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Home My WebLink About2005 09 12 Consent Item 202- KREBS REQUEST RELATED TO HOSPICE & RESOLUTION NO. 2005-35 COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM 202 Consent X Informational Public Hearing Regular September 12. 2005 Regular Meeting ;-- -r~+ Mgr. / bept. Authorization REQUEST: Commissioner Joanne M. Krebs requests that the City Commission consider information related to the Hospice organization and approve Resolution Number 2005-35 offering the City Commission's support of Hospice of the Comforter to build an inpatient facility in Central Florida. PURPOSE: This Agenda Item was requested by Commissioner Joanne M. Krebs following a previous City Commission Meeting where the City Commission agreed that a Resolution could be written offering the City Commission's support for Hospice of the Comforter's plan to build a new facility. CONSIDERATIONS: The following is an excerpt from the June 27, 2005 Regular City Commission Meeting: REPORTS REPORTS 605. Commission Seat Five - Joanne M. Krebs Commissioner Krebs mentioned receiving a letter related to Hospice, to which Mayor Bush stated, "I have responded to that." Commissioner Krebs then said, "I was going to ask if! could." Mayor Bush noted, "You can too." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS CITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING - SEPTEMBER 12, 2005 CONSENT AGENDA ITEM 202 PAGE 2 OF 3 With additional discussion on this issue, Deputy Mayor Blake suggested to Commissioner Krebs, "It might be appropriate for you to make a Motion to have a Resolution from the City as well." Commissioner Krebs said, "Okay. And the Mayor would sign it - and it would be from all of us?" Mayor Bush remarked, "The Commission would approve the Resolution and we would mail them the Resolution." Deputy Mayor Blake added, "You can still do it on your own too." COMMISSIONER KREBS STATED, "I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION." MOTION BY COMMISSIONER KREBS. SECONDED BY DEPUTY MAYOR BLAKE. DISCUSSION. MAYOR BUSH SAID, "MOTION THAT WE HAVE A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF HOSPICE." VOTE: COMMISSIONER GILMORE: AYE DEPUTY MAYOR BLAKE: AYE COMMISSIONER McGINNIS: AYE COMMISSIONER KREBS: AYE MOTION CARRIED. The following are some other points of information related to Hospice: . Hospice is interested in building a resident home in the Central Florida area. . Hospice of the Comforter is located in Altamonte Springs. . The services provided by Hospice not only help people who are terminally ill, but their caregivers as well. "They are truly angels on earth." . Personally, I have had direct experience with their resident home located in Stuart, Florida. The grounds are beautiful and the home itself is just as nice. Usually there is a waiting list. Most people who go to reside there, usually are a resident for two (2) to three (3) weeks. There is an area for family members to cook food for themselves and their loved one if he/she is able to eat. There are also places for them to sleep close to their loved one so that they can be near, should they so choose. There are private rooms from which to make phone calls, etc. It is truly a remarkable place. CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS CITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING - SEPTEMBER 12,2005 CONSENT AGENDA ITEM 202 PAGE 3 OF 3 ATTACHMENTS: A. Copy of a Letter from Hospice of the Comforter to Commissioner Joanne M. Krebs B. Resolution Number 2005-35 C. Letter from the City of Winter Springs to the Certificate of Need Office Re: Hospice of the Comforter RECOMMENDATION: Commissioner Joanne M. Krebs is requesting the City Commission consider the information in this Agenda Item and Vote to approve Resolution 2005-35; and to have Mayor John F. Bush sign the attached letter. Upon approval of this Agenda Item and after Mayor Bush has signed the respective letter, the City Clerk is requested to mail the letter and Resolution to Hospice of the Comforter and the Certificate of Need Office in Tallahassee, Florida., on behalf of the City Commission. COMMISSION ACTION: A TT ACHMENT "A" -------------------------l I I I I coMFoRTER A em" pltJ>s.irm at~) Mhll...try June 9, 2005 Commissioner Joanne M. Krebs 1002 Taproot Drive, Winter Springs, Florida 32708 Dear Commissioner Krebs, Hospice of the Comforter, the only non-profit, community based hospice serving Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties, is currently applying to the state to build the only free-standing hospice inpatient facility/Hospice House in central Florida. The state of Florida requires that we be approved for a Certificate of Need (CON) before we can build this much needed facility. As a community leader serving this area, it would be very beneficial for our application if you could write a letter recommending the approval of Hospice of the Comforter's Certificate of Need. The approval board will be looking to understand the benefits the community would enjoy with the addition of a free-standmg inpatient unit. It would be helpfurifyou could mention some of these benefits in your letter. Benefits such as: I. A homelike atmosphere when patients are unable to go home due to a high acuity of care needed. 2. A place to go to have pain and symptom medications regulated should pain become severe. 3. A place to go after hospitalization for family training on use of equipment and lor needed care skills prior to patients going home. 4. A place to receive wonderful care in the final stage of the terminal disease when there is no home, or no one at home that can provide this necessary care. Please address your letter to: Mr. Jeff Gregg, Bureau Chief Health Facilities Regulation Certificate of Need Office 2727 Mahan Drive Tallahassee, FL 32308 And forward it to: Sherri Blank, Director of Communication Hospice of the Comforter 480 W. Central Parkway Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 This facility will be beneficial in helping further our mission of providing compassionate care to terminally ill patients in Central Florida. Our 15 years of care make us the longest running hospice in our community and has well-equipped us to take on this new challenge and offer this needed service to the citizens of Central Florida. We look forward to continuing to ensure the highest quality of care is provided to the citizens in your community who are facing the end-of-Iife. Sincerely, ~~ Robert G. Wilson President/CEO/Chaplain Hospice of the Comforter ATTACHMENT "B" RESOLUTION NUMBER 2005-35 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA, EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR HOSPICE OF THE COMFORTER, THE ONLY NON-PROFIT, COMMUNITY BASED HOSPICE SERVING ORANGE, SEMINOLE, AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, FLORIDA IN THEIR EFFORT TO BUILD THE ONLY FREE- STANDING HOSPICE INPATIENT FACILITY IN CENRT AL FLORIDA. WHEREAS, the Mission of Hospice of the Comforter provides benevolent care to terminally ill patients in the Central Florida community for 15 years; and WHEREAS, Hospice of the Comforter is currently applying to the State of Florida to build the only free-standing Hospice inpatient facility in Central Florida; and that the State of Florida requires that they be approved for a Certificate of Need (CON) before any such a facility can be built; and WHEREAS, Hospice of the Comforter provides a place to go after hospitalization for family training on the use of equipment prior to patients going home; and WHEREAS, Hospice of the Comforter provides a facility where pain medications can be regulated should pain become so severe; and WHEREAS, Hospice of the Comforter provides a homelike atmosphere when patients that are unable to go home due to a high degree of care needed, are cared for; and WHEREAS, Hospice ofthe Comforter provides a place to receive the most needed care in the final stage of terminal disease. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA: That we offer our support of Hospice of the Comforter's Certificate of Need (CON) and thank them for all of the care and compassion that they have provided to so many individuals; and we know that they will continue to offer the highest quality of care to the citizens of our community and to all of Central Florida as well, and for that we recognize ~ HOSPICE OF THE COMFORTER ~ SECTION I - That this Resolution offering our support of Hospice of the Comforter of Central Florida be recorded upon the Public Records and Minutes of said City Commission of the City of Winter Springs, Florida. SECTION II - That this Resolution be forwarded to Hospice of the Comforter for their records and forwarding to the State of Florida with our full-fledged support. PASSED AND ADOPTED SEPTEMBER, 2005. THIS DAY OF .fiv witnetiJ ~ Y Iuwe~ ~ 1l!f1tand and eautJed tfu;j 6ed w be q/la:ed. JOHN F. BUSH, MAYOR ATTEST: CITY CLERK DATE: City of Winter Springs Resolution 2005-35 Page 2 of2 ATTACHMENT "C" September 13,2005 Mr. Jeff Gregg, Bureau Chief Health Facilities Regulation Certificate of Need Office 2727 Mahan Drive Tallahassee, Florida 32308 Dear Mr. Gregg: On behalf of our City Commission, please find enclosed Resolution 2005-35 which was approved at the September 12, 2005 City of Winter Springs' City Commission Meeting. As noted in this Resolution, our City Commission completely supports the numerous contributions that Hospice of the Comforter offers our community. As a very important part of our community, Hospice of the Comforter provides the highest quality of compassionate care to many terminally ill patients along with much needed support for their loved ones. This is such a noteworthy and essential service that just cannot be duplicated. Hospice of the Comforter provides that and so much more to many individuals and their family, and we sincerely ask that you approve their Certificate of Need (CON) so Hospice of the Comforter can begin the process to build a much needed inpatient facility for the Central Florida community. We fully support this endeavor and would appreciate your favorable consideration of the Certificate of Need (CON) for Hospice ofthe Comforter. Please contact me if you have any further questions. Sincerely, John F. Bush Mayor Enclosure COPY: City Commission Ronald W. McLemore, City Manager Anthony A. Garganese, City Attorney Hospice of the Comforter