Transfer of Surplus/Decommissioned Ambulances

to St. John Ambulance

The Emergency and Protective Services Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (January 13, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services:

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to seek authorization to transfer a total four 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 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 Council approve the transfer of four 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 co-ordinated 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 1980s 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 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 $6,000.00 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