In a move certain to put the city on a collision course with both Broward County government and private ambulance firms, Mayor Alex Fekete on Wednesday will ask the city to provide non-emergency ambulance service to residents.

The county regulates non-emergency service and has consistently refused to let cities provide it, reserving that for private ambulance companies.

Fekete wants to provide such service because he said money generated by it would help taxpayers offset the $12 million annual cost of operating the fire-rescue department. It would also provide residents with service at a lower cost.

Fekete said that while the city’s non-emergency fee structure isn’t complete, it will be “well below” the basic rate of $211.70 per ride that private firms such as LifeFleet Atlantic charge.

If Pembroke Pines commissioners agree to Fekete’s proposal, as they are expected to do, the city would be the first to challenge the county’s ban.

Because most of the 17 cities with their own emergency rescue teams also want to provide non-emergency service, the County Commission would be forced to lift its ban or sue Pembroke Pines to block the service. To do nothing would encourage other cities to follow Pines’ footsteps.

Neither County Commissioner Lori Parrish, who represents Pembroke Pines, nor Commission Chairman Scott Cowan could be reached for comment.

But private ambulance services on Wednesday vowed to protect their turf.

“We would immediately file for an injunction if they try to get into our business,” said Walt Eismann, of LifeFleet Atlantic Ambulance in Fort Lauderdale.

Eismann said his LifeFleet, Medics Ambulance and American Ambulance are the only firms with county permits for non-emergency service.

He added that Fekete’s remarks that rates will be less even though he has no specifics shows that the city is trying to “lowball” the ambulance companies. He said residents should beware that the lower rate could be offset with tax money.

Fekete said he isn’t concerned with lawsuits: “I’m not going to speculate about the consequences.”

His proposal deals only with non-emergency service, such as transporting patients between two hospitals. It would use the same 175 EMS personnel and seven vehicles as it uses for emergency rescue, however.

For Fekete, the proposal is a shift in tactics. Last September he vowed to “sweet talk” the county into giving the city a permit. If that didn’t work, he promised to sue. His new proposal would force the county to sue the city.

Fekete said he is relying on City Attorney Steven L. Josias’ opinion that cities don’t need the county’s consent to provide the service.

“Our city attorney’s consistent opinion has been that we can do it without their permission,” he said. “I think we should do it to offset our Fire Department’s operating costs and save residents money by charging them less than private companies.”

The City Commission likely will support him.

“We’re capable of doing it and we should be entitled to do it,” said Commissioner William B. Armstrong. “This philosophy of Big Brother knowing better than us bothers me. I’m delighted the mayor is pushing this and I’ll support it.”

Toby Savacchio, a Century Village resident, likes the idea of lower costs for non-emergency service.

“There are many people here who don’t have any means of transportation, live alone and need the service but can’t afford it,” she said. “I think a [lower price) would help.”

Margate Fire Chief Frank Porcella, president of the Broward County Fire Chiefs Association, will be watching Pembroke Pines. “It is the association’s belief that cities should have the right to establish non-emergency transport,” Porcella said.

Fekete said the cost of starting and providing the service would be nil, which means the fees the city charges residents would be less than those charged by private companies. “Our rates would be less because all the personnel and equipment is in place just waiting for a call,” he said.