assistance from Friendswood on 2 occasions in FY26, 10 in FY25, 8 in FY24, 0 in FY23, and 9 in FY22, totaling 29 responses over the same five fiscal years. Based on these reported figures, League City provided 145 more responses into Friendswood than it requested from Friendswood during this period. League City's response volume into Friendswood was approximately six times the number of responses requested from Friendswood, illustrating a significant difference in the frequency of assistance provided between the two agencies.
Reciprocal mutual aid comparison
|
Fiscal Year |
League City to Friendswood |
Friendswood to League City |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FY26 |
20 |
2 |
|
|
|
FY25 |
39 |
10 |
|
|
|
FY24 |
44 |
8 |
|
|
|
FY23 |
40 |
0 |
|
|
|
FY22 |
31 |
9 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
174 |
29 |
|
|
Establishing a formal agreement with Friendswood that outlines a response readiness fee would provide a consistent and transparent method for addressing the costs associated with committing League City ambulance resources to another jurisdiction. The agreement would define when the fee applies, establish reimbursement and invoicing procedures, and clarify the responsibilities of both agencies. This will improve financial planning, provide a documented basis for evaluating recurring mutual aid demands, and help ensure the cost of supporting another jurisdiction is not borne entirely by League City taxpayers.
The intent is not to discourage legitimate mutual aid or diminish the cooperative relationship between League City and Friendswood. Rather, it is to establish a sustainable and clearly defined arrangement that recognizes the operational and financial responsibilities associated with providing these services while maintaining League City's ability to prioritize emergency coverage for its own residents.
For additional context, League City reported the following responses into other neighboring municipalities during the same period. These comparisons demonstrate the ongoing demand placed on League City's EMS resources through mutual aid and the importance of having a consistent framework for addressing the operational and financial costs associated with providing these services.
|
Fiscal Year |
LC to Friendswood |
LC to Forest Bend |
LC to Webster |
LC to Dickinson |
|
FY26 |
20 |
32 |
42 |
125 |
|
FY25 |
39 |
25 |
51 |
3 |
|
FY24 |
44 |
17 |
50 |
10 |
|
FY23 |
40 |
10 |
43 |
6 |
|
FY22 |
31 |
19 |
29 |
6 |
|
TOTAL |
174 |
103 |
215 |
150 |
CONTRACT ORIGINATION: Agreement has been reviewed by the City Attorney’s Office.
Attachments:
1. Proposed Resolution
2. Exhibit A - Agreement with the City of Friendswood
FUNDING
{X} NOT APPLICABLE
STRATEGIC PLANNING
{X } Addresses Strategic Planning Critical Success Factor # 3 Safe and Desirable Community