| ITEM #: 9. DATE: 01/24/2022 AI #:647 |
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CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
| SUBJECT: | APPROVAL TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR THE STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (SAFER) GRANT |
| STAFF PRESENTER(S): | Paul Luizzi, Fire Chief |
SUMMARY
The SAFER grant is a program which provides funding directly to fire departments to assist in increasing the number of firefighters to help communities meet industry minimum standards and attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards, and to fulfill the traditional mission of the fire department. The department is seeking funding for eight new firefighter positions for staffing Fire Station 187.
Recommendation
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2022-2205 AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR THE STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (SAFER) PROGRAM FUNDS TO THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS RELATING TO SAID APPLICATION AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A GRANT AGREEMENT (IF GRANT FUNDS ARE AWARDED), AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE THE REQUIRED BUDGET TRANSFER (IF GRANT FUNDS ARE AWARDED). (Paul Luizzi, Fire Chief)
FISCAL IMPACT
The SAFER grant provides financial assistance for hiring new full-time firefighters, and for supplementing salaries and benefits for three years. “Usual annual costs” includes the base salary (exclusive of non-FLSA overtime) and standard benefits package (including the average health, dental, and visions costs, FICA, life insurance, retirement/pension, etc.)
There is no cost share or match or position cost limit for the FY2021 SAFER Program. Costs are reimbursable if they are included as part of the standard package, under the SAFER Program grant.
There is no cost share or match or position cost limit for the FY2021 SAFER Program. Costs are reimbursable if they are included as part of the standard package, under the SAFER Program grant.
BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS ACTIONS
The department has conducted research with other Valley Benchmark fire departments such as Scottsdale Fire Department, Avondale Fire, Peoria Fire Department, and Surprise Fire department, who have applied for the SAFER grant and were successfully awarded funds for additional firefighter positions. The community needs vary greatly for each department.
For example in FY2013, the Surprise Fire Department received funding in support of a formal Community Risk Assessment program which would be completed by increasing firefighter staffing levels. There were two main financial factors contributing to the department’s need for financial assistance. The City of Surprise experienced layoffs and significant reductions in its operating budget.
The Scottsdale Fire Department received funding in support of bringing the department up to full staffing for the first time in 2019 by adding six additional firefighter positions. The department was preparing for an unprecedented attrition rate of 85% between the years 2020 – 2025. The plan was to hire, train, and deploy six personnel prior to the retirement of veteran sworn personnel.
The Goodyear Fire Department applied for the SAFER grant in FY21 but was unsuccessful. The application focused on the need to staff a new fire station FS188 located in West Goodyear. The area had experienced a 36% call volume increase between 2016-2020. Goodyear Fire presented the case based on the growth in west Goodyear in both residential and commercial, stating the challenges in maintaining current service levels without increasing resources. Federal Management Agency’s (FEMA) response to the application explained that due to the 1300 applications received and more than $2 billion dollars in federal assistance requests submitted, regretfully the Goodyear Fire project was not chosen for funding.
The city of Goodyear has had a fire station in Mobile (FS187) since 2007. Initially, we had 4 person staffing per shift. When the recession impacted the city in 2009 we looked to the city of Maricopa to help staff that station through an IGA. Within a year the city of Goodyear decided it would be best if we staffed our own station. In 2010 we returned to staffing FS 187, and we have staffed it with 2 personnel in a brush truck since then. While the station doesn’t have many calls, the calls that they do encounter are significant and their automatic aid support is more than 20 minutes away. By staffing this station with 4 personnel it will allow for more effective delivery of emergency services similar to what citizens in northern areas of Goodyear receive.
For example in FY2013, the Surprise Fire Department received funding in support of a formal Community Risk Assessment program which would be completed by increasing firefighter staffing levels. There were two main financial factors contributing to the department’s need for financial assistance. The City of Surprise experienced layoffs and significant reductions in its operating budget.
The Scottsdale Fire Department received funding in support of bringing the department up to full staffing for the first time in 2019 by adding six additional firefighter positions. The department was preparing for an unprecedented attrition rate of 85% between the years 2020 – 2025. The plan was to hire, train, and deploy six personnel prior to the retirement of veteran sworn personnel.
The Goodyear Fire Department applied for the SAFER grant in FY21 but was unsuccessful. The application focused on the need to staff a new fire station FS188 located in West Goodyear. The area had experienced a 36% call volume increase between 2016-2020. Goodyear Fire presented the case based on the growth in west Goodyear in both residential and commercial, stating the challenges in maintaining current service levels without increasing resources. Federal Management Agency’s (FEMA) response to the application explained that due to the 1300 applications received and more than $2 billion dollars in federal assistance requests submitted, regretfully the Goodyear Fire project was not chosen for funding.
The city of Goodyear has had a fire station in Mobile (FS187) since 2007. Initially, we had 4 person staffing per shift. When the recession impacted the city in 2009 we looked to the city of Maricopa to help staff that station through an IGA. Within a year the city of Goodyear decided it would be best if we staffed our own station. In 2010 we returned to staffing FS 187, and we have staffed it with 2 personnel in a brush truck since then. While the station doesn’t have many calls, the calls that they do encounter are significant and their automatic aid support is more than 20 minutes away. By staffing this station with 4 personnel it will allow for more effective delivery of emergency services similar to what citizens in northern areas of Goodyear receive.
STAFF ANALYSIS
Fiscal prudence is a high priority as well as compliance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guideline 1710, section 5.2.2 which states, “the number of on-duty fire suppression members shall be sufficient to perform the necessary fire-fighting operations given the expected fire-fighting conditions.” In order to meet this criterion, it is essential to staff these additional firefighter positions for Fire Station 187. Due to the significant expenditures associated with eight new firefighter positions, the fire department determined it would be prudent to seek additional funding sources to offset the initial costs for these positions.
The application deadline is February 4, 2022. If the application is successful, the period of performance is 36 months from the date of the award. The anticipated award date is May 2022 with the projected period of performance beginning August or September 2022. Our 180-day recruitment period begins when we receive notice of award.
If successful in obtaining grant funding for the eight new firefighter positions, recruitment would begin in August of 2022 with the new firefighters attending fire academy in January of 2023 with anticipated graduation in the spring of 2023. After graduation from the academy, the crew will begin staffing fire station 187 to provide four-person staffing per shift.
If funding is not obtained through the grant process, the department will request the positions through the FY 23 supplemental process. If the supplemental process is funded, then recruitment for the positions would begin in the fall of 2022 with the new recruits attending a fire academy in the winter of 2023 with anticipated graduation in the spring of 2024. After graduation from the academy, they will staff FS 187 and build the current staffing to four firefighters.
The application deadline is February 4, 2022. If the application is successful, the period of performance is 36 months from the date of the award. The anticipated award date is May 2022 with the projected period of performance beginning August or September 2022. Our 180-day recruitment period begins when we receive notice of award.
If successful in obtaining grant funding for the eight new firefighter positions, recruitment would begin in August of 2022 with the new firefighters attending fire academy in January of 2023 with anticipated graduation in the spring of 2023. After graduation from the academy, the crew will begin staffing fire station 187 to provide four-person staffing per shift.
If funding is not obtained through the grant process, the department will request the positions through the FY 23 supplemental process. If the supplemental process is funded, then recruitment for the positions would begin in the fall of 2022 with the new recruits attending a fire academy in the winter of 2023 with anticipated graduation in the spring of 2024. After graduation from the academy, they will staff FS 187 and build the current staffing to four firefighters.