The last two days of rip currents and rescues have renewed the calls for lifeguards along Panama City Beach.

Panama City Beach City Council members have heard the talk.

One of the items on Thursday’s meeting agenda was an ordinance to hire lifeguards on all city and county owned beaches.

Currently, the law requires at least one person in beach services, such as Jet Ski or parasail rentals, to be pool certified.

However, they can't be called a lifeguard.

Under the new ordinance, the city would hire a group of open water certified rescuers to monitor the beaches, and they would be called lifeguards.

The proposal would also allow for more safety signs, including rip current and flag warnings at any beach access.

Some of the changes may take a while, but the lifeguards could be on duty soon.

Panama City Beach Mayor Gayle Oberst said, "It will probably be late summer before we actually see the lifeguards out on the beaches. We hope that we'll have the lifeguards, the equipment, and have the program set up so that we can begin full force with the spring of next year."

The council could vote on the lifeguard ordinance at their next meeting.