Consideration and Approval of Grant Award: Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program.

On March 15, 2020, Mayor Coral Evans issued an Emergency Proclamation for the City of Flagstaff in relation to COVID-19, acknowledging that the widespread nature of COVID-19 constituted an immediate threat to the life, public health, safety and welfare of Flagstaff residents.  In responding to the situation presented by the spread of COVID-19 in Flagstaff, the City of Flagstaff police and fire departments began purchasing additional health and safety supplies necessary to minimize risk to exposure of COVID-19 and help maintain the wellbeing of first responders.  Purchasing this personal protective equipment (PPE) was and is critical to continue providing emergency services to the community.

Accordingly, the City of Flagstaff police and fire departments are requesting the approval and acceptance of the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding to be used to purchase acutely needed PPE and cleaning supplies including but not limited to N-95 face masks, 3-ply face masks, nitrile gloves, protective goggles, spit hoods, isolation gowns, booties and disinfectant wipes. The City of Flagstaff police and fire departments will continue to work collaboratively to share these and other resources to effectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This grant will help offset existing expenses incurred from purchases of PPE, cleaning supplies and items utilized to help combat the spread of COVID-19.  If any monies remain, they will be utilized to purchase additional PPE related items to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19 to our first responders and community. 

The approval of this grant will have no direct impact on any policies of the Flagstaff Police Department or Flagstaff Fire Department.    

Flagstaff Regional Plan Policy PF.3.1 Maintain high-quality effectiveness and efficiency in law enforcement, fire and emergency services to the extent that is consistent with governmental operations, plans, public policies, population served, and monies available.

There has been no previous Council decision on this grant.

Approve the grant.
Deny the grant amount in full or in part.

On March 15, 2020, Mayor Coral Evans issued an Emergency Proclamation for the City of Flagstaff in relation to COVID-19, acknowledging that the widespread nature of COVID-19 constituted an immediate threat to the  life, public health, safety and welfare of Flagstaff residents. Flagstaff’s Emergency Proclamation was in-line with steps taken by various federal, state and county-level authorities signaling the seriousness of the spread of COVID-19. Throughout the month of March, the situation continued to escalate, with Coconino County seeing an increasing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and Coconino County reporting its first patient death from COVID-19. On March 30, 2020, Arizona Governor Ducey issued an Executive Order titled Stay Home, Stay Health, Stay Connected; Physical Distancing to Mitigate COVID-19 Transmission. On April 4, 2020, President Trump approved Arizona’s request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for the state.

The Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs created the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program in 2020, to provide additional funding to State, County and Municipal agencies, to purchase personal protective equipment and items necessary to help reduce the risk of exposure or spread of the Coronavirus.   

The Flagstaff police and fire departments began purchasing PPE from the onset of the pandemic and have worked collectively to share costs.  The departments have been innovative in finding solutions to re-use masks, identifying local companies to purchase PPE, hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies.  We will continue to ensure both departments have the equipment necessary to contact community members and meet service level expectations.   

An increase in demand for PPE will remain in effect until such time as a vaccine has been developed and approved for use to combat the Coronavirus.  The increase in demand carries an increase in costs to those departments whose personnel, during the course of their work, will be coming in contact with community members who have been exposed to or infected with COVID-19.  

If the grant is not approved, the opportunity for the police department and/ or the fire department to operate within their allocated budget will be negatively impacted.    

Having healthy first responders affords the community the opportunity to sustain an appropriate level of public safety and order.  The use of PPE and disinfectants not only helps prevent the spread of Coronavirus to officers and firefighters,  but from officers or firefighters who may be unknowingly infected and coming in contact with community members.    

Inform.