Sec. 158.205. - Grant of certificate.

(a) After the application has been reviewed and determined by the Director to be complete, in the proper form, and the Director has verified the statements on the application, to the best of the Director's ability, the Director shall forward findings and recommendations to the Council Secretary for submission to the Public Health and Safety Committee ("PHS"). After the PHS has voted to recommend or deny the application for a certificate, PHS shall communicate those recommendations to the Council Secretary for appropriate action. (b) Before making recommendations to the Council, PHS shall review all information submitted to the Director and such information that may be submitted to PHS. PHS shall consider all matters required by State law including but not limited to F.S. Ch. 401 and other matters it may consider relative including, but not limited to, the following: (1) The population density and composition of the City and the likely areas within which the proposed ALS, BLS, or nonemergency medical transportation service will operate. (2) The need of the people of the City for ALS or BLS service. (3) Recommendations of any local or regional trauma agency created pursuant to F.S. Ch. 395, as applicable. (4) Recommendations of the Urban Services Districts. (5) Qualifications and experience of owners, officers, directors, staff and employees including, but not limited to, paramedics, emergency medical technicians and drivers. (6) Financial resources and responsibility, including but not limited to insurance coverages. (7) Efficiency, safety and reliability of the business. (8) Compliance with all applicable statutes, ordinances and rules at any level of regulation. (9) Results of graded performance, if any, by any agency at any level of regulation. (10) Such other factors as may be considered important by the Director or PHS. (c) The Council shall consider the best interests of the community in granting or denying a certificate based on the recommendations of the Director, PHS, the Urban Services Districts, a local or regional trauma agency created pursuant to F.S. Ch. 395 (as applicable) and on all information submitted to the Director, PHS and the Council. (d) Every owner of any emergency medical transportation service that obtains a certificate shall operate its respective service consistent with and pursuant to this Chapter and all applicable State laws and regulations. The acceptance of a certificate from the City shall be deemed to be an agreement on the part of the certificate holder that the certificate holder shall operate its business strictly in accordance with all such laws and rules, and amendments thereto. Failure to do so will be cause for investigations that may result in fines, suspension and/or revocation. (e) Certificates are not property but are evidence of the grant of a privilege by the City. All certificates shall be subject to the right of the Council to terminate the emergency medical transportation services system created hereunder and any or all certificates granted hereunder. The Director shall notify all certificate holders of any such legislative proposal 120 days before the Director proposes such action. (Ord. 97-450-E, § 1)