Commission hears timelines for SAFER hires, co-responder rollout and 911 dispatch options; considers EMS tax structure

Fort Lauderdale public safety officials updated the commission on staffing, grant-funded hires and communications infrastructure and sought direction on a possible dedicated EMS millage.

Fire rescue: The fire department said the SAFER grant will accelerate conversion of additional rescue units to three-person staffing. Staff reported 16 existing rescue units citywide, seven already three-person, and the grant will convert six more crews; hires would begin in March with operations in May. The grant also funded firefighter hires in earlier rounds and a multi-million-dollar SAFER award covering 28 firefighter positions was mentioned elsewhere in the meeting.

911 dispatch and PSAP: Staff reviewed the city—s decade-long relationship with Broward County's PSAP for 911 call-taking. City leaders noted pros (redundant centers, county-supplied staffing) and cons (earlier service gaps during transition and ongoing concerns about call-processing familiarity for local neighborhoods). The city owns and operates its radio system and staff said an RFP for radio infrastructure upgrades will go out; commissioners asked staff to analyze the fiscal and staffing implications of bringing more or all 911 call-taking back in-house versus continuing the county arrangement. Staff said a prior estimate for bringing a PSAP back in-house ranged from $10 million upward, depending on scope, and highlighted staffing and recruitment constraints for dispatcher positions.

Police co-responder: The police department said it has identified a candidate for the mental-health clinician who will ride with an officer as part of the co-responder team; the background process was underway and staff expected the program to be operational by April. Commissioners welcomed the program as part of a broader strategy on mental health and crisis response.

Cameras and grants: Police said their grants manager identified a federal grant opportunity to fund about 60 additional public-safety cameras to expand coverage in high-crime areas and to augment neighborhood-funded camera programs.

EMS special millage option: Staff presented a vehicle to create a dedicated EMS taxing district (a separate, labeled millage line on the property tax bill) to fund recurring EMS and fire-safety costs. Staff estimated full-cost recovery could be in the range of about $455 annually for a typical single-family homeowner at the modelled rate; the city could phase in a portion of that amount. Commissioners debated timing and fairness: some opposed adding a new labeled tax at this time and suggested instead consolidating or adjusting the general millage; others supported a transparent dedicated revenue source if it funds permanent staffing and prevents disruptions to service when grant funding ends. Staff said if commissioners want the option available for FY2026 they must start the ordinance process in February and set a maximum rate in July (actual levy would be set in the budget process).

What commissioners directed: They asked staff to prepare fiscal models showing how an EMS district would compare with raising the general millage and what a phased implementation would look like. They also asked for additional details on PSAP cost, timelines and a staffing plan for dispatch if the city moves to a local PSAP model.

Ending: Staff will return with cost models for the EMS taxing district, the SAFER grant full-year staffing costs after grant expiration, and comparative scenarios for dispatch options including capital and staffing requirements.