Agenda - 04-10-2007-6c - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 10, 2007 Action Agenda Item No. ~~ "~„ _ SUBJECT• Orange County Speedway 2007 EMS Coverage Contract DEPARTMENT: Emergency Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): 2007 Revised Draft Contract 2007 Speedway Schedule INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent McKenzie 968-2050 Mike Tapp PURPOSE: To ensure public safety at public events at the Orange County Speedway by contracting with Speedway Management for the provision of Emergency Medical coverage at events. BACKGROUND: As presented at the February 20, 2007 Board of County Commissioners' Meeting, Staff has been working with Management of the Orange County Speedway to develop a plan for Emergency Medical coverage at the Speedway which meets both the County's public safety requirements and the Speedway's economic interests. The North Carolina Fire Prevention Code establishes requirements for public safety planning for indoor or outdoor events such as races that are held at the Speedway. The Orange County Fire Marshal has the authority to require a public safety plan that addresses the need for the presence of EMS, fire protection, and law enforcement personnel. The fire marshal has delegated responsibility for the presence of emergency medical services to EMS, fire protection to the Caldwell Fire Department, and law enforcement to the Sheriff's Office. Each of these agencies worked with the Speedway and the Fire Marshal to plan for appropriate coverage during the 2006 racing season. The Speedway Management worked with the Economic Development Department and the County Manager's office to evaluate alternatives that could reduce the dollar cost of public safety services collectively to the speedway. Speedway Management and County Staff have separately reviewed the arrangements at other racing.facilities in other jurisdictions in North Carolina, and found that for a variety of reasons, no other speedway operators incur the public safety expense that the Orange County Speedway does. Reasons for this disparity include the distance of the Orange County Speedway facility from both EMS and Hospital facilities, the absence of paramedic-level volunteers who are interested in providing medical services as part of the established EMS system, and the established fees which were based on somewhat outdated calculations.