HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 6h. Authorization to apply for FEMA FY 2023 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Item 6h
Department: Fire
Cost Center: 8503
For Agenda of: 5/21/2024
Placement: Consent
Estimated Time: N/A
FROM: Todd Tuggle, Fire Chief
Prepared By: Nicole Vert, Business Analyst
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO APPLY FOR FEDERAL
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY FISCAL YEAR 2023 FIRE
PREVENTION AND SAFETY GRANT
RECOMMENDATION
1. Authorize the Fire Department to apply for funding under the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Program in the
amount of $16,280.00 to purchase 6 Powered Air-Purifying Respirators; and
2. Authorize the City Manager, or their designee, to execute the grant documents and
approve the budget changes necessary to appropriate the grant amount upon
notification that the grant has been awarded, a resolution is not required.
POLICY CONTEXT
The recommended actions are consistent with the City of San Luis Obispo’s Financial
Management Manual, Section 740 - Grant Management Policy. The policy states that
Council will approve all grant applications in excess of $5,00 0 and delegate receipt and
contract execution to the City Manager.
DISCUSSION
State, federal, and non-profit grants are occasionally offered to assist local governments
with the financial impacts associated with daily operations and/or mandated programs.
The Fire Department actively seeks out these opportunities to enhance the effectiveness
of the Department while increasing fiscal sustainability for the City. A recent grant
opportunity was identified, which is in line with these goals and addresses a current need
for the City: the FEMA Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 FP&S Program. The FY 2023 grant
applications open in March 2024.
The Federal FP&S Grants are one of three grant programs within the Assistance to
Firefighters Grants (AFG) that focus on enhancing the safety of the public and firefighters
with respect to fire and fire-related hazards. The AFG Program accomplishes this goal by
providing direct financial assistance to eligible fire departments for critical training and
equipment.
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Item 6h
Among the five basic homeland security missions noted in the Department of Homeland
Security’s Quadrennial Homeland Security Review, the FP&S Program supports the goal
to Strengthen National Preparedness and Resilience. For federal FY 2023, Congress
appropriated $36,000,000 in funding for FP&S and is projecting to award grants to 100
applicants.
The objectives of the AFG program are to provide critically needed resources that equip
and train emergency personnel to recognized standards, enhance operational
efficiencies, foster interoperability, and support community resilience.
Staff recommends seeking $16,280.00 to purchase six Powered Air-Purifying
Respirators, allowing the six investigators on the Prevention division of the San Luis
Obispo Fire Department to each have a device ready for immediate use.
The Fire Investigators enter a post burn area when the toxic gas levels have reduced
below dangerous levels. However, some gases still exist as well as particles capable of
inhalation that, with repeated exposure, have been proven to be carcinogenic. A Powered
Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) is a portable battery powered respirator that filters air in
the user’s immediate environment, directing the clean, filtered air to the users face via a
breathing tube. With the air being pushed into the user’s breathe zone by a fan, positive
pressure is created inside the user’s mask preventing any unfiltered ambient air entering.
The PAPR devices will protect the Fire Investigators from harmful gases at all levels and
minute particles while completing investigations in a burn zone.
Previous Council or Advisory Body Action
On August 15, 2023, the City Council authorized the fire department to apply for an AFG
Program to send two firefighters to paramedic school and authorized the City Manager,
or designee, to execute the grant documents and approve the budget changes necessary
upon notification that the grant had been awarded.
On March 15, 2022, the City Council authorized the fire department to apply for an AFG
Program to purchase Urban Search & Rescue equipment and authorized the City
Manager, or designee, to execute the grant documents and approve the budget changes
necessary upon notification that the grant had been awarded.
Public Engagement
This item is on the agenda for the May 21, 2024, City Council meeting and will follow all
required postings and notifications. The public will have an opportunity to comment on
this item at or before the meeting.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act does not apply to the recommended action in
this report, because the action does not constitute a “Project” under CEQA Guidelines
Sec. 15378. If the work associated with the grant funding requires environmental review,
staff will not proceed with the project until a review has been completed.
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Item 6h
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: No Budget Year: 2024-25
Funding Identified: Yes
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding
Sources
Total Budget
Available
Current
Funding
Request
Remaining
Balance
Annual
Ongoing
Cost
General Fund $ $814.00 $ $
State
Federal $16,280.00
Fees
Other:
Total $16,280.00 $814.00 $
If the Fire Department were to receive funding from the FP&S Program, the City would
have to match the Federal grant funds equal to 5%. The total package requested is
$17,094.00 and if fully funded would result in $16,280.00 grant funding from FEMA and
require a match from the city of $814.00. The Fire Department will absorb this match
requirement within the existing operating budget for FY 20 24-25.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council could decide not to pursue the grant monies . This is not recommended
as fire service grant opportunities are limited and the grant funds would only serve to
enhance the City’s safety and resilience while increasing fiscal sustainability for the City.
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