Subject:
Title
Advanced Life Support First Responder Agreements 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 Advanced Life Support First Responder Agreements with 16 municipalities and independent fire districts.
• Agreements with 16 municipalities and fire districts to provide Advanced Life Support First Responder services.
• These Agreements continue the initial five-year term beginning on October 1, 2019 and ending on September 30, 2024. The agreements have the option for one additional five-year extension.
• The agreements are a consolidated and restated agreement that incorporates prior amendments and the current amendments as outlined below.
• Funding in the amount of $44,530,810.00 is consistent with the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-2023 Adopted Budget for the Emergency Medical Services Fund.
• In aggregate, the 16 agreements represent an increase of $2,665,220 or 4.5% over FY22.
• Specific adds include Dunedin-Rescue 60; Largo-Medic 41; East Lake-Rescue 57 (vehicle only); Tarpon Springs-Rescue 69 (vehicle only); Pinellas Suncoast-Truck 28 (+0.5 Paramedic position).
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:
In 2019, the Board of County Commissioners, sitting as the EMS Authority, approved the current Advanced Life Support (ALS) First Responder Agreement with 16 municipalities and independent fire districts.
The current 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 consolidated and restated ALS First Responder Agreement that maintains the initial five-year term beginning on October 1, 2019 and ending on September 30, 2024. This new agreement will also have the option for one additional five-year extension.
There are several enhancements to the ALS First Responder Program contained in the attached agreements:
Additional staffed ALS Units to meet EMS System needs:
Dunedin - Add Rescue 60 (+1 24/7 Paramedic position) in downtown Dunedin. Call volume has met the threshold for a Rescue Unit; as proposed the City will operate Engine 60 as a contractor funded ALS Unit which will provide two ALS Units in the service area with the addition of Rescue 60. County will provide funding for a Rescue Vehicle. Further, Dunedin has agreed to assist the County with driving and operating a future Medical Incident Support Unit at no additional cost. There is language unique to their agreement.
Largo - Add Medic 41 (+2 12/7 Civilian Paramedic positions) in downtown Largo. Call volume has increased to necessitate a peak Medic Unit. Station 41 will continue to operate Authority Funded Rescue 41 and Engine 41. County will provide funding for a Medic vehicle.
EMS Capital - Reserve Rescue vehicles:
East Lake - 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 in north county for future growth and high call volume periods.
Tarpon Springs - 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 in north county 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 three percent of the prior Fiscal Year’s budget. These funding adjustments include:
Pinellas Suncoast - Fully fund Truck 28 (+0.5 24/7 Paramedic positions). Currently the ALS Unit is funded at 50.00% due to the overlap between Fire Stations 28 and 31.
Allowable EMS Cost Increases over 3.00%:
• Clearwater - $247,420 or 3.47%
• Dunedin - $113,755 or 6.84%
• East Lake - $95,518 or 5.12%
• Gulfport - $54,011 or 6.00%
• Largo - $339,784 or 4.21%
• Lealman - $157,469 or 5.18%
• Lealman for Tierra Verde - $29,910 or 4.97%
• Madeira Beach - $36,551 or 7.11%
• Oldsmar - $31,685 or 6.73%
• Palm Harbor - $368,317 or 11.50%
• Pinellas Suncoast - $125,438 or 7.48%
• Seminole- $271,105 or 9.52%
• South Pasadena - $62,397 or 6.21%
• Tarpon Springs - $74,413 or 4.41%
These increases are based upon the submitted budgets for FY22-23 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.
Note: The Cities of Safety Harbor, Pinellas Park and Treasure Island have budgets below the 3.00% cap and no program enhancements but are executing the agreement to remain lock step with the other Cities and Fire Districts.
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 $44,530,810 is consistent with the FY22-23 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
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 Tarpon Springs
City of Treasure Island
Attachments:
ALS First Responder Agreement - Clearwater
ALS First Responder Agreement - Dunedin
ALS First Responder Agreement - East Lake
ALS First Responder Agreement - Gulfport
ALS First Responder Agreement - Largo
ALS First Responder Agreement - Lealman
ALS First Responder Agreement - Lealman for Tierra Verde
ALS First Responder Agreement - Madeira Beach
ALS First Responder Agreement - Oldsmar
ALS First Responder Agreement - Palm Harbor
ALS First Responder Agreement - Pinellas Park
ALS First Responder Agreement - Pinellas Suncoast
ALS First Responder Agreement - Safety Harbor
ALS First Responder Agreement - Seminole
ALS First Responder Agreement - South Pasadena
ALS First Responder Agreement - Tarpon Springs
ALS First Responder Agreement - Treasure Island