Palm Beach County moves Ocean Rescue into Fire Rescue and approves $8.1 million transfer
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Summary
The Board of County Commissioners approved transferring Ocean Rescue operations, staff and equipment into Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and authorized an $8.1 million funding transfer to cover personnel, operating and capital needs for the remainder of the fiscal year. The vote was 6-0.
Palm Beach County commissioners voted unanimously on Jan. 6 to place Ocean Rescue under the command of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and to transfer $8.1 million to fund the change for the rest of the fiscal year.
"The proposal today is to transfer ocean rescue operations, the staff, the vehicles, and equipment, over to fire rescue so we can have a unified emergency response along our coastlines," said Philip Olivieri, division chief of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, during a presentation outlining anticipated operational efficiencies and unified radio and medical protocols.
Staff described the package as a combination of personnel and operating support ($7.1 million for nine months) plus fleet and capital adjustments (about $1.0 million) to move vehicles and maintain towers and related equipment. Director Jennifer Cirillo of Parks & Recreation told commissioners that open-water rescue services will remain visible to the public — lifeguard towers, facilities and scheduled shifts will not change — but that staff will report through Fire Rescue’s structure rather than Parks & Recreation’s.
Vice Mayor Woodward pressed staff on funding and staffing details, asking whether the transfer would create long-term obligations for the Fire Rescue MSTU and whether Fire Rescue personnel could backfill lifeguard towers. Staff and the county attorney explained that the intent is to fund Ocean Rescue from the general fund via an annual transfer rather than the MSTU tax base and that Florida Retirement System and union rules limit using current firefighters as interchangeable lifeguards.
Commissioners said the consolidation should improve training, medical reporting and radio interoperability. Commissioner Weiss added that the move “makes a lot of sense” for operational alignment and hoped it could ease pathways for Ocean Rescue personnel interested in firefighting careers.
Commissioner Flores moved to approve the funding transfer and consolidation; Commissioner Weiss seconded. The board approved the motion 6-0.
The transfer is intended to streamline emergency response, unify reporting and training, and support full staffing of lifeguard towers; county staff said they will return with implementation details and annual funding plans as needed.
