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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 03-19-2013 - 4b1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 19, 2013 Action Agenda Item No. 4 -b SUBJECT: Resolution Recognizing the Orange County Emergency Services Workgroup DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Resolution of Recognition and Michael Talbert, 245 -2308 Appreciation for the Orange County James Groves, 245 -6140 Emergency Services Workgroup PURPOSE: To approve a Resolution recognizing the Emergency Services Workgroup, comprised of a very dynamic and diverse group of residents, elected officials, and emergency responders, for providing a valuable service to Orange County. BACKGROUND: The Orange County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provides pre - hospital care and transport to residents and visitors throughout the County. Originated from volunteer services, Orange County EMS began providing advanced life support ambulances in the 1980's. EMS is a branch of the Orange County Emergency Services Department and is staffed by dedicated paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians around the clock. The EMS branch is the largest and highest - profile group within the department providing emergency response, patient care and patient transport from 400 square miles covering densely - populated urban settings to rural areas throughout the County. In addition to responding to 13,445 calls annually, EMS must be able to address extraordinary events such as multi - casualty incidents, large sporting events, stock car races and mass gatherings, assist at fires, evacuations and other disaster situations affecting public safety. The Orange County 911 Center is the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for residents to access emergency services agencies. It originated in the former Orange County Sheriff's Office at Columbia and Rosemary Streets in Chapel Hill. It is a branch of Orange County Emergency Services and is staffed by dedicated professionals around the clock. On January 24, 2012 the Board established and approved the Emergency Services Workgroup and approved the Charge. The Emergency Services Workgroup's first meeting was held on January 31, 2012. Over the past year the Workgroup has addressed all of the areas outlined in the Charge below. The Capital Investment Plan now includes capital projects to improve the Voice Interoperability Plan for Emergency Responders (VIPER), Communications and Future Emergency Medical Service Substations. New positions have been approved and are in the process of being filled to address staffing shortages. Over 50% of 1,156 homeowners identified as being more than six (6) road miles from the closest fire station within their fire district are being helped and additional solutions for the other homeowners are being finalized and will be presented to the Board. The Orange County Chief's Association Strategic Plan was presented 2 and discussed with most of the recommendations either implemented or part of the County's Capital Investment Plan. Charge of the Orange County Emergency Services Workgroup The Charge for the Emergency Services Work Group will be to provide recommendations to the Board on how to best improve Public Safety and the Emergency Services delivery system in Orange County. The recommendations will include a review of available alternatives, the financial impact to the County, and an implementation timeline for the following divisions that are an integral part of the Orange County Emergency Services delivery system- 1 . VIPER system improvements. 2. Solutions relating to Fire Protection Districts, Fire Insurance Districts and Fire Tax Districts. 3. System improvements for EMS Ambulance response times including but not limited to equipment, staffing, facility's and /or a strategic plan, to define data elements for meaningful analytical data as related to ambulance response time and to discuss and review that data. 4. Improvements for the E911 Communications Center including but not limited to technology, equipment, staffing, training and /or a strategic plan. 5. Compare Orange County Emergency Services to similar sized counties in North Carolina. Including but not limited to staffing, equipment, technology, infrastructure, performance and costs. 6. The Fire Departments Strategic Plan. The Emergency Services Workgroup was comprised of a very dynamic and diverse group of residents, elected officials, and emergency responders. There was a willingness to work together and, with the cooperation of partners and stakeholders, the Emergency Services Workgroup was able to address difficult issues, build consensus and make effective recommendations to the Board. The Emergency Services Workgroup provided an extremely valuable service to Orange County Emergency Services (OCES) with its review and implementation priorities of the EMS and 911 Comprehensive Assessment recommendations. The Emergency Services Department will continue the concept of the Emergency Services Workgroup, but in a less formal atmosphere. Emergency Services will develop an informal group named the Emergency Services Technical Advisory Group (ESTAG) that is comprised of volunteer representatives from each of Orange County's emergency response organizations. The group will meet once per quarter. Every agency will be encouraged to provide feedback on OCES initiatives such as VIPER, 911, EMS, and the Fire Marshal's Office. In addition, each agency will have an opportunity to bring new ideas to the table, share more about their agency's initiatives, as well as providing OCES feedback on any issues that may have arisen during the previous quarter. C FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with recognition of the Emergency Services Workgroup. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the attached Resolution recognizing the Emergency Services Workgroup members for their dedicated service to Orange County and the network of Emergency Services Providers. RES- 2013 -018 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION OF RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES WORKGROUP WHEREAS, on January 24, 2012, the Orange County Board of Commissioners created the Emergency Services Workgroup with a charge to: review VIPER system improvements and provide input; review the preliminary findings of Solutions for Local Government, Inc. and provide input; provide the Board with alternative short -term and long -term solutions relating to Fire Protections Districts, Fire Insurance Districts and Fire Tax Districts; and review the Fire Departments Strategic Plan once complete and provide input; and WHEREAS, the Workgroup was charged with making recommendations for system improvements for EMS Ambulance response times including but not limited to equipment, staffing, facilities and /or a strategic plan, to define data elements for meaningful analytical data as related to ambulance response time and to discuss and review that data and to recommend improvements for the E911 Communications Center including but not limited to technology, equipment, staffing, training and /or a strategic plan; and WHEREAS, the Emergency Services Workgroup, comprised of a diverse membership representing residents and the many facets of emergency services in Orange County, gave of their time and expertise for over 12 months, to this Workgroup and the members of this Workgroup represented significant experience and expertise in emergency response services: • Volunteer Fire Chiefs — Orange County Fire Chief's Association — Mike Tapp and Bryan Baker • South Orange Rescue Squad — Chief Matthew Mauzy • Municipal Fire Chief — Town of Chapel Hill Fire Chief Dan Jones Alternate — Police Chief Chris Blue • Municipal Police Chief — Town of Carrboro Police Chief or Designee — Captain Walter Horton • Municipal Police Chief — Town of Hillsborough Police Chief or Designee — Police Chief Duane Hampton • Orange County Sheriff — Sheriff or Designee — Sheriff Lindy Pendergrass Alternate — Captain James Nida • Former Emergency Services Director Frank Montes de Oca • Board of County Commissioners — Commissioner Earl McKee Alternate — Former Commissioner Valerie Foushee • County Medical Director — Dr. Jane Brice • Orange County Resident At -Large — Jane Cousins WHEREAS, the Emergency Services Workgroup has completed its charge and submitted recommendations to the Board; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners hereby commends and thanks the Emergency Services Workgroup on its efforts to find consensus and balance on numerous competing and controversial issues facing emergency services in Orange County and hereby recognizes these members for their community spirit, expertise and dedication to improving the quality of emergency services for all residents of Orange County. This the 19th day of March 2013. Barry Jacobs, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners M