At the September 14 Friendswood City Council meeting, City Manager Morad Kabiri presented a revised mutual‑aid agreement for emergency medical services (EMS) with neighboring League City. The updated contract allows each city to charge the other for services rendered, establishing a fee of $375 for each non‑transport call and $1,700 for each transport call.
Background and Rationale
League City recently notified Friendswood that it would increase its fees for providing mutual‑aid EMS assistance. Kabiri explained that the change reflects League City’s effort to offset its own property‑tax burden, a move he said “goes against the heart of mutual aid services.” He reminded council members that the tradition of fire and EMS cooperation dates back to the dawn of civilization, emphasizing the historic value of helping sister cities.
Council Reaction
Mayor Mike Foreman voiced disagreement with the fee increase, stating that he would only sign the interlocal agreement if it were truly reciprocal—meaning both cities would charge each other for dispatched services. “Mutual aid is mutual aid, and it goes against the core of firefighters,” Foreman said.
Despite the opposition, the council voted to approve the revised agreement, allowing the fee structure to take effect. The decision aligns Friendswood’s EMS policy with League City’s recent changes, which also included an updated mutual‑aid agreement with the city of Dickinson earlier this year.
Impact on Fire Services
Kabiri noted that while League City provides more EMS assistance to Friendswood, the reverse is true for fire services. Friendswood’s fire department frequently supports League City because the latter lacks a fire station near its border with Friendswood. Kabiri warned that League City may propose a similar fee‑based arrangement for fire services in the future, saying, “I’m forewarning you that this is coming in fire, because they’ve already told us that they are going to do the same thing.”
What This Means for Residents
The new fee schedule is intended to ensure that each municipality recovers costs associated with dispatching emergency responders across city lines. Residents of both cities can expect continued EMS coverage, but the financial terms governing inter‑city assistance have now been formalized. The council’s approval signals a pragmatic approach to managing shared public‑safety resources while acknowledging concerns about the spirit of mutual aid.
Next Steps
The interlocal agreement will be signed by both city officials in the coming weeks. Council members indicated they will monitor the implementation of the fee structure and assess any future proposals related to fire‑service assistance.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Houston — read the source article.
