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Agenda - 11-09-2005-1
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Agenda - 11-09-2005-1
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9/2/2008 12:52:58 AM
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8/29/2008 10:40:18 AM
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BOCC
Date
11/9/2005
Document Type
Agenda
Agenda Item
1
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Minutes - 20051109
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\Board of County Commissioners\Minutes - Approved\2000's\2005
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~} <br />Challenges <br />As the demand for service continues to grow, and the availability of volunteers to provide <br />coverage in the fire districts declines, increased supplemental paid assistance to provide coverage <br />during peak hours continues to emerge as a solution of choice. This method enables departments <br />to cope with the growing demands. However, while individual departments provide for the <br />hiring of personnel, disparities may azise between depaztments in the benefits and salaries <br />provided. Many departments face financial constraints that preclude their taking on added <br />responsibilities such as retirement and workers' compensation associated with employees. <br />As Orange County continues to grow and face the challenges of tomorrow, it is imperative to <br />improve on our abilities to provide the best emergency services to our' overall community. We <br />must collectively look beyond "the way we've always done it" and expand our capabilities <br />across and between service districts to address the demands of a progressive public safety <br />system.. In several meetings I have had with the administrative and operational officers of some <br />of the fire and rescue departments, some depaztments have been very receptive to the notion of <br />an integrated approach to providing the best emergency services to County residents. Others <br />have expressed understandable concerns about the potential that their agencies may play <br />diminished roles in providing countywide services. <br />With multiple agencies providing similaz services (such as light vehicle extrication) in some <br />cases, there are legitimate concerns about balancing the need for adequate amounts of readily <br />available, widely deployed, specialty tools with the interest of ensuring that scazce tax dollazs aze <br />not expended unnecessazily on duplication of services or equipment. I believe there is a clear <br />need for a cooperative effort among volunteer agencies, the County, and municipal deparhnents <br />to determine a standazd that would identify what tools and equipment should be purchased, by <br />which departments, so as to ensure compatibility of equipment and training across agencies. <br />In a recent conversation I had with the president of the Chiefs' Council, he identified the <br />following as needs for volunteer agencies: <br />1) Face to face interaction with a representative of the Boazd of Commissioners; <br />2) A training facility in the central part of the County (I note here that Hozcse Bill 16.5.5, <br />sponsored 6y Represe~statives Faison, Haclaagy, and bssko has si~ice bee~z inh•oduced mid <br />if approved, would earnsark $1,344,000 to acquire land a~zd consb°uct a ~•egional fire <br />t~°ai~aing facility in Orange County;) <br />3) Input in fire protection needs for future growth and subdivision development; <br />4) Additional fire marshal staff to assist with fire insurance ratings of the fire departments, <br />granting, and County fire administrative issues; and <br />5) Representation from the Chiefs' Council on the conununication upgrading project.. <br />Opportunities <br />I have prepazed a group of slides (provided sepazately as an attachment for this agenda item) that <br />outlines some of the support that is currently available at the federal, state, and county level to <br />assist our volunteer agencies stretch their resources. In recent years, County staff have tried to <br />improve assistance to vazious fire and rescue agencies in azeas of training coordination, incident <br />reporting, and contracting and purchasing, among others. However, with the full participation <br />and cooperation of the volunteer departments, there may be other things the County can do to <br />assist the volunteer fire and rescue agencies to provide the best possible service in the most cost <br />
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