City of Petaluma v. County of Sonoma
Opinion
Opinion
Peterson, J.
I. Introduction
In the published portions of this opinion, we address certain legal issues raised by a dispute between a city and a county, concerning the provision of emergency medical services to areas within the county, but outside the city.
II. Procedural History and Facts
The City of Petaluma (City) appeals from a judgment construing two sections of the Emergency Medical Services System and the Prehospital Emergency Medical Care Personnel Act (EMS Act) (Health & Saf. Code, § 1797 et seq.) in favor of Sonoma County (County) and its Public Health Department Emergency Medical Services Agency.
The Legislature enacted section 1797 et seq. in 1980 (Stats. 1980, ch. 1260, § 7, p. 4261) to provide a statewide system for emergency medical services by establishing an Emergency Medical Services Authority to coordinate and integrate all state EMS activities (§ 1797.1). The act allowed each county to develop an EMS program and designate a local agency to administer it. (§§ 1797.200, 1797.94.)
Accordingly, County adopted an ordinance which purported to cover only its unincorporated areas, establishing an EMS agency within its department of public health. City historically…