TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Jonathan R. Lewis, ICMA-CM, City Manager
TITLE: Memorandum of Understandings between the North Port Police Department and the Peace River K9 Search and Rescue, and the North Port Police Department and Sarasota K9 Search & Rescue, Inc.
Recommended Action
Approve the Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) between the North Port Police Department and the Peace River K9 Search and Rescue, and the North Port Police Department and Sarasota K9 Search & Rescue, Inc.
Background Information
At the December 13, 2016, Commission meeting, Commission requested verbiage be added to both search and rescue Memorandums of Understandings in relation to Volunteer Status, No Assumption of Liability, and Indemnity and returned to them in the January meeting for approval. The requested additions have been made and both parties have been advised and responded in agreement with the additions. A clean and edited version of the MOU’s are attached. The edited versions show the changes made with the additions underlined.
The purpose of these MOUs are to establish a mutual goal of providing prompt and reliable search and rescue services to the community and citizens of North Port. These are both non-profit organizations.
Sarasota K9 Search and Rescue, Inc. (SSAR) is an all-volunteer search & rescue team of highly trained members and K9s that assist law enforcement in finding missing persons. All members are certified at County, State, and National search and rescue levels.
This MOU will begin on the date of signature and carry through for three years. This agreement can be extended, cancelled or modified at any time. Each party will provide the same in writing to each party. If either party wishes to cancel this agreement they must provide, in writing, notice thirty (30) days prior to cancellation date.
Peace River K9 Search and Rescue (PRSAR) is also an all-volunteer program and has been operating in the State of Florida and the surrounding vicinities since 2005. Its mission is to assist local, state, military and federal agencies in the recovery of lost, missing and abducted persons in urban, wilderness, natural and man-made disasters. PRSAR’s teams follow the standards set forth by Federal and State law as well as the North American Police Work Dog Association and the National Association for Search and Rescue. PRSAR has many resources available to include Urban and Wilderness K9 teams for tracking, trailing and area search; K9 Water Recovery Teams, Mountain Bike Team, Mounted Horse Teams, and several other very specialized teams.
This MOU will begin on the date of signature and carry through until June 30, 2020. This agreement can be extended, canceled or modified at any time during the time period specified, by providing the same in writing to the other partner.
Both entities have worked with the police department on numerous occasions, which have proven to be beneficial. Upon further discussion with both search and rescue organizations, the decision was made to enter into a memorandum of understanding, which streamlines any future requests. Due to most of the participants in the search and rescue teams being volunteers with most working full time jobs, this will not replace the department’s current canine program, but will supplement the police canine team and provide many other search and rescue resources.
The original and additions have been approved as to form and correctness by the City Attorney.
Strategic Plan
Financially Responsible City Providing Quality Municipal Services
Financial Impact
There is no financial impact to the City.
Procurement
Attachments:
1. Memorandum of Understanding Sarasota K9 Search & Rescue, Inc.
2. Memorandum of Understanding Peace River K9 Search and Rescue.
3. Edited Version of Memorandum of Understanding Sarasota K9 Search & Rescue, Inc.
4. Edited Version of Memorandum of Understanding Peace River K9 Search and Rescue.
Prepared by: Kevin Vespia
Department Director: Kevin Vespia