January 13, 1999
To:Emergency & Protective Services Committee
From:Commissioner, Works & Emergency Services
Subject:Transfer of Surplus/Decommissioned Ambulances to St. John Ambulance
Purpose:
The purpose of this report is to seek authorization to transfer a total four (4)
surplus/decommissioned ambulance vehicles to St. John Ambulance, Toronto Branch.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
The financial implications associated with the transfer of four (4) decommissioned
ambulances to St. John Ambulance, Toronto Branch, would be the deferral of future revenues
to be obtained through the sale of these vehicles at public auction. The estimated revenue
impact would be approximately $6,000.00 based on a per unit value of $1,500.00 received
through the sale of these vehicles at public auction.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
1)City of Toronto Council approve the transfer of four (4) surplus/decommissioned
ambulances to St. John Ambulance, Toronto Branch; and,
2)appropriate officials be given authority to give effect thereto.
Council Reference/Background/History:
The City of Toronto and the former Metropolitan Toronto Council have supported St. John
Ambulance, Toronto Branch, by providing an annual grant and through a relationship
established with its ambulance service. Volunteers from St. John Ambulance, Toronto
Branch, augment the City's professional emergency medical services system by providing first
aid services during large public events and community activities as well as supporting the
principle of public involvement through the many first aid and cardio pulmonary resuscitation
training programs offered to the public. On an annual basis, St. John Ambulance, Toronto
Branch, provides over 90,000 hours of first aid services to the community ensuring prompt
and efficient first responder medical aid. These services are in part coordinated through
Toronto Ambulance at events such as the Canadian National Exhibition, National Trade
Centre events, Caribana, Molson Indy, street festivals and a wide-variety of local community
events.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
The transport division of St. John Ambulance, Toronto Branch, operates a number of mobile
first aid posts. These vehicles are ambulances and while they are generally not utilized to
transport patients, they are used to transport brigade volunteers to community events and to
provide a base of operation for first aid staff at assigned locations. The demand on these
vehicles is not considered to be excessive as compared to ambulances operated by the City of
Toronto.
For the past three years, St. John Ambulance, Toronto Branch, has contracted Toronto
Ambulance to maintain and repair its fleet of vehicles. The Fleet Operations Manager of
Toronto Ambulance advised that a number of vehicles currently utilized by St. John
Ambulance, Toronto Branch, had reached the end of their functional life span and could not
be certified ,as safe, under the provisions of the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario. Many of the
vehicles had been purchased in the early 1980's and the amount of money required to ensure
their continued safe operation would far exceed the value of the vehicle.
As St. John Ambulance is a volunteer agency reliant on donations and grants, the capital costs
associated with replacing its vehicles at this time would be significant. In an effort to assist St.
John Ambulance and to enable them to continue to provide their valuable community service,
Toronto Ambulance is seeking approval to transfer up to four (4) of its
surplus/decommissioned ambulances to the Toronto Branch. These vehicles have reached the
end of their functional life span as a 24-hour operating vehicle, however, they are in sufficient
mechanical condition to operate as a mobile first aid post for St. John Ambulance. Toronto
Ambulance would ensure that these vehicles are mechanical fit and certified in accordance
with the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario. Following the transfer of the vehicles, Toronto
Ambulance will be seeking permission from St. John Ambulance, Toronto Branch, to clearly
note on the side of the vehicles that they were donated by the City of Toronto. St. John
Ambulance will assume responsibility for all future maintenance and repair costs for these
vehicles.
Conclusion:
The ability of St. John Ambulance to continue to provide community first aid services to the
City of Toronto will ensure the availability of on-site first aid response for those events
generally not serviced by Toronto Ambulance. Continuing to support this agency through both
the annual financial grant and through the transfer of surplus assets, such as ambulance
vehicles, supports the principle of promoting safety within the City of Toronto. The deferral of
approximately $6000.00 in revenues that would normally have been received through public
auction would not pose any financial hardship on the Ambulance Division.
Contact Name:
Ron Kelusky
Tel: 392-2200
Fax: 392-2115
R.L. KeluskyBarry Gutteridge
General ManagerCommissioner
Toronto Ambulance Works & Emergency
