09-33
RESOLUTION NO. 09-33
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CLEARWATER RECOMMENDING THAT THE BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS INCREASE THE MILLAGE BY
.0331 WITHIN THE DISTRICT FOR WHICH CLEARWATER
FIRE AND RESCUE PROVIDES EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICES OR USE RESERVES IN ORDER TO CONTINUE
FUNDING A RESCUE UNIT AT STATION 50; PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Chapter 80-585, Laws of Florida, created a countywide Emergency
Medical Services Authority ("Authority") whose governing body and membership is
comprised of the Pine lias County Board of County Commissioners ("Board") and provided
for a special election to create the emergency services special taxing district by countywide
referendum; and
WHEREAS, the electorate approved the creation of the emergency medical services
taxing district, which allowed for all real property within the taxing district to be subject to an
ad valorem tax sufficient to pay the cost of providing emergency medical services ("EMS"),
not to exceed a maximum of 1.5 mills; and
WHEREAS, the 2008 millage rate for EMS in Pinellas County was .5832 mills; and
WHEREAS, the City of Clearwater ("City"), through Clearwater Fire and Rescue, is a
first responder, providing both basic life support and advance life support; and
WHEREAS, the Board has proposed to reduce the funding to Clearwater Fire and
Rescue because of declining revenue from ad valorem taxes attributable to the decline in
the appraised value of real property within Pinellas County; and
WHEREAS, the Board's proposal will result in the elimination of Rescue 50, located
at Station 50 in the Countryside area of the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council for the City of Clearwater wants to maintain the same
level of service that currently exists within the area serviced by Rescue 50; and
WHEREAS, the City Council for the City of Clearwater is concerned that although
the elimination of Rescue 50 may not affect the ability of the City to respond within 7
minutes and 30 seconds 90 percent of the time within the Countryside area, the elimination
of Rescue 50 will result in a decline in the ability to provide as rapid service during peak
demands for EMS; and
WHEREAS, the City Council for the City of Clearwater is also concerned that the
elimination of Rescue 50 will result in a greater need for Rescue 48 to respond into the
Countryside area, thus resulting in a decline in the ability of Rescue 48 to provide as rapid
service during peak demands for EMS into such locations as Top of the World, which is
located within the unincorporated area of Pinellas County; and
Resolution 09-33
WHEREAS, paragraph 10 of Section 2 of Chapter 80-585, Laws of Florida, provided
that the Authority could impose an ad valorem assessment within the designated districts
based upon the needs of such designated districts but not to exceed a maximum of 1.5
mills; and
WHEREAS, an increase in the millage of .0331 within the EMS district serviced by
Clearwater Fire and Rescue will provide sufficient funding to retain Rescue 50; and
WHEREAS, although the City's current EMS level of response exceeds the
Authority's proposed standard, the City's current response times within the Countryside
Area constitute an appropriate level of service to ensure the welfare of citizens in need of
EMS; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Clearwater hereby requests the Pinellas
County Board of County Commissioners to increase the millage by .0331 within the
EMS district serviced by Clearwater Fire and Rescue or, in the alternative, to use
reserves so that adequate funding will be available for the City to retain Rescue 50.
Section 2.
This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 6th day of August
,2009.
, 71.--/ K ~
Frank V. Hibbard /
Mayor
Approved as to form:
Attest:
Robert . urette
Assistan City Attorney
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Resolution 09-33