SEAL BEACH

City officials are relieved that Huntington Beach is not pulling out of a paramedic agreement with the county, which would have meant diverting county paramedics stationed in Seal Beach to handle Sunset Beach calls. But they are wary of a plan by Huntington Beach Councilman Dave Sullivan to charge Sunset Beach residents when they receive Huntington ambulance service.

Currently, Huntington Beach has an agreement with the county to provide mutual service in Sunset Beach at no extra charge to its residents, even though Huntington residents are charged when helped by their own city’s ambulance. Sullivan wants city officials to renegotiate that deal with the Orange County Fire Authority and report back in 90 days.

Seal Beach City Councilman Shawn Boyd, who sits on the OCFA board, said Sullivan could be throwing off a delicately balanced system. “It’s taken about a decade to get a system in Orange County whereby there are no boundary lines,” he said.