10/12/1999FIRE TASK FORCE MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
October 12, 1999
Present: Bill Horne Chair (non-voting)
Joe Calio Task Force Member
Joe Evich Task Force Member
Rowland Herald Task Force Member
George Kraus Task Force Member
John Lee Task Force Member
Scott Nall Task Force Member
Bill Schwob Task Force Member
William Sherman Task Force Member
Duke Tieman Task Force Member
Doug Williams Task Force Alternate
Absent: Russ Kimball Task Force Member
Jean Stuart Task Force Alternate
Also Present: Chuck Kearns Pinellas County EMS/ Fire Administration Director
Dwaine Booth Pinellas County EMS/ Fire Administration Assistant
Margie Simmons Financial Services Administrator
Tina Wilson Budget Director
Cyndie Goudeau City Clerk
Brenda Moses Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. at City Hall.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order.
ITEM 2 – Approval of Minutes
Member Evich requested that paragraph 1, sentence 4, page 3 read “Mr. Carino stated that a cost reduction…”. Member Schwob moved to approve the minutes of October 5 1999, as amended.
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Item 3 – County Fire Officials’ Perspective on Fire Service Needs
Chuck Kearns, Director of Pinellas County EMS and Fire Administration, said special legislative acts for fire control and EMS (emergency medical services) authority allow the County
to provide local planning and program coordination/information. In unincorporated areas, the administration also manages EMS and Fire contracts. Sunstar is the registered U.S. trade
name owned by Pinellas County government and operated by a private contractor. Sunstar owns the equipment, performs all operations, and is responsible for all related liability. Pinellas
County has 60 fire stations within 200 square miles. To provide adequate response time coverage, fire stations should be 3 miles apart. Ambulances are dispatched by flexible deployment
depending upon historical call demand. He said Pinellas County has a world-class EMS system, with an all-advanced life support system. As an EMS public utility model design,
paramedics on all vehicles provide the highest quality patient care. Reliability of responses is the second highest priority. The final factor is fiscal efficiency. The objective
is to use sound financial business practices. Due to the transient population, the County bills users for services rather than taxpayers. The County has the lowest area paramedic ambulance
rates in the area. The overage is returned to the EMS tax fund for allocation to Fire Departments for first responder paramedics. Mr. Kearns said first responder paramedics average
4-minute response times countywide. The average paramedic ambulance response time is 6 minutes and 23 seconds countywide. The first paramedic to the scene stabilizes the patient and
begins the paperwork. Upon arrival of the ambulance paramedic, the patient and paperwork are turned over to that paramedic who completes the transport, finishes the paperwork and patient
care, and completes documentation, billing information, etc. Mr. Kearns said Pinellas County has standardized operations. Pinellas County contracts with municipalities and special
districts under a standardized set of policies and procedures to provide quality service.
Mr. Kearns reviewed emergency services data for Sand Key and Island Estates. He said Fire Department data does not include Sunstar service. In 1998, Sand Key had 236 EMS-related calls
and 170 fire-related calls, one for a working fire. More than 200 medical calls were received. Island Estates had 237 EMS-related calls, 70 fire-related calls, and more than 200 medical
calls. Assistant Director of Pinellas County EMS and Fire Administration Dwaine Booth said most of the time, Station 46 units respond to Island Estates and Sand Key EMS calls faster
than other area stations. In response to a question, Mr. Kearns said he knew of no present data on Station 46’s relation to Sand Key and Island Estates. He did not compare the data
to other areas served. Fire Chief Rowland Herald said he will supply station activity numbers. He said Station 46’s territory is divided into five areas of coverage: 1) Island Estates;
2) Sand Key; 3) north beach; 4) south beach; and 5) Pier 60. Chief Herald said not to draw conclusions from data related to only two areas served by Station 46. In response to a question,
Mr. Booth said the City is responsible for providing a first response unit within a certain time frame. The Sunstar ambulance simultaneously is dispatched to all calls to arrive within
a specific time frame. He said ambulances arrive first to 25% of the calls due to their strategic locations throughout the county. In response to a question, he said the EMS agreement
indicates 90% of answered calls must arrive within 7 minutes and 30 seconds. The ambulance contract requires a 10-minute response time 90% of the time. Increasing response times would
require additional units at higher costs. In response to a question, he said from the time a call is received until the unit arrives on scene is considered the response time.
Mr. Booth reviewed: 1) how to improve medical emergency survivability; 2) how to reduce property loss from fire; 3) response time requirements; and 4) options for varied response times
and travel distances. In response to a question, he said today’s presentation provides information and options. A fire or rescue unit is on scene within 7½ minutes nearly 97% of the
time in the County and 96.8% of the time in Clearwater, and 93.1% of the time in Clearwater Beach. Minimum response times for Island Estates are met 96.6% of the time and for Sand Key
are met 70% of the time for a variety of reasons.
The meeting recessed from 4:08 to 4:21 p.m.
Mr. Booth said the County is not prepared to offer recommendations, but can provide feedback after reviewing City recommendations. In response to a question, he said if the County
disagrees with a City determination that additional stations are needed, the City can fund those stations. The County is allowed to review City plans for future fire stations. The
County funds 15% of the City’s fire service budget. He said the current fire service contract
between the County and City recognizes the need for an additional unit. The County may provide additional funds to enhance service during special events and high traffic. Traffic patterns,
construction projects, station locations, staffing, etc. affect service levels.
Concern was expressed that a comment made at a City Commission meeting indicated EMS response times to Sand Key are as high as 12 minutes with Island Estates response times as high
as 19 minutes. One member had contacted the County regarding flexible deployment of EMS units during periods of high demand. Mr. Booth said the County may supply service, during construction
periods, etc. if the need is warranted. He said previously, Sunstar units have not been assigned to a static location to service the City. According to the fire service agreement,
the County can subcontract services, but the City cannot. In response to a question, he said EMS calls are marginal on Sand Key. Factors, such as the number of high rise buildings,
make it difficult to provide service within minimum time frames. In response to a question, Mr. Booth said Sunstar fees are the same in all areas, but users also are billed for mileage.
Compared to national charges, this service is inexpensive. Fire Chief Herald said the $200,000 from the County to upgrade a BLS fire engine will not fund an additional unit. He said
Sand Key had 406 calls in 1998; while the main station answers 400 calls monthly. He said the main station has a greater need for a backup ALS unit.
ITEM 4 – Discussion of Knopf Report/City Response – Postponed.
ITEM 5 – Miscellaneous
Budget Director Tina Wilson said the approved capital budget is not in print. She will distribute copies when available. She will provide fire capital information at the next meeting.
Discuss Future Agendas
The Knopf Report will be discussed next week. Mr. Booth said the County will review County EMS and Fire services on October 26, 1999.
ITEM 6 – Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 4:59 p.m.
________________________________
Chair, Fire Task Force
ATTEST:______________________________
Board Reporter