The San Luis Fire Department (SLFD) is requesting authority to re-allocate its funding authority to purchase minor radio equipment to extend the service life of our portable radio equipment.

The radio equipment currently in use by SLFD is reaching the end of its 10 year service and support lifespan.  The City of Yuma Fire Department has submitted two grant applications to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) on behalf of the Yuma Regional Communications systems (YRCS) in 2014 and 2015.  The scope of these grants would have replaced all mobile and portable radios currently in use by the City of Yuma Fire Department, the City of San Luis Fire Department, the Somerton-Cocopah Fire Department and the Town of Wellton Fire Department.  Neither grant applications were funded; the 2015 application status notice is included in this packet.

The equipment we are requesting will provide new batteries, desk top chargers and battery conditioning chargers to extend the short-term life of these radios.  The SLFD will continue to work with YRCS regarding the large scale purchase and replacement of all of our radios but until such a project can be funded, SLFD will be able to extend the use of these radios with the requested equipment.

In Fiscal Year 2016-2017, SLFD received authority to spend $21,010.00 as our portion of the grant match funds required of the recipients of the AFG.  As stated, the grant will not be funded. Therefore, SLFD is requesting authority to spend an amount not to exceed $4,700.00 of this allocation on portable radio batteries, desk top and a gang charger.

Fire Chief Paul De Anda of the Somerton-Cocopah Fire Department has assumed the lead for another grant application for the 2016 AFG.  SLFD will also be submitting a Capital Project item, with the City of San Luis Police Department, for consideration during Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Capital Project budget development.