TO: Mayor and Commissioners
THROUGH: Donald B. Cooper, City Manager
DATE: March 1, 2016
Title
COMMISSION DIRECTION/RENEWAL OF THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH FOR FIRE RESCUE TRANSPORTATION
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Recommended Action:
Recommendation
We are presently addressing a number of issues within the Fire Department after a period of uncertainty including staff additions, rebuilding of Station 3, and Level of Service determination/discussions and recruitment, salary issues, equipment replacement and management capacity (see attached Fire Chief Connor memo dated February 19, 2016). Based upon the number of issues facing the department, I would not recommend the assumption of additional demands upon the department until some of the outstanding issues have been resolved. Our focus should be on the Delray Beach Fire Department (DBFD) and services in Delray Beach and do not recommend the renewal of the agreement with Highland Beach.
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Background:
In the discussion of the proposed Town of Highland Beach Inter-Local Agreement for Fire and Rescue services, the policy question of whether or not it is in the best interest of the City of Delray Beach had not been addressed. The purpose of this memo is to foster that discussion with the City Commission and to provide staff recommendation.
The City of Delray Beach (DB) has been providing Fire and Rescue services since 1993 (see memo dated February 12, 2016 from Fire Chief Danielle Connor attached). Since 2010, there has been an issue with replacement equipment (to be provided by the Town of Highland Beach). There has also been the concern that DB has been subsidizing the service to HB. Operationally, the HB Station services calls within DB 35-37 times per month and is expected to grow. HB has expressed concerns about this issue and about the appropriateness of the utilization of HB resources in DB. This will be an issue in any renewed agreement.
If the DB were to not renew the agreement or if HB were not to renew the agreement (see attached February 11, 2016 letter to HB concerning renewal requirements), DB would have to absorb approximately 8 of the HB employees into the Delray Beach Fire Department (DBFD) as of September 30, 2017 (see attached email dated February 9, 2016 from Fire Chief Danielle Connor). This number may represent a surplus of employees depending upon the Level of Service of the DBFD and the number of retirements, separations that may occur. It is expected in the future that a rescue substation will be necessary to serve east of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) based upon call volume.