Resolution 2023-32832RESOLUTION NO.'I 2023-32832
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE
ADMINISTRATION AND MIAMI BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT ("MBFD") TO
PARTICIPATE IN ANY MISSION OR PROGRAM FOR VOLUNTARY
DEPLOYMENT OF THE CITY'S FIREFIGHTERS OR PARAMEDICS TO
PROVIDE EMERGENCY SERVICES IN ISRAEL; AND FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY. MANAGER TO (1) EXPEND FUNDS TO
FACILITATE RAPID DEPLOYMENT OF THE MBFD MISSION TO ISRAEL; (2)
SEEK AND ACCEPT DONATIONS OR APPROPRIATIONS OF FUNDS AND
IN -KIND SERVICES TO PAY FOR THE MISSION AND/OR TO REIMBURSE
THE CITY FOR FUNDS EXPENDED; (3) ALLOW THE MBFD TO TREAT
PERSONNEL WHO VOLUNTEER FOR, AND ULTIMATELY SERVE IN,
ISRAEL, AS ON -DUTY MBFD EMPLOYEES, TO ENSURE THAT ANY
POTENTIAL INCIDENTS INVOLVING MBFD PERSONNEL WHILE ON THIS
MISSION WOULD RESULT IN THE SAME BENEFITS TO THE PERSONNEL
AND/OR THEIR BENEFICIARIES AS IF THEY WERE RESPONDING TO AN
ON -DUTY EMERGENCY ASSIGNMENT IN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.
WHEREAS, October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks by terrorist organization Hamas have
targeted the people of Israel on Shabbat and during the Jewish holy days, resulting in the loss
of innocent lives; and
WHEREAS, the City condemns all acts of terrorism and violence targeting innocent
civilians, and acknowledges the resilience and courage of the people of Israel in the face of
these threats; and
WHEREAS, South Florida, and the City of Miami Beach are home to a sizeable Jewish
population, and in 2013, the City became Sister Cities with Nahariya and Ramat Gan, Israel,
and
WHEREAS, the City and Israel have developed strong ties with Israel through cultural,
economic, educational, and diplomatic exchanges that have mutually -benefited both
communities; and
WHEREAS, the City's Fire Department is exploring options to deploy volunteers to Israel
comprised of Miami Beach Fire Department ("MBFD") personnel, either through an non -
government organization, or other mechanism, to "backfill" firefighting/paramedic positions in
Israel that have been made vacant due to the deployment of the Israeli staff to military service
relating to the Israeli war with Hamas, or to provide other services as needed; and
WHEREAS, MBFD routinely deploys personnel to assist other jurisdictions with
emergency services, whether it is in the context of hurricane disaster recovery efforts or
humanitarian relief, such as a prior mission undertaken in Haiti following a devastating
earthquake; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission find that the foregoing serves a municipal
purpose in view of the City's long-standing commitment to peace, and humanitarian principles
by helping the innocent victims of violence and contributing to the reconstruction and recovery
of affected communities; and
(sponsored by Mayor Dan Gelber)
WHEREAS, as follows, the Mayor and. City Commission wish to approve and authorize
the Administration and Miami Beach Fire Department ("MBFD") to participate in any mission or
program for voluntary deployment of the City's firefighters or paramedics to provide emergency
services in Israel; and further authorize the City Manager to (1) expend funds to facilitate rapid
deployment of the MBFD ,mission to Israel; (2) seek and accept donations or appropriations of
funds and in -kind services to pay for the mission and/or to reimburse the City for funds
expended; (3) allow the MBFD to treat personnel who volunteer for, and ultimately serve in,
Israel, as on -duty MBFD employees, to ensure that any potential incidents involving MBFD
personnel while on this mission would result in the same benefits to the personnel and/or their
beneficiaries as if they were responding to an on -duty emergency assignment in the City of
Miami Beach.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Commission of the City of Miami
Beach, Florida, that the Mayor and the City hereby approve and authorize the Administration
and Miami Beach Fire Department ("MBFD") to participate in any mission or program for
voluntary deployment of the City's firefighters or paramedics to provide emergency services in
Israel; and further authorize the City Manager to (1) expend funds to facilitate rapid deployment
of the MBFD mission to Israel; (2) seek and accept donations or appropriations of funds and in -
kind services to pay for the mission and/or to reimburse the City for funds expended; (3) allow
the MBFD to treat personnel who volunteer for, and ultimately serve in, Israel, as on -duty MBFD
employees, to ensure that any potential incidents involving MBFD personnel while on this
mission would result in the same benefits to the personnel and/or their beneficiaries as if they
were responding to an on -duty emergency assignment in the City of Miami Beach.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 181' day of October 2023.
ATTEST:
NOV p 0 2023
Dan Gelber, Mayor
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk
....
iltlCup 091D'
C H ....
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
11- b - 13
City Attamey �l Dati
10/20/23, 10:24 AM
Item Coversheet
MIAMIBEACH
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Mayor Dan Gelber
DATE: October 18, 2023
New Business and Commission Requests - R9 AJ
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT. DISCUSS/TAKE ACTION RE: MIAMI BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT DEPLOYMENT OF
VOLUNTARY CITY FIREFIGHTERS TO ASSIST WITH EMERGENCY FIREFIGHTING AND/OR
PARAMEDIC SERVICES IN ISRAEL.
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
N/A
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
N/A
Applicable Area
Not Applicable
Is this a "Residents Right to Does this item utilize G.O.
Know" item, -pursuant to Bond Funds?
City Code Section 2-14?
No No
Strategic Connection
Non -Applicable
Legislative Tracking
Mayor Dan Gelber
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ Memorandum - MBFD Deployment of Voluntary Firefighters to Israel
https://miamibeach.novusagenda.com/AgendaWeb/CoverSheet.aspx?ItemID=32772 1 /1
MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Members of the City Commission
FROM: Mayor Dan Gelber
DATE: October 18, 2023
SUBJECT: DISCUSS/TAKE ACTION RE: MIAMI BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT
DEPLOYMENT OF VOLUNTARY CITY FIREFIGHTERS TO ASSIST WITH
EMERGENCY FIREFIGHTING AND/OR PARAMEDIC SERVICES IN ISRAEL.
Please place a discussion item on the October 18, 2023 City Commission agenda.
DISCUSS/TAKE ACTION
I have been advised that City Manager Hudak and Chief Virgil Fernandez are exploring
participating in a potential State of Florida mission for Miami Beach Fire Department ("MBFD")
firefighters and paramedics to assist in providing emergency response, recovery and mitigation
services in Israel in the immediate future as part of the aid contemplated in Governor DeSantis'
Executive Order No. 23-208 (Emergency management — Impacts of War in Israel). See EO 23-
208, attached as Exhibit A.
The Fire Department is also exploring an informal mission to Israel comprised of MBFD personnel,
either through an NGO or other mechanism, to provide MBFD personnel to "backfill"
firefighting/paramedic positions in Israel that have been made vacant due to the deployment of
the normal Israeli staff to military service relating to the Israeli war with Hamas, or to provide other
services as needed. MBFD is currently working with Michael Caponi, the leader of an NGO, Global
Empowerment Mission, who has tentatively agreed to provide air transport to and from Israel for
MBFD personnel. Other details are currently being considered for action, should an independent
City mission be authorized.
l
The Fire Department routinely deploys personnel to assist other jurisdictions with emergency
services, whether it is in the context of hurricane disaster recovery efforts or humanitarian relief,
such as a prior mission undertaken in Haiti following a devastating earthquake in that country.
I would like for the City Commission to (1) endorse this effort; (2) authorize the City Manager and
MBFD to participate in any mission or program for voluntary assignment of MBFD firefighters or
paramedics to provide emergency services in Israel; (3) authorize the City Manager to expend
funds to facilitate rapid deployment of the MBFD mission to Israel; (4) to seek and accept
donations or appropriations of funds and in -kind services to pay for the mission and/or to
reimburse the City for funds expended; and (5) authorize MBFD to treat personnel who volunteer
for, and ultimately serve in, Israel, as on -duty MBFD employees to ensure that any potential
injuries and/or deaths to MBFD personnel while on this mission would result in the same benefits
to the personnel and/or their beneficiaries as if they were responding to an on -duty emergency
assignment in the -City of Miami Beach.