Title
Interlocal Agreement with Alachua County to Create an All Hazards Response Emergency Services Department (B)
Explanation
During the joint meeting of February 4, 2000, the City and County Commissions directed the City and County Managers to create an interlocal agreement within 90 days and a governing structure model within 180 days using the fire-rescue merger model proposed by the Gator Fire Council. The managers, fire chiefs, and union representatives have drafted a proposed interlocal agreement to create a merged all hazards response emergency services department.
The proposed interlocal agreement is similar to the 1996 interlocal agreement for the combined communications center. The proposed interlocal agreement is primarily a statement of intent by the City and County to establish and maintain a single department to provide fire, rescue, and other emergency services. The proposed interlocal agreement also includes in Section 2 a personnel protection provision similar to the provisions contained in the combined communications center agreement. The details of the proposed merger would be worked out between the City and County staffs during the next 9 months and presented to the respective Commissions as provided in Section 3. If the Commisison approve the proposed merger after reviewing the staff plans, a new interlocal agreement would be executed to implement the merger. This proposed interlocal agreement has no termination date, but can be terminated by either party with 30 days written notice.
Fiscal Note
None at this time. The financial impact of the merged department will be presented in later staff reports.
Recommendation
The City Commission approve the Interlocal Agreement between the City of Gainesville and Alachua County to Create an All Hazards Response Emergency Service Department and authorize the Mayor to sign on behalf of the City subject to approval of the City Attorney as to form and legality.