Subject:
Title
Amendment to the Advanced Life Support First Responder Agreement with 16 municipalities and independent fire districts.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Sitting as the Pinellas County Emergency Medical Services Authority, approve the amendment to the Advanced Life Support (ALS) First Responder Agreement with 16 municipalities and independent fire districts.
• Amendment to the agreements with 16 municipalities and fire districts to provide ALS First Responder services.
• These amendments continue the 5-year term beginning on October 1, 2024, and ending on September 30, 2029.
• East Lake and South Pasadena agreements would like to update to 5-year terms to match the other provider agencies.
• These agreements will amend the 2024 ALS First Responder Agreements as outlined below.
• In aggregate, the 16 agreements represent a baseline increase of $6,047,005.00 or 7.4% over Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025.
• Funding in the amount of $74,764,160.00 is consistent and included within the FY26 Adopted Budget for the Emergency Medical Services Fund. The fiscal impacts of these agreements are sustainable over the 6-year EMS Fund forecast period.
Authorize the Chairman to sign and the Clerk of the Circuit Court to attest.
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Strategic Priorities:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve public health
2.2 Enhance community safety
Smart Service Delivery
4.2 Achieve and maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.
4.4 Pursue continuous improvement
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 October 29, 2024, the Board of County Commissioners, sitting as the EMS Authority, approved the current ALS First Responder Agreements with 16 municipalities and independent fire districts.
The current agreements will expire on September 30, 2029.
The proposed amendments would implement system updates and adjust funding to meet budget requests that complied with the County EMS allowable cost standards.
Specific updates include:
- Updates all Appendix As for Funding, Authority Funded and Contractor Funded Units and EMS Capital plans for Rescue Units, Medic Units and Staff vehicles.
- Revised term to 5-years for East Lake and South Pasadena to align them with all other provider agencies.
- Phased implementation of additional resources to meet EMS System needs that were approved in the 2024 ALS First Responder Agreement:
- Palm Harbor: Full year implementation of Rescue Lieutenant 65 (LR65).
- Seminole: Allows for the episodic operation of Rescue 29 with 1 funded position.
Maintains Squad 29 as an Authority funded ALS Unit per the City’s request.
- St. Pete Beach: Full year implementation of Rescue Captain (SB501) position.
- St. Petersburg: includes 8 additional 24/7 Paramedic positions for a total of 22 24/7 Paramedic positions phased in since FY24.
Updated Appendix E to streamline reimbursement processes and forms:
- Appendix E updated for Continuing Medical Education (CME)Instructors, Public Education, Countywide Quality Improvement Committees, and Advanced Practice Paramedic Training.
Fiscal Impact:
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 3.0% of the prior Fiscal Year’s budget. These funding adjustments include:
Allowable EMS Cost Increases over 3.0%
• East Lake - $96,148 or 4.1%
• Gulfport - $172,513 or 15.9%
• Largo Combined (incl. BB and HP West) - $996,945 or 9.1%
• Lealman - $284,416 or 7.9%
• Lealman for Tierra Verde - $61,959 or 8.7%
• Oldsmar - $67,801 or 10.6%
• Palm Harbor - $765,779 or 16.7%
• Pinellas Suncoast - $100,823 or 4.5%
• Seminole - $551,159 or 14.7%
• South Pasadena - $51,533 or 4.0%
• St. Pete Beach - $436,178 or 13.2%
• St. Petersburg - $2,105,974 or 9.1%
• Tarpon Springs - $262,381 or 10.4%
These increases are based upon the submitted budgets for FY25-26 and will be subject to audit for EMS Allowable costs. The cost drivers are driven largely by increased personnel costs, fully funding the 3 positions mentioned above, the addition of 8 Paramedic positions for St. Petersburg, and the budgeted position for the new Redington Rescue Station that was submitted by Madeira Beach.
Note: Clearwater, Pinellas Park, Safety Harbor, and Treasure Island were less than 3.0%.
Funding in the amount of $74,764,160 for the 16 agencies listed is consistent with the FY25-26 Adopted Budget for the Emergency Medical Services Fund. The fiscal impacts of these agreements are sustainable over the 6-year EMS Fund forecast period.
Staff Member Responsible:
James G. Fogarty, Director, Safety and Emergency Services
Partners:
City of Gulfport
City of Largo
City of Oldsmar
City of Pinellas Park
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
East Lake Special Fire Control District
Lealman Special Fire Control District & Lealman Special Fire Control District/Tierra Verde
Palm Harbor Special Fire Control & Rescue District
Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue District
Attachments:
ALS First Responder Amendment 1 - East Lake
ALS First Responder Amendment 1 - Gulfport
ALS First Responder Amendment 1 - Largo
ALS First Responder Amendment 1 - Lealman
ALS First Responder Amendment 1 - Lealman/Tierra Verde
ALS First Responder Amendment 1 - Oldsmar
ALS First Responder Amendment 1 - Palm Harbor
ALS First Responder Amendment 1 - Pinellas Park
ALS First Responder Amendment 1 - Pinellas Suncoast
ALS First Responder Amendment 1 - Safety Harbor
ALS First Responder Amendment 1 - Seminole
ALS First Responder Amendment 1 - South Pasadena
ALS First Responder Amendment 1 - St. Pete Beach
ALS First Responder Amendment 1 - St. Petersburg
ALS First Responder Amendment 1 - Tarpon Springs
ALS First Responder Amendment 1 - Treasure Island
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/Tierra Verde
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