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The La Crosse Common Council’s Committee of the Whole voted for an advisory — not binding — referendum on whether to create a city-run ambulance service.
But it also decided to block the city from starting a municipal ambulance service for two years.
The unusual twist is the result of a petition forcing the council either to voluntarily opt out of the ambulance system or let voters decide in April.
“I do think there’s room to do both here, and I don’t think it’s contradictory,” said council member Doug Farmer, who designed the compromise.
The majority of council members weren’t comfortable with the petition’s either/or proposition and instead elected to do both. Farmer’s arrangement saved some from having to vote against the ban — even though they support it — in order to move the referendum forward.
If the Common Council on Thursday reaffirms the committee’s vote, the ballot item will read: “Be it resolved that the city of La Crosse shall not enter into, nor participate in the formation of, the business or operation of ambulance services.”
While the council voted 12-3 in favor of the self-prohibition, they had varying motives; genuine opposition, ambulance proponents voting against a city-run service out of frustration, and those who just want the issue settled.
“The reason this whole thing came about is because we can save some lives. And that’s been lost,” said council member George Italiano, who favors the municipal service but voted for the ban.
Local political watchdog Steve Gores disagrees with Italiano on what type of service is in the best interest of the city, but he, too, pressed for discussion on the virtue of the ambulance proposal.
It hasn’t been a question of whether the city should or should not offer paramedic services for some time, with the debate on merits swiftly replaced by one of process and how exactly the ambulance proposal would be disposed of.
“This council has played with the issue. It has never discussed this issue. My hope there is that now that it’s before you, you’ll stand on your hind legs and you’ll take a stand, and the games will cease,” Farmer told his colleagues.
Council member Audrey Kader said the two-year self-prohibition will give the council ample time to continue learning about the ambulance proposition, and the referendum will give them direction when that moratorium expires.
“We will need two years to take a step back,” she said. “And hopefully we’ll have learned something along the way in relation to this.”
Tuesday wasn’t the first time an advisory referendum was raised. Council member Bruce Ranis in August called for a public vote, but the council voted it down after the mayor dropped his plans for a city-operated service.
Myturn wrote on Jan 8, 2009 3:48 PM:
Try it, go start to attempt to extract any info. It is worse than rotary hell on the phone. WI is the largest employer in the State, and we are paying for it. Police, Judges, and Fireman receive 19.4% contribution for 'us'. They also retire near what they made 'while working' and soon after make more. "