Resolution 377-2022 RESOLUTION NO. 377- 2022
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE
COUNTY, FLORIDA FOR A REVISION OF THE PRESENT MORATORIUM ON
CERTIFICATES OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY (COPCN) ISSUED
FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES; ALLOW FOR RENEWAL OF RECENTLY
EXPIRED COPCN CERTIFICATES; AND EXTEND THE PRESENT MORATORIUM
FOR AN ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS.
WHEREAS, Chapter 401, Florida Statutes, authorizes the Board of County Commissioners of
Monroe County to provide for and enact Emergency Medical Services standards in order to
promote the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the County; and
WHEREAS, Section 11-173 of the Monroe County Code of Ordinances authorizes the Boad of
County Commissioners to issue Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity for emergency
medical service providers for Class A Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support services
("Primary Providers") and also Class B, non-emergency medical transportation providers
("Secondary Providers")who wish to operate within Monroe County; and
WHEREAS, Section 11-173 states that the Board shall consider the necessity for the ambulance
services, as one of the factors for issuance of the Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity
(COPCN)for Primary Providers and Secondary Providers; and
WHEREAS, investigation conducted by Monroe County Fire Rescue suggested that there were
previously an adequate number of Primary Providers and Secondary Providers for the present;
and
WHEREAS, Monroe County Fire Rescue put a temporary 6-month moratorium in place on the
issuance of further new COPCNs as set forth in Resolution No. 156-2022 which is scheduled to
expire on December 15, 2022 ("Moratorium")to allow Monroe County Fire Rescue to investigate
and bring back to the Board recommendations on numbers of COPCNs that should be issued (and
whether there is currently a surplus of COPCNs in Monroe County); and
WHEREAS, Monroe County Fire Rescue desired to use the time to conduct an across-the board
review of existing providers to confirm compliance with the requirements listed in Sections 11-
173 through 11-175 of the Monroe County Code, and
WHEREAS, through clerical errors by certain certificate holders, recently expired Class A
COPCNs need to be promptly renewed for the COPCN holders to provide ground ambulance
services thereby providing for the health, safety and welfare needs of County residents and visitors;
and to prevent detrimentally decreasing the amount of ground ambulance services available to
County residents and visitors, and
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WHEREAS, Monroe County Fire Rescue now desires to modify the Moratorium to grant an
exception for certain COPCNs to be renewed which were not timely renewed by the COPCN
holder; and to extend this Moratorium for an additional six (6) months to allow Fire Rescue to
complete its investigation and bring back to the Board recommendations on the numbers of
COPCNs that should be issued.
NOW THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that,
1. Effective as of November 15, 2022, the Moratorium currently in place that prohibits the
issuance of new Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity (COPCN) for ground
ambulance services which is scheduled to expire on December 15, 2022 per Resolution No.
156-2022 shall be extended for an additional six (6) months until Thursday, June 15, 2023 at
11:59 PM.
2. Effective as of November 15,2022, certificate holders with expired COPCNs shall be allowed
to be renew their COPCN during the Moratorium period, provided they demonstrate that the
COPCN certificate expired due to a clerical error; tender to Monroe County Fire Rescue an
accurately completed application to renew their certificate, include the $475.00 renewal fee;
and meet the other County requirements for the operation of ground ambulance services.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida,
at a regular meeting of the Board held on the 15th day of November, 2022.
Mayor Craig Cates,District 1 Yes
Mayor Pro Tem Holly Merrill Raschein,District 5 Yes
Commissioner Michelle Lincoln,District 2 Yes
".4) , � Commissioner James K. Scholl,District 3 Yes
/4'7�0_ � Commissioner David Rice,District 4 Yes
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', Ti e -- VIN MADOK, CLERK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
g'",,,am °. ��"a` OF MONROE C I UNTY,FLORIDA
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',may, 1(YVVAr By: ' .,,,......
As Depclty Clerk May. /Chairperson
r' ks:., Digitally signed by James D.
`'` James D. Molenaar\MoIenaar
(2, --� '-" / Date:2022.11.01 14:29:33-04'00'
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=ti.= ; Approved as to Form and Legal Sufficiency
C.)E, 2 James D. Molenaar
;- — Asst. County Attorney
MONROE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
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