Subject:
Title
Advanced Life Support First Responder Agreements with 18 municipalities and independent fire districts.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Sitting as the Pinellas County Emergency Medical Services Authority, approve the Advanced Life Support First Responder Agreements with 18 municipalities and independent fire districts.
• Agreement with 16 municipalities and fire districts to provide Advanced Life Support First Responder services provides for an initial five-year term beginning on October 1, 2024, and ending on September 30, 2029, and has the option for a five-year extension.
• East Lake Tarpon Special Fire Control District opted for a 1-year term.
• The City of South Pasadena opted for a 3-year term.
• Funding in the amount of $81,402,310.00 is consistent with the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025 Adopted Budget for the Emergency Medical Services Fund.
• The agreements are a consolidated and restated agreement that incorporates prior amendments and the current amendments as outlined below.
• In aggregate, the 18 agreements represent an increase of $8,099,139.00 or 11.2% increase from the prior year.
• System adds include Palm Harbor Rescue Lieutenant 65, St. Pete Beach Rescue Lieutenant 23, Seminole Rescue 29, and Pinellas Suncoast Rescue 27 (vehicle only).
• Funding for these agreements in the amount of $81,402,310.00 is included in the FY25 Adopted Budget of the Safety and Emergency Services Department in the Emergency Medical Services Fund.
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 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Authority has determined that an Advanced Life Support First Responder component is in the best interest of public safety, health, and welfare.
The EMS Authority desires to contract with various municipalities and independent special fire districts in the County to provide ALS First Responder Services per the attached agreements.
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Background Information:
On September 24, 2019, and October 22, 2019, the Board of County Commissioners, sitting as the EMS Authority, approved the current Advanced Life Support (ALS) First Responder Agreement with 18 municipalities and independent fire districts. Each agreement will expire on September 30, 2024.
In subsequent years, there were various amendments to implement system enhancements and adjust funding to meet budget requests that complied with the County’s EMS allowable cost standards.
The EMS Authority and First Responder agencies now desire to enter into a new consolidated and restated ALS First Responder Agreement that maintains the initial five-year term beginning on October 1, 2024, and ending on September 30, 2029. This new agreement will also have the option for one additional five-year extension.
East Lake Tarpon Special Fire Control District opted for a 1-year term, beginning October 1, 2024, and ending on September 30, 2025.
The City of South Pasadena opted for a 3-year term beginning on October 1, 2024, and ending on September 30, 2027.
There are several system enhancements to the ALS First Responder Program contained in the attached agreements:
Additional staffed ALS Units to meet EMS System needs:
Palm Harbor - Adding Rescue Lieutenant 65 (+1 24/7 Paramedic Supervisor position) in north county. This will be an EMS Supervisor/Rescue Lieutenant to supervise the 5 Rescue Units operated by Dunedin, East Lake, Palm Harbor, and Tarpon Springs and provide support to all ALS First Responder Units in North County.
Seminole - Adding Rescue 29 (+1 24/7 Paramedic position) in central Seminole. Call volume has met the threshold for a Rescue Unit and an ALS Engine; as proposed Squad 29 will remain Authority funded and the City will operate Engine 29 as a contractor funded ALS Unit which will provide 3 ALS Units in the service area with the addition of Rescue 29. County will provide funding for a Rescue Vehicle.
St. Pete Beach - Adding Rescue Lieutenant 23 (+1 24/7 Paramedic Supervisor position) for the south county beaches. This will be an EMS Supervisor/Rescue Lieutenant to supervise the 5 Rescue Units operated by Gulfport, South Pasadena, St. Pete Beach, and Treasure Island and provide support to all ALS First Responder Units in South County Beaches.
EMS Capital - Reserve Rescue vehicles:
Clearwater - funding for a Rescue vehicle to be operation episodically as a Contractor funded ALS Unit when staffing allows. This Reserve Unit will provide system capacity for future growth and high-call volume periods.
Pinellas Suncoast - funding for a Rescue vehicle to be operated episodically as a Contractor funded ALS Unit when staffing allows. This Reserve Unit will provide system capacity for future growth and high call volume periods.
Funding adjustments:
Section 701(h) of the Emergency Medical Services ALS First Responder Agreement provides for an extraordinary budget increase which must be negotiated and approved prior to the beginning of the next fiscal year in the event any proposed budget submitted by the Contractor should exceed 3 percent of the prior Fiscal Year’s budget. These funding adjustments include:
Baseline Budgets of Allowable EMS Costs Increasing over 3.00%:
• Clearwater - $1,578,549.00 or 20.7%
• Dunedin - $384,343.00 or 16.1%
• East Lake - $312,095.00 or 15.2%
• Gulfport - $70,590.00 or 7.0%
• Largo - $1,342,625.00 or 14.00%
• Lealman - $104,701.00 or 3.0%
• Lealman for Tierra Verde - $20,653.00 or 3.0%
• Madeira Beach - $119,467.00 or 19.5%
• Oldsmar - $53,716.00 or 9.1%
• Palm Harbor - $303,177.00 or 7.7%
• Pinellas Park - $618,211.00 or 12.0%
• Pinellas Suncoast - $98,460.00 or 4.6%
• Safety Harbor - $151,637.00 or 12.9%
• Seminole - $260,505.00 or 8.1%
• South Pasadena - $98,742.00 or 8.3%
• St. Petersburg - $1,634,792.00 or 7.6%
• St. Pete Beach - $317,885.00 or 12.2%
• Tarpon Springs - $434,626.00 or 20.8%
• Treasure Island - $194,365.00 or 17.0%
These increases are based upon the submitted budgets for FY24-25 and will be subject to audit for EMS Allowable costs. The cost drivers are driven largely by increases in salary, retirement contributions based upon recent changes in actuarial assumptions, and other increased allowable costs such as fuel.
Both the Data Driven Focus Group (Fire Chiefs and County Staff) and the EMS Advisory Council support the proposed enhancements.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding in the amount of $81,402,310.00 is consistent with the FY24-25 Adopted Budget for the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Fund. The fiscal impact of these agreements is sustainable over the 6-year EMS Fund forecast period.
Staff Member Responsible:
James G. Fogarty, Director, Safety and Emergency Services
Partners:
City of Clearwater
City of Dunedin
East Lake Tarpon Special Fire Control District
City of Gulfport
City of Largo
Lealman Special Fire Control District
Lealman Special Fire Control District for Tierra Verde
City of Madeira Beach
City of Oldsmar
Palm Harbor Special Fire Control & Rescue District
City of Pinellas Park
Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue District
City of Safety Harbor
City of Seminole
City of South Pasadena
City of St. Pete Beach
City of St. Petersburg
City of Tarpon Springs
City of Treasure Island
Attachments:
2024 ALS First Responder Agreement - Clearwater
2024 ALS First Responder Agreement - Dunedin
2024 ALS First Responder Agreement - East Lake
2024 ALS First Responder Agreement - Gulfport
2024 ALS First Responder Agreement - Largo
2024 ALS First Responder Agreement - Lealman
2024 ALS First Responder Agreement - Lealman for Tierra Verde
2024 ALS First Responder Agreement - Madeira Beach
2024 ALS First Responder Agreement - Oldsmar
2024 ALS First Responder Agreement - Palm Harbor
2024 ALS First Responder Agreement - Pinellas Park
2024 ALS First Responder Agreement - Pinellas Suncoast
2024 ALS First Responder Agreement - Safety Harbor
2024 ALS First Responder Agreement - Seminole
2024 ALS First Responder Agreement - South Pasadena
2024 ALS First Responder Agreement - St. Pete Beach
2024 ALS First Responder Agreement - St. Petersburg
2024 ALS First Responder Agreement - Tarpon Springs
2024 ALS First Responder Agreement - Treasure Island