The Panama City Beach City Council established a public-private beach safety partnership program Thursday, which extends an invitation to host beach properties to participate in a lifeguard program for the years of 2021-2023.
Under the agreement, the Beach Safety division of the PCB Fire Rescue would provide lifeguard services to the property; the host property would reimburse the City the cost of administering, insuring and maintaining the program. Lifeguards would be at the properties from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The program is modeled after similar agreements between South Walton Fire District and host beaches in Walton County, including Rosemary Beach.
This partnership agreement is a new tool to help put more beach safety responders on the beach through the recruitment of condos, hotels and associations. Currently the City has responders on the east and west sides of the Russell-Fields City Pier, and roving responders.