Funding approved for new Cal Tahoe JPA ambulance service building in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors (BOS) approved $4.4 million for the new Cal Tahoe JPA ambulance buildings in South Lake Tahoe.

The JPA had been searching for a home for ambulances and staff and after a search of available buildings that would be centrally located, the county-owned building at 3066 Lake Tahoe Blvd. was chosen.

The building was once the county jail over 70 years ago, and once the new jail was built, the old jail had many uses including the home for the South Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce, and later as the Lake Tahoe Visitor's Authority (LTVA) visitor services location.

When the LTVA moved out, the building inside still resembled its original use with the jail cells used as storage rooms. After renting homes in the area for their ambulance services, the Cal Tahoe JPA moved into the building in March of 2022, finding the space possible for a new headquarters with some funding and major remodeling.

Today, the jail cells have been remodeled and are now the sleeping quarters for the on-duty ambulance staff. There is a new kitchen, but much of the front of the building needs to be removed and replaced.

The needed funds were approved during Tuesday's BOS meeting, with $2.5 million coming from Transient Occupancy Tax funds and $1.9M from capital project designations.

The old jail was part of the 56-acre project but was pulled out of that area so the ambulance service could use the space. The county-owned building will start its next phase of construction once the building season opens in April 2024.

The previous phase included ambulance bays to keep the vehicles out of the snow. It wasn't completed before the winter of 22-23, but ambulances will be protected this winter. In the new plans, there are three inside ambulance bays and the carport will be used for those not in daily use. There will be new offices, a "Zoom" room for training, and other needed spaces.

JPA Executive Director Ryan Wagoner said they will be putting out an RFP (request for proposal) for a project manager for the updated facility work. Since is it an essential service building there are many more steps and requirements than with a normal remodel.

Wagoner said the codes are strict for public safety infrastructure and have put the cost of the new ambulance hub higher than originally planned. Having a new JPA base has been years in the making. Property taxes cover $500k of the ambulance expenses, about $3.5M short of what the service costs. Billing of those using the ambulance covers the rest.

The staff of 24, including three per diem members, works 48-hour shifts. They provide transport out of the Basin for inter-facility transfers (IFT) as well. In the next few days, there should be a new agreement between the Cal Tahoe JPA and Barton Health to allow the IFTs to cover the area more than the current 100 miles.