TO: The Honorable Board of County Commissioners
THROUGH: John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator
THROUGH: Michael C. Zito, Deputy County Administrator
Beth Powell, Parks, Recreation, & Conservation Director
Gustavo Vergara, Assistant Director Parks, Recreation & Conservation
FROM: Johnathan Billings, Beach Operations Supervisor
DATE: September 19, 2025
SUBJECT: Parks, Recreation & Conservation Department - Ocean Rescue Division Policy and Operation Standards
__________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND
The Ocean Rescue Division is built on a foundation of public safety, professional vigilance, and community trust. For years, we have proudly protected thousands of visitors across the County’s four guarded beaches, delivering consistent, high-quality service marked by swift response times, preventative action, and a strong culture of accountability and care.
The Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department initiated the creation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) throughout its Divisions with the goal to create clear communication to staff, elevate the level of service provided to residents, and ensuring operational effectiveness and efficiency. The Department’s foundational SOP was approved on April 23, 2024, by the Board. The creation of the Ocean Rescue Division’s Policy and Operation Standards Manual (Manual) was driven by the core goal to provide lifeguards with a clear, consistent, and professional framework for excellence in safety and service. With the responsibility of protecting lives at the County’s four guarded beaches, it became essential to ensure that every member of our team, from first-year recruits to seasoned veterans, share the same understanding of operational protocols, emergency procedures, equipment use, and safety standards.
ANALYSIS
The Manual was developed to provide a clear, structured, and consistent framework for managing daily operations at the beach. Its primary purpose is to ensure the safety of all staff, visitors, and the surrounding environment while maintaining operational efficiency and accountability. Specifically, this Manual serves to establish clear safety protocols for water activities, lifeguarding, hazard mitigation, emergency responses, standardizing equipment usage, inspection, and maintenance procedures to reduce the risk of failure or injury.
The Manual supports the delivery of a professional, safe, and responsive beach operation that aligns with the best practices and the organization’s commitment to public safety and service.
Continuous review and timely updates, particularly in the areas of safety protocols and equipment management, are essential to keeping the Manual effective, compliant, and aligned with the dynamic nature of beach operations. The Human Resources Division, Risk Management Division, and Teamster’s Union have reviewed and approve this Manual.
BUDGETARY IMPACT
There is no direct budgetary impact for this request.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTIONS
24-0366 - April 23, 2024 - Parks, Recreation & Conservation Department Fee Schedule and Standard Operating Procedures Update
25-0421 - April 8, 2025 - Parks Conservation Divisions Standard Operating Procedures
POTENTIAL FUTURE BOARD ACTIONS
Acceptance of updates to the document.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
Quality of Life
OTHER PLAN ALIGNMENT
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff respectfully requests that the Board approve the Indian River County Policy and Operations Standards Manual for the Ocean Rescue Division, subject to any modifications identified by the Teamsters Union via impact bargaining, if any, and authorize the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Director to approve administrative, non-substantive updates to the Standard Operating Procedures, when needed.