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10.D. |
| City Council Meeting - FINAL |
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| TITLE: |
Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. 2024-16: A resolution of the Flagstaff City Council, approving an Intergovernmental Agreement: Cooperative Fire Rate Agreement (CFRA) with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
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| STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION: |
- Read Resolution No. 2024-16 by title only
- City Clerk reads Resolution No. 2024-16 by title only (if approved above)
- Adopt Resolution No. 2024-16
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| Executive Summary: |
| The Cooperative Fire Rate Agreement (CFRA) is a recurring agreement between the State and any/all Fire Departments in AZ, and is renewed every two years. The Agreement is the basis for reimbursements to Fire Departments when any Department is requested by the State to assist in an emergency fire response outside their own jurisdiction. The Agreement contains a set of General Provisions describing standards and processes, equipment rates for vehicles, apparatus, and other specialty equipment. The City has participated in this effort, and has had a CFRA in-place since the early 1980's. The last agreement was in March 2022, making spring 2024 as the renewal date for all CFRA's statewide. |
| Financial Impact: |
| The CFRA allows full reimbursement to the City for any-and-all costs associated with requested equipment, to include all personnel costs for those engaged in the operation/use of that equipment, including any required backfill/recall. Acceptance of emergency assignments is cost-neutral to allocated budgets. Costs are tracked and monitored through a digital billing/invoicing system that DFFM manages. Reimbursements are guaranteed through this system and outlined within the 2024 Annual Operating Plan (Attached). |
| Policy Impact: |
| Public Safety: Involvement with the State through the CFRA allows Fire Department personnel and other qualified city employees to work in a dynamic and fluid interagency environment, developing relationships, practicing skills, attaining qualifications and gaining experience. All at no-cost, that better positions us to respond to, manage, and recover from emergency events when they occur here at-home. Wildfire impacts will always be a reality for the greater Flagstaff area, having a current CFRA is a vital step and accepting and sharing necessary resources during emerging and long term wildland fire incidents. |
| Previous Council Decision or Community Discussion: |
| The CFRA has been in place as a best practice for resource ordering, mutual aid requests, and wildland fire cost recovery for 20+ years. Previous City Councils have approved the CFRA every two years since the state first initiated this process. The last renewal/approval was in March 2022. After the agreement in 2024, the next will be slated to occur in 2029. As the systems become digitized and allow for real time additions and adjustments, the need to renew every 2 years is not reasonable. |
| Options and Alternatives to Recommended Action: |
| There are no financial and cost recovery alternatives for the CFRA. Adoption of the resolution maintains our ability to maintain cost neutrality by invoicing for our personnel and equipment expenses. |
| Background and History: |
| The CFRA is a standard State-wide Agreement for any Fire Department/Fire District that elects to participate. The City has been involved in this effort since the 1980's. In addition to full-cost recovery, relationship establishment and enhancement, and free training and skill development, it also provides a mechanism whereby we can more easily request outside assistance if/when we experience a serious wildfire within the community. |
| Connection to PBB Priorities and Objectives: |
| Provide public safety services with resources, staff, and training responsive to the community’s needs. |
| Connection to Regional Plan: |
| All environmental priorities listed within the regional plan, mainly the protection/improvement of air quality, water source and ecosystem protection, and protecting all city and adjacent open space are supported through agreements like the CFRA. Recovering costs and training personnel greatly expands wildland fire management's ability to participate in an integrated regional planning effort. |
| Connection to Carbon Neutrality Plan: |
| Protecting and maintaining natural resources, and decreasing vulnerabilities through planning and response are key tenants of fire department support of the CNP. Further experience through training and inter-agency engagement remains cost neutral with a current CFRA. |
| Connection to 10-Year Housing Plan: |
| Not applicable. |
| Connection to Division Specific Plan: |
| Service level demands, personnel growth and training, and annual capital planning are all aligned with the current CFRA agreement. |
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