09-46
RESOLUTION NO. 09-46
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CLEARWATER RECOMMENDING THAT THE PINELLAS
COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS USE EMS
RESERVES IN ORDER TO CONTINUE FUNDING A RESCUE
UNIT AT STATION 50; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, Chapter 80-585, Laws of Florida, created a countywide Emergency
Medical Services Authority whose governing body and membership is comprised of the
Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners ("Board"); and
WHEREAS, the City of Clearwater ("City"), through Clearwater Fire & Rescue, is a
first responder, providing both basic life support and advanced life support; and
WHEREAS, the Board has proposed to reduce the funding to Clearwater Fire &
Rescue for the operation of a rescue unit at Station 50 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 City Council for the City 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 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
emergency medical services ("EMS"); and
WHEREAS, the City Council for the City 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 in the
unincorporated area of Pinellas County; 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 use EMS reserves in order to continue funding a rescue
unit at Station 50.
Resolution 09-46
Section 2. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
Section 3. The City Clerk is hereby directed to transmit this resolution, upon adoption, to the
Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners, the Chairman of the Pinellas County
Board of County Commissioners, and the Pinellas County Administrator.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 1st day of October ,2009.
~k~
L-Rank V. Hibbard
Mayor
Approved as to form:
Attest:
Resolution 09-46