Subject:
Title
Fire Protection Services Agreement with nine municipalities providing fire protection service in eleven fire districts.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Sitting as the Pinellas County Fire Protection Authority, approve Fire Protection Services Agreements with the Cities of Clearwater, Dunedin, Largo, Pinellas Park, Safety Harbor, Seminole, St. Petersburg for South Pasadena Fire District, Tarpon Springs and the Lealman Special Fire Control District for Tierra Verde.
• Agreement with the Cities of Clearwater, Dunedin, Pinellas Park, Safety Harbor, Seminole, Tarpon Springs, St. Petersburg for South Pasadena Fire District, Largo for Largo, Belleair Bluffs, High Point West; and the Lealman Special Fire Control District for Tierra Verde for a term of five years, commencing October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2029.
• Ad valorem taxes collected from each of the District Municipal Service Taxing Units support operating and capital expenditures for Fire Protection Services.
• Operating and capital budgets for these agreements in Fiscal (FY) Year 2025 total $30,203,600.00 which is consistent with the FY25 Adopted Budget.
Authorize the Chairman to sign and the Clerk of the Circuit Court to attest.
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationships and public outreach
5.3 Ensure effective and efficient delivery of county services and support
Summary:
Summary
The Pinellas County Fire Protection Authority and the Cities of Clearwater, Dunedin, Largo, Pinellas Park, Safety Harbor, Seminole, St. Petersburg for South Pasadena Fire District, and Tarpon Springs and the Lealman Special Fire Control District for Tierra Verde wish to enter into a Fire Protection Services Agreement for five years with a new expiration date of September 30, 2029.
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Background Information:
The Fire Protection Districts and associated agreements for Belleair Bluffs, Clearwater, Dunedin, Highpoint (West), Largo, Pinellas Park, Safety Harbor, Seminole, Tarpon Springs, Tierra Verde, and South Pasadena include unincorporated areas that are continuous with the boundaries of their respective contractor. Fire stations strategically placed ensure efficient response to the unincorporated areas as well as to the cities. The current design for fire protection in these eleven fire districts allows for high quality service delivery to the unincorporated areas at a fair cost to the property owners.
Under separate but similar agreements, the South Pasadena Municipal Service Taxing Units (MSTU’s) are covered by St. Petersburg, and Tierra Verde’s MSTU’s are covered by Lealman Special Fire Control District.
The Fire Protection Services Agreement between the Fire Protection Authority and the Cities of Clearwater, Dunedin, Largo, Pinellas Park, Safety Harbor, Seminole, St. Petersburg, and Tarpon Springs to provide fire protection services within the unincorporated areas of their fire district(s) was originally executed on September 24, 2019.
On September 24, 2019, the Authority and the Lealman Special Fire Control District for Tierra Verde entered into a Fire Protection Services Agreement that expires on September 30, 2024.
On September 21, 2021, the Authority and the Cities of Clearwater, Seminole, and Tarpon Springs executed Amendment 1 to their respective agreements to update their capital improvement projects.
Fiscal Impact:
Ad valorem taxes collected from each of the District MSTU’s support operating and capital expenditures for Fire Protection Services. Operating and capital budgets for these agreements in FY25 total $30,203,600.00.
Reimbursement for the unincorporated portion of capital improvement projects is made in accordance with the agreed capital plan and budget. Such improvements include Fire Stations, Fire Apparatus, and other equipment. Cooperating plans are in place to coordinate these projects. Any changes to the capital plan or amounts exceeding the capital budget require separate Board action to authorize the change in the capital plan and appropriate funds from the designated district’s Reserve for Future Years.
These amounts are consistent with the request included in the FY25 Adopted Budget for the Fire Districts’ Fund with the multi-year financial forecast for each district.
Staff Member Responsible:
James G. Fogarty, Director, Safety and Emergency Services
Partners:
City of Clearwater
City of Dunedin
City of Largo
Lealman Special Fire Control District for Tierra Verde
City of Pinellas Park
City of Safety Harbor
City of Seminole
City of St. Petersburg for South Pasadena Fire District
City of Tarpon Springs.
Attachments:
2024 Fire Protection Services Agreement - Clearwater
2024 Fire Protection Services Agreement - Dunedin
2024 Fire Protection Services Agreement - Largo
2024 Fire Protection Services Agreement - Lealman for Tierra Verde
2024 Fire Protection Services Agreement - Pinellas Park
2024 Fire Protection Services Agreement - Safety Harbor
2024 Fire Protection Services Agreement - Seminole
2024 Fire Protection Services Agreement - St. Petersburg for South Pasadena
2024 Fire Protection Services Agreement - Tarpon Springs