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DISTRICT INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Emergency Services District Board of Commissioners THROUGH: Joseph A. Baird, County Administratorbf FROM: John King, Director Department of Emer;cy Services DATE: November 12, 2013 SUBJECT: City of Fellsmere Fire Marshal's Office It is respectfully requested that the information contained herein be given formal consideration by the District Board of Commissioners at the next scheduled meeting. BACKGROUND In the late 1980s, local governments in Indian River County jointly analyzed the benefits of a consolidated, countywide emergency services district. At the time, emergency services were delivered through a fragmented system of three public fire districts, supplemented by volunteer organizations. The efforts culminated in a decision in 1990 by the Board of County Commissioners and the governing councils of all municipalities(except Indian River Shores),to pursue abolishment of the three existing fire districts, and the establishment of a single, unified and consolidated emergency services district. Specifically,on November 27, 1990,the Board of County Commissioners enacted Ordinance 90-25 which abolished the existing districts and established the consolidated district, subject to the approval of voters at a referendum to be held on March 12, 1991. The governing councils of the municipalities adopted resolutions approving Ordinance 90-25, and agreeing to be included in the consolidated district—again,subject to voter approval at the referendum. Specifically,with regard to the City of Fellsmere,the City Council adopted Resolution 90-Q,approving the consolidated district, on December 4, 1990. The referendum was held as scheduled and 82.35%of the voters approved the consolidation—thus, completing the process of establishing the Indian River County Emergency Services District. The legal vehicle used by the County and municipalities to establish the District was section 125.01(5),Florida Statutes,which provided then(and still provides today)that the governing body of the District shall be the Board of County Commissioners. This governing structure was also made clear in section 3 of Ordinance 90-25, which has now been codified in Chapter 208 of the Code of Indian River County. 153