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Council approves firefighter retirement changes, brownfields designation and ALS licensing application for fire department
Summary
The council adopted city-code amendments allowing firefighters to purchase prior service for retirement, designated a property as a Florida Brownfield for remediation and economic redevelopment, and authorized the fire department to apply for an ALS-capable ground-ambulance license to provide advanced life-support while awaiting transports.
At its April 6 meeting, the Lake City City Council adopted a trio of items affecting public safety, pensions and redevelopment.
The council unanimously approved ordinance 2026-2359, adding city-code provisions that allow firefighters to purchase prior military or firefighting service toward retirement credit. The ordinance passed on final reading with no public opposition.
Council also approved resolution 2026-036 to participate in the Florida Brownfields Redevelopment Program and designated the parcel at 2932 N US Highway 441 (appraiser parcel 17-3s-17-0500-003) as a brownfield area to enable environmental remediation and eventual redevelopment.
On emergency medical services, the fire chief told council the department currently provides only basic life support in most responses while transporting ambulance service is contracted at the county level. The chief asked to apply for an EMS ground-ambulance-provider license to equip and staff one Advanced Life Support (ALS) truck, enabling paramedics already employed by the fire department to administer drugs and monitor cardiac activity on scene.
"Our goal is to go ALS, which is advanced life support. Our paramedics, which we already have in the fire department, will be able to administer drugs... and be able to provide a better service to our citizens while we're waiting on scene," the chief said.
Council unanimously approved the ALS-license application (resolution 2026-040) and authorized staff to proceed. City officials said this will improve on-scene care while transport services remain a contractual county function; the chief said the department currently has approximately eight paramedics available to staff the ALS unit.
All three items passed without recorded opposition; councilmembers praised staff for pursuing improved services and redevelopment tools.
