PLACEMENT: Consent
TITLE:
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APPROVAL OF AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MARTIN COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE TOWN OF JUPITER
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
executive summary
The Town of Jupiter is establishing the Jupiter Fire Rescue Department (JFRD), anticipated to begin full operations October 1, 2026. Because Jupiter borders Martin County, JFRD will be the primary fire rescue agency immediately south of Martin County Fire Rescue (MCFR). JFRD requested an interlocal agreement formalizing emergency assistance. Following review and negotiation, MCFR drafted a Mutual Aid Interlocal Agreement protecting Martin County’s operational and legal interests while supporting interagency cooperation. The Agreement provides request-based mutual aid only and creates no automatic aid, standing dispatch commitments, or financial obligations for Martin County.
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DEPARTMENT: Fire Rescue
PREPARED BY: Name: Rocco Napoli
Title: Deputy Fire Chief
REQUESTED BY: Chad Michael Cianciulli, Fire Chief
PRESET:
PROCEDURES: None
BACKGROUND/RELATED STRATEGIC GOAL:
This item supports Martin County’s commitment to public safety, intergovernmental cooperation, and responsible stewardship of County resources. Specifically, this Agreement advances the following strategic objectives:
• Public Safety - Maintaining and strengthening Martin County’s fire rescue response capabilities by establishing a defined, legally sound framework for mutual emergency assistance with the adjacent jurisdiction to the south.
• Intergovernmental Cooperation - Fulfilling Martin County’s commitment to cooperative relationships with neighboring municipalities and counties as authorized by the Florida Interlocal Cooperation Act of 1969 (Florida Statute § 163.01), while ensuring that such cooperation is structured on terms that produce genuine mutual advantage and protect County interests.
• Fiscal Responsibility - This Agreement carries no fiscal impact to Martin County. The mutual aid structure ensures MCFR is not committed to subsidizing JFRD’s day-to-day operational coverage deficiencies; built-in reciprocity safeguards and the right to decline responses protect the County’s resources.
• Personnel Safety and Operational Integrity - The Agreement’s radio interoperability provisions and operational limitation clauses reflect Martin County’s obligation to protect the safety of MCFR personnel deployed to joint operations, consistent with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 1561 and MCFR’s duty of care to its workforce.
ISSUES:
None
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW:
This item has been reviewed for legal sufficiency to determine whether it is consistent with applicable law, has identified and addressed legal risks, and has developed strategies for legal defensibility.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECOMMENDATION
Move that the Board approve the Interlocal Agreement and authorize the Chair or designee to execute the Interlocal Agreement, as well as any related agreements or documents upon review and concurrence of the County Attorney’s Office.
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Pull this item from the Consent Agenda and provide staff with further direction to bring the matter back to the Board at a future date.
FISCAL IMPACT:
RECOMMENDATION
None
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
None
DOCUMENT(S) REQUIRING ACTION:
☐Budget Transfer / Amendment ☐ Chair Letter ☒Contract / Agreement
☐Grant / Application ☐Notice ☐Ordinance ☐Resolution
☐Other: