Title
City Commission Interest in Exploring a Potential Merger of Gainesville and Alachua County Fire Rescue Services (B)
This item is a request for the City Commission to hear a presentation from City staff on the history of fire rescue merger discussions between the Gainesville and Alachua County, and determine a response to the County Commission's inquiry as to the City's interest in exploring the potential merger of fire rescue services. *ESTIMATED STAFF PRESENTATION 20 MINUTES*
Explanation
Subsequent to a meeting of the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) regarding Fire Station 19 on February 4, 2014, BOCC Chair Lee Pinkoson sent a letter to City of Gainesville Mayor Ed Braddy requesting the City's position on the consolidation (merger) of fire rescue services.
City staff will provide a presentation on the history of fire rescue merger discussions between the City and County.
Staff sees two primary options:
Advise the BOCC that the City is not interested in discussing the consolidation/merger of its fire rescue services with Alachua County.
Advise the BOCC that the City Commission is interested in exploring the feasibility of a consolidated/merged fire rescue service between the City of Gainesville and Alachua County and sharing the cost of hiring a consultant to conduct a consolidation/merger study.
Fiscal Note
The estimated cost of a consolidation/merger study could be approximately $150,000 of which the City would pay half. City funding would need to be identified as it is not in the current FY14 budget, or the recommended FY15 and FY16 budget.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) hear a presentation from City staff; 2) determine if the City Commission is interested in exploring a potential merger of Gainesville and Alachua County Fire Rescue services; and 3) authorize the Mayor to send a letter to the Chair of the County Commission conveying the position of the City Commission.