| AGENDA ITEM #: 7. DATE: 03/01/2021 CAR #: {ud_fi4} |
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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 |
OTHER PRESENTER(S):
None
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 15 new firefighter positions for staffing FS188.
Recommendation:
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2021-2136 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 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 hiring new full-time firefighters 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 FY2020 SAFER Program. Costs are reimbursable if they are included as part of the standard package, under the SAFER Program grant. As an anticipated cost of operating fire stations, acceptance of a grant to subsidize firefighter salaries is in compliance with our financial policies. If awarded, all costs would be planned in the general fund following the expiration of the grant.
There is no cost share or match or position cost limit for the FY2020 SAFER Program. Costs are reimbursable if they are included as part of the standard package, under the SAFER Program grant. As an anticipated cost of operating fire stations, acceptance of a grant to subsidize firefighter salaries is in compliance with our financial policies. If awarded, all costs would be planned in the general fund following the expiration of the grant.
BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS ACTIONS:
The department has conducted research with other Valley Benchmark fire departments such as Scottsdale Fire Department, Peoria Fire Department, and Surprise Fire department, who have applied for the SAFER grant and were successfully awarded funds for additional firefighter positions.
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 188. Due to the significant expenditures associated with 15 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 March 12, 2021. If application is successful and once the City receives notice of award, a 180-day recruitment period begins. The grant performance period would begin no later than 180 days, or November 2021.
If successful obtaining grant funding for the 15 new firefighter positions, recruitment would begin in August of 2021 with the new firefighters attending the fire academy in January of 2022. We anticipate graduation of the recruits, from the academy, in the spring of 2022. After graduation from the academy, Fire Station 188 crew will be double housed at Fire Station 184 until Fire Station 188 opens in late December 2022. Fire Station 181 will open in April of 2021.
If funding is not obtained through the grant process, the department will request the positions through the FY 22 budget supplemental process. If the supplemental is funded then recruitment for the positions would begin in the early 2022 with the new recruits attending a fire academy in the summer of 2022 with an anticipated graduation in fall of 2022. After graduation from the academy, the Fire Station 188 crew will be double housed at Fire Station 184 until Fire Station 188 opens in late December 2022. Fire Station 181 will open in April of 2021.
The application deadline is March 12, 2021. If application is successful and once the City receives notice of award, a 180-day recruitment period begins. The grant performance period would begin no later than 180 days, or November 2021.
If successful obtaining grant funding for the 15 new firefighter positions, recruitment would begin in August of 2021 with the new firefighters attending the fire academy in January of 2022. We anticipate graduation of the recruits, from the academy, in the spring of 2022. After graduation from the academy, Fire Station 188 crew will be double housed at Fire Station 184 until Fire Station 188 opens in late December 2022. Fire Station 181 will open in April of 2021.
If funding is not obtained through the grant process, the department will request the positions through the FY 22 budget supplemental process. If the supplemental is funded then recruitment for the positions would begin in the early 2022 with the new recruits attending a fire academy in the summer of 2022 with an anticipated graduation in fall of 2022. After graduation from the academy, the Fire Station 188 crew will be double housed at Fire Station 184 until Fire Station 188 opens in late December 2022. Fire Station 181 will open in April of 2021.