Res 2026-042 Approving an agreement for the provision of services connection w/ the proposed annexation in case NO. AN-26-02 of approx 38.45 acres of city-owned land, located north of the Blanco River

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6. Comparison to EMS Service Provided by Hays County Emergency Services District No. 9 The City of San Marcos has also evaluated the potential option of contracting for EMS service through Hays County Emergency Services District No. 9. Based on available information regarding that agency's current and planned deployment model, the City finds that such an arrangement would not provide the same level of dedicated service, system integration, or response reliability as the City's proposed EMS delivery model. Hays County Emergency Services District No. 9 currently operates a system of four ambulances that are primarily positioned to serve the City of Kyle and its surrounding extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). Because the majority of those units are strategically deployed to address call demand within the Kyle service area, their availability to respond to incidents within the City of San Marcos would be limited and dependent on unit status at the time of the call. As a result,incidents occurring in San Marcos could experience longer response intervals when compared to a system in which ambulances are stationed within the City and dedicated to serving the San Marcos community. In contrast, the City's proposed EMS deployment model places units at all six San Marcos fire stations, ensuring that ambulances are geographically distributed throughout the City and immediately available to respond to local emergencies. Longer ambulance response times can also produce secondary operational impacts for the City's public safety system. San Marcos Fire Department personnel frequently serve as medical first responders and initiate patient care prior to ambulance arrival. If ambulance response intervals are extended due to the distance or availability of units based in another jurisdiction, fire department personnel may be required to remain on scene for longer periods while awaiting transport capability. This can temporarily reduce the availability of fire suppression and rescue resources for other emergencies occurring within the City. In addition, when ambulances responding to San Marcos originate from outside the City— particularly from areas primarily serving the Kyle region—patient transport times to receiving hospitals may be extended. This can further delay the return of units to service and reduce system efficiency. By contrast,the City's EMS service model—whether delivered through its current partnership with San Marcos Hays County EMS or through a future municipal third-service—ensures that ambulance units are based within the City, staffed continuously, and integrated with local dispatch and public safety operations. This deployment strategy reduces response times, minimizes the time San Marcos Fire personnel must remain committed to medical calls, and ensures faster access to definitive medical care for patients. For these reasons,the City finds that the proposed EMS service model provides a higher level of service reliability, operational efficiency, and community-focused coverage than an EMS service arrangement dependent on resources primarily deployed to serve another municipality.