(b) In the case of an application for certification pursuant to this subdivision, for a municipal advanced life support or municipal ambulance service, to serve the area within the municipality, where the proposed service meets or exceeds the appropriate training, staffing and equipment standards, there shall be a strong presumption in favor of approving the application. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, any city with a population of fourteen thousand seven hundred or sixty-two thousand two hundred thirty-five, according to the two thousand ten federal decennial census, or fire district acting on behalf of any such city, that applies for permanent certification pursuant to this section at the conclusion of the two year period provided in this subdivision, shall not be required to apply to its regional emergency medical services council or the state emergency medical services council for a determination of need, and the application shall be submitted to and approved by the commissioner unless the commissioner finds that the municipal advanced life support first responder service or municipal ambulance service has failed to meet the appropriate training, staffing and equipment standards.