SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve the Fire Protection Services Agreement between Pinellas County Fire Protection Authority and City of Clearwater for a three-year term beginning October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2017 and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
Body
SUMMARY:
The Pinellas County Fire Protection Authority is a special district created for the purpose of providing fire protection services throughout the unincorporated areas of Pinellas County, pursuant to Chapter 73-600, Laws of Florida.
Pinellas County has contracted with various municipalities and independent special fire districts in the County to provide fire protection services, which include:
· response of firefighting apparatus, units and personnel to the scene of a fire, life safety related emergency, man-made or natural disaster, or public series request;
· command and control of the emergency scene, containment of any fire and mitigation of any hazards, including specialized rescue;
· investigation of any fire to determine the cause and origin;
· inspection of commercial, industrial and multi-family dwellings for compliance with fire and life safety codes; and
· education of the public in fire prevention, life safety, and disaster preparedness.
In 1999, the Fire Protection Authority signed a 10-year agreement with the contract providers that expired on September 30, 2009.
Since 2009/10, the Fire Protection Authority and the contract providers have extended the contract for one year terms. The current agreement expires September 30, 2014. The current proposal is for a 3-year term. The agreement may be extended for an additional two years following the initial term upon the mutual agreement of the parties.
Through this contract, Clearwater Fire and Rescue will provide fire protection services to the residents of the City of Clearwater and to individuals within the unincorporated area of Pinellas County that is located within the Clearwater Fire Control District. The City of Clearwater has 6.49 square miles of unincorporated land located within the Clearwater Fire Control District.
Pinellas County Fire Protection authority will continue to compensate Clearwater Fire and Rescue for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2014 under the same terms as the previous contract. Under that contract 10.9% of the Clearwater Fire District was determined to be unincorporated Pinellas County for 2014. Therefore, the County reimbursed the City 10.9% of the net department budget or approximately $2.0 Million for fiscal year 2014. The reimbursement percentage can fluctuate year to year as property values within the fire district change.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
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USE OF RESERVE FUNDS:
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