title
APPROVE A MOTION AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT FOR THE CITY OF STOCKTON TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY AMBULANCE DISPATCH SERVICES TO CENCAL FIRE AND EMS AUTHORITY
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve a motion to:
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute an Agreement between the City of Stockton and the CENCAL Fire and EMS Authority (CENCAL) for the provision of emergency ambulance dispatch services; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to take necessary and appropriate actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this motion.
body
Summary
The City of Stockton is a member of CENCAL, a joint powers authority formed with the City of Lodi and the South San Joaquin County Fire Authority (SSJCFA), which was awarded the rights to provide ambulance transport services within Exclusive Operating Area (EOA) Zones X and Y and to provide countywide emergency ambulance dispatch.
CENCAL has subcontracted ambulance transport services to American Medical Response (AMR) and intends to subcontract ambulance dispatch responsibilities to the City of Stockton through the Stockton Fire Department (SFD) Regional Fire and Emergency Medical Dispatch Center (Dispatch Center).
Staff recommends the City Council approve a motion to authorize the City Manager to execute an Agreement between the City of Stockton and CENCAL for the provision of emergency ambulance dispatch services.
DISCUSSION
Background
The San Joaquin County Emergency Medical Services Agency (SJCEMSA) serves as the County’s designated Local Emergency Medical Services Agency (LEMSA), exercising authority delegated by the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) pursuant to California Health and Safety Code. In this role, SJCEMSA administers the local EMS system, including designation of EOAs for ambulance transport and oversight of emergency ambulance dispatch.
In anticipation of an upcoming SJCEMSA request for proposals (RFP) for emergency ambulance transport services, the City of Stockton Fire Department (SFD), the City of Lodi Fire Department (LFD), and the South San Joaquin County Fire Authority (SSJCFA) began coordinated discussions regarding opportunities to strengthen regional EMS delivery and improve system coordination within San Joaquin County. As part of this planning effort, the agencies determined the formation of a joint powers authority (JPA) would provide a structured mechanism to pursue a regional ambulance transport and dispatch model.
On February 4, 2025, City Council Resolution No. 2025-02-04-1208 authorized the City of Stockton’s participation in CENCAL.
On May 27, 2025, SJCEMSA issued RFP No. 24-32 for emergency ambulance transport services within EOA Zone X, which includes the cities of Stockton and Lodi and surrounding unincorporated areas, and EOA Zone Y, which includes the cities of Tracy and Mountain House and surrounding unincorporated areas. The RFP further specified that the contractor awarded EOA Zone X would serve as the LEMSA-designated emergency ambulance dispatch provider for San Joaquin County.
On July 18, 2025, CENCAL entered into an agreement with American Medical Response (AMR) to collaborate on the submission of a proposal in response to SJCEMSA’s RFP. Under the agreement, if CENCAL were awarded one or both EOAs, AMR would serve as CENCAL’s ambulance subcontractor and provide emergency ambulance transport services within the awarded zone(s).
SFD coordinated with CENCAL to include the Stockton Fire Department’s Regional Fire and Emergency Medical Dispatch Center (Dispatch Center) as the proposed provider of emergency ambulance dispatch services. At the time of proposal submission, a formal agreement between SFD and CENCAL had not yet been executed; however, the parties had reached a mutual understanding regarding service levels and pricing structure.
On August 25, 2025, CENCAL, in coordination with AMR and SFD, submitted a proposal in response to the County’s RFP.
On September 25, 2025, CENCAL received a Notice of Intent to Award for the exclusive operating rights for ambulance transport services within EOA Zones X and Y and to provide countywide emergency ambulance dispatch services.
On January 27, 2026, prior to County contract implementation, the City Council adopted Resolution 2026-01-27-1204 approving additional staffing, technology improvements, funding realignments, and related budget actions necessary to prepare the Dispatch Center for countywide ambulance dispatch operations.
On February 10, 2026, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors approved the agreement with CENCAL to provide ambulance transport services within EOA Zones X and Y and to provide countywide emergency ambulance dispatch.
Present Situation
Emergency ambulance dispatch within San Joaquin County is currently fragmented. The Valley Regional Emergency Communications Center (VRECC) dispatches ambulance transport providers, while the Stockton Fire Department’s Regional Fire and Emergency Medical Dispatch Center (Dispatch Center) independently manages fire and non-transport EMS resources for multiple jurisdictions. As a result, incidents requiring both fire and ambulance response are coordinated across two separate dispatch systems, requiring continuous communication between centers to align unit assignment, track status, and adjust deployment in real time.
The CENCAL model eliminates this split structure. Beginning May 1, 2026, all emergency ambulance dispatch will be consolidated within the Dispatch Center, placing ambulance transport resources and fire/EMS resources under a single, unified command and control environment. This transition establishes one system responsible for call processing, unit assignment, status management, and deployment decisions across all participating agencies.
Operationally, this is a fundamental change. Dispatch personnel will no longer rely on external coordination to identify or manage ambulance resources. Instead, all units (fire, non-transport EMS, and ambulance transport) will be visible and managed within a single system in real time. This allows for faster and more precise unit selection, improved system-wide awareness, and more effective deployment across jurisdictional boundaries.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Dispatch Center costs are allocated across participating agencies based on system utilization, with each agency’s share determined by its proportion of total dispatch activity. For Fiscal Year 2026-2027, CENCAL’s allocated share is $5,122,631.38. For Fiscal Year 2025-2026, CENCAL will pay Stockton a daily rate of approximately $14,034.61 for the remainder of the fiscal year.
All revenues received under this Agreement will be deposited into the General Fund Emergency Communications Division sub-fund (100-130) and will support the ongoing operation, staffing, and maintenance of the Dispatch Center.
Attachment A - Dispatch Agreement