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1 <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: March 19, 2013 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 4 -b <br />SUBJECT: Resolution Recognizing the Orange County Emergency Services Workgroup <br />DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Resolution of Recognition and Michael Talbert, 245 -2308 <br />Appreciation for the Orange County James Groves, 245 -6140 <br />Emergency Services Workgroup <br />PURPOSE: To approve a Resolution recognizing the Emergency Services Workgroup, <br />comprised of a very dynamic and diverse group of residents, elected officials, and emergency <br />responders, for providing a valuable service to Orange County. <br />BACKGROUND: The Orange County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provides pre - <br />hospital care and transport to residents and visitors throughout the County. Originated from <br />volunteer services, Orange County EMS began providing advanced life support ambulances in <br />the 1980's. EMS is a branch of the Orange County Emergency Services Department and is <br />staffed by dedicated paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians around the clock. The <br />EMS branch is the largest and highest - profile group within the department providing emergency <br />response, patient care and patient transport from 400 square miles covering densely - populated <br />urban settings to rural areas throughout the County. In addition to responding to 13,445 calls <br />annually, EMS must be able to address extraordinary events such as multi - casualty incidents, <br />large sporting events, stock car races and mass gatherings, assist at fires, evacuations and <br />other disaster situations affecting public safety. <br />The Orange County 911 Center is the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for residents to <br />access emergency services agencies. It originated in the former Orange County Sheriff's Office <br />at Columbia and Rosemary Streets in Chapel Hill. It is a branch of Orange County Emergency <br />Services and is staffed by dedicated professionals around the clock. <br />On January 24, 2012 the Board established and approved the Emergency Services Workgroup <br />and approved the Charge. The Emergency Services Workgroup's first meeting was held on <br />January 31, 2012. Over the past year the Workgroup has addressed all of the areas outlined in <br />the Charge below. The Capital Investment Plan now includes capital projects to improve the <br />Voice Interoperability Plan for Emergency Responders (VIPER), Communications and Future <br />Emergency Medical Service Substations. New positions have been approved and are in the <br />process of being filled to address staffing shortages. Over 50% of 1,156 homeowners identified <br />as being more than six (6) road miles from the closest fire station within their fire district are <br />being helped and additional solutions for the other homeowners are being finalized and will be <br />presented to the Board. The Orange County Chief's Association Strategic Plan was presented <br />