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AGENDA RECOMMENDATION |
5.Q.
City Council Regular Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 06/08/2026
Agenda Item:
Resolution authorizing the Department of Public Safety to apply for a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant.
Recommendation/Action(s):
Adoption of the attached resolution.
Summary:
The Department of Public Safety is seeking authorization to apply for a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant through the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Having previously utilized this federal grant program successfully, the department aims to address the growing service demands of the community by improving staffing levels.
The primary objective of the SAFER Grant is to fully staff two fire stations 24 hours a day, improving the department's capacity to respond to emergencies and ensuring our citizens receive adequate protection from medical, fire and other related emergencies. By increasing staffing and our deployment capabilities, the department aims to achieve more effective and safer emergency responses. This will ultimately lead to reduced response times and an increased number of trained personnel available at emergency scenes.
This year's SAFER Grant funds 75% of the regular salary and benefits for firefighters hired under the grant for the first two years and 35% of the regular salary and benefits for the third year of the performance period. There is no additional cost or employment obligation beyond the 36-month period of performance.
The primary objective of the SAFER Grant is to fully staff two fire stations 24 hours a day, improving the department's capacity to respond to emergencies and ensuring our citizens receive adequate protection from medical, fire and other related emergencies. By increasing staffing and our deployment capabilities, the department aims to achieve more effective and safer emergency responses. This will ultimately lead to reduced response times and an increased number of trained personnel available at emergency scenes.
This year's SAFER Grant funds 75% of the regular salary and benefits for firefighters hired under the grant for the first two years and 35% of the regular salary and benefits for the third year of the performance period. There is no additional cost or employment obligation beyond the 36-month period of performance.