Item C24 C24
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY of MONROE Mayor Craig Cates,District 1
The Florida Keys Mayor Pro Tern Holly Merrill Raschein,District 5
Michelle Lincoln,District 2
James K.Scholl,District 3
m' David Rice,District 4
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
September 20, 2023
Agenda Item Number: C24
2023-1445
BULK ITEM: Yes DEPARTMENT: Fire Rescue
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: James K. Callahan
NA
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Request for One-Time Waiver of Fee Requirement for Gavin
Gonzalez, sponsored by Islamorada Fire Rescue, to attend Monroe County's Fire Academy Minimum
Standards Class.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
On behalf of Islamorada Fire Chief Terry Abel, Monroe County Fire Rescue is requesting a one-time
waiver of the fee requirement for Gavin Gonzalez, an Islamorada Fire Rescue Volunteer, to attend this
year's Minimum Standards Class at the Fire Academy.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
On July 18, 2018 Resolution 181-2018 was adopted establishing a fee schedule for a Fire Rescue
Minimum Standards Class at the Monroe County Training Academy.
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
NA
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
DOCUMENTATION:
2018-181 Fee Schedule for Minimum Standards Class and Waiver for Local Residents.pdf
Resolution_Waiving_Fee_Requirement.pdf
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
A one-time waiver of the $2,200 fee requirement for Gavin Gonzalez, an Islamorada Fire Rescue
Volunteer.
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RESOLUTION NO. 181 -2018
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MiONiROE COUNTY, FLORIDA ADOPTING A FEE SCHEDULE FOR A
FIRE RESCUE MINIIMUIM STANDARD'S CLASS AT THE MONROE
COUNTY TRAINING ACADEMY; APPROVING A WAIVER OF FEES
FOR MONROE COUNTY RESIDENTS; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Monroe County Fire Re,scu:e (MCFR) currently operates a State certified county wide
fire acaderny, providing training for volunteer and career firefighters in basic, hands-on firefighting and
imiedilc�al skills; and
WHEREAS, MICFR's training facility is,one of only 43 approved "Live Fire" acadernies in the State
of Florida; and
WHEREAS, MCFR has historically supported its career firefighting personnel with local
volunteers to linicrease the number of available on-scene firefighters at structuiire fires and other critical
firefighting needs,;and
WHEREAS, the number Of volunteers within Monroe County has been;declining,for severall years
ands MCFR fakes a shortage of qualified and available volunteer firefighters; and
WHEREAS, MCFR would like to increase the ratio of local certified career firefighters,within the
department with the goal of reducing turnover by loss,of trained personnel to other departments
outside of Monroe County.
N'OW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIONROE
COUNTY, FLORIDA.
Section 1, "I hie following poll cy is hereby established with respect to,the Mininiurn Standard's Training
Class at Monroe Cou n ty's Fore Acad e my.
A The MCFR Training Divrision is authorized to offer a fee-based "Minimum Standard's Class" on,an
annual basis, or more frequently as needed.
B, The Minimum Standard's Class will be an 11-week COLAT'se, held at the Monroe. County Training
Facility on Crawl Key, with daily classes Monday through Friday, 08010-1700,with traiininig classes
delivered by qualified MCFR personnel.
C. G:raiduates of the class will become State certified EIVIT/Firefighteirs and will be eligible to be
employed as an EMT/Firefighter within the State of Florida,
D, The initial fee for the Course will be established at$2,2f1O per student that does not include
books, supplies,gear or other incidentals, which will be the responsibility of each student to
provide prior to the start of the course,
E, The fee will be waived for qualified residents of Monroe County (as outlined in,Sections 2 aind 3,
below), to,encourage and assist loc all applicants in becorning State certified EMT/Firefighters.
F. All students will be required to secure their own housing and transportation to and frorn the
daily classes.
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G. Local residents who are approved for the fee waiver will be required to become a VOILinte,er
firefighter within Monroe County's fire system for a rninimuni duration of three(3) years,,
otherwise, the waived fee wiH become immediately due and Payable to Monroe Courity.
H� The initial Minimurn Standards Class is,scheduled to begin!on 8/27/18,and end on 11/16/18,
Section 2. Fee Waiver Qualifications
A. The waiver includes the cost of tuition only and does not include books,, supplies, gear,
incidentals,or housing.
B. The Student must be a qualifying resident as,defined in Section 3 below,
C. Students must pass a background check and be approved for the class by the Battalion Chief of
Training.
Section 3. Resident Qualification. The waiver process requires qualification ais a resident and
submission of documentation by the student seeking the waiver:
A. Any property owneir, or immediate member of his,or her household,who is currently playing
property taxes in, Monroe County and resides in said property. The term "inirriediate iner-riber of
his or tier household" means (a) residing at the same address as the property owner, and (b)
son, daughter,, father, mother, brother, sister, mother-in-law,father-in-law, brother-in-law,
sister-in-law, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, stepfather, stepmother, stepdaughter, stepson, half
brother, half sister, grandchild, or domestic partner,
B. A resident of Mori roe County, or irrimecliate mernber of his or her household (as,defined in
Paragraph A above),,who rents,property in Monroe Courity and resides,in saiidl property.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Floridia at a
regular meeting,held on, the 181"day of Jiuly, 2018.
X
Mayor David Rice Yes cD
Mayor Pro Tern Sylvia Murphy Yes r— M
C-7)P1
Commissioner Heather Carruthers Yes
Commissioner Danny Kolhage
Commissioner George Neugenit rn
C-J,
M
SEAL) BOARD OF COUNTY COMM ISSIOPURS,
ATTEST: KEVIN MADOK,CLERK OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By., By:
Dep Clerk Mayor Davidillice
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Date
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RESOLUTION NO. -2023
A RESOLUTION OF THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS PROVIDNG FOR ONE-TIME WAIVER OF FEE
REQUIREMENT FOR GAVIN GONZALEZ, SPONSORED BY ISLAMORADA
FIRE RESCUE, TO ATTEND MONROE COUNTY'S FIRE ACADEMY
MINIMUM STANDARDS CLASS.
WHEREAS, Monroe County Fire Rescue (MCFR) currently operates a State certified
county-wide fire academy,providing training for volunteer and career firefighters in basic, hands-
on firefighting and medical skills; and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners passed and adopted Resolution No.
181-2018 creating a fee schedule for the Minimum Standards Class which also approves a waiver
of tuition for Monroe County residents wishing to attend the class; and
WHEREAS,MCFR's Fire Academy is instrumental in training firefighters to work within
Monroe County Fire Rescue and other municipal fire departments; and
WHEREAS, MCFR, on behalf of Islamorada Fire Chief Terry Abel, is requesting a one-
time waiver of the fee requirement for Gavin Gonzalez, an Islamorada Fire Rescue Volunteer, to
attend Monroe County's Fire Academy Minimum Standards Class.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA THAT:
1. The resident qualification requirement for a fee waiver of the Minimum Standards Training
Class is hereby waived for Gavin Gonzalez.
2. All other qualifications, except section 3 resident qualification, in Resolution No. 181-2018
remain in full force and effect.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida,
at a regular meeting held on the day of September, 2023.
Mayor Craig Cates
Mayor Pro Tem Holly Merrill Raschein
Commissioner Michelle Lincoln
Commissioner Jim Scholl
Commissioner David Rice
(SEAL) BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Attest: KEVIN MADOK, CLERK OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
BY: BY:
Deputy Clerk Mayor/Chairman
AEprov ed as to from and leg d sufficiency
Monroe Count,,Attorney's Office
Christina Cary;Assistant Comity Attorney
Date:8.31.23 1155