HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 6f. Authorize the Fire Department to apply for San Luis Obispo Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Program Item 6f
Department: Fire
Cost Center: 8501
For Agenda of: 11/12/2024
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 SAN LUIS
OBISPO OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE GRANT PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION
1. Authorize the Fire Department to apply to the San Luis Obispo County Off -Highway
Vehicle Grant Program to replace Utility Task Vehicle-2; 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.
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 approval is required for all grant applications in excess of $5,000. Council may
delegate receipt and contract execution to the City Manager.
The work conducted under the grant is in line with the City’s Major City Goal, Open Space,
and Sustainable Transportation by improved accessibility to open space areas,
maintaining the ability to provide rapid emergency services in remote areas.
DISCUSSION
Background
Off Highway Motor Vehicles (OHMV) operating on publicly accessible land in California
must pay registration fees to the state and are the equivalent to vehicle registration. These
registration fees are displayed on the vehicle and are commonly called California Green
Stickers. A portion of the fees collected by the state are distributed to counties. The San
Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors has approved a competitive grant program for the
distribution of sixty percent (60%) of the County’s annual receipts of these Green Sticker
Fees to other governmental agencies and non-profit organizations for several eligible
uses, including law enforcement entities and related equipment.
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Item 6f
The City of San Luis Obispo is home to some of the busiest open space areas in the
county. Over 200 people enjoy the mountain bike, hiking and off-highway trails operated
by the City every day. These areas are difficult to reach by traditional motor vehicles and
sometimes only accessible on foot or by helicopter. Routinely, there are incidents where
individuals become injured, trapped, or lost and require prompt life saving measures and
need extrication from these limited access areas where every minute is critical. The Utility
Task Vehicle (UTV) is routinely requested by San Luis County Fire to assist with incidents
outside the City limits in areas that include both East and West Cuesta Ridges as well as
Reservoir Canyon to reach individuals that cannot be accessed with traditional rescue
vehicles.
The City has one UTV purchased in 2017 through this Green Tag Fee Grant Program
through the county. The Fire Department is requesting grant funds from the County’s
OHMV Grant Program to replace the aging UTV. The UTV has increased the ability to
access these difficult areas and reach critical patients quickly. However, as a result of the
frequent use, repairs on the UTV are increasing in both cost and time out of service. In
the thirteen months prior to October 2024, the cost of repairs and upkeep on the UTV are
over $5,000, over double the cost of the previous year.
Previous Council or Advisory Body Action
On November 14, 2023, Council Authorized the Fire Department to submit a grant
application to San Luis Obispo County Off Highway Motor Vehicle grant program. The
City submitted the grant request for a replacement UTV but was not selected for funding
at that time.
Public Engagement
This item is on the agenda for the November 12, 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 r ecommended 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.
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: Yes Budget Year: 2025-26
Funding Identified: Yes
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Item 6f
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding
Sources
Total Budget
Available
Current
Funding
Request
Remaining
Balance
Annual
Ongoing
Cost
General Fund $ $0 $ $500.00
State
Federal
Fees
Other:
Total $ $0 $ $500.00
The total grant request is $57,799.09. This will allow for the purchase of a new UTV and
all necessary accessories to be an emergency response vehicle. These accessories
include a rescue skid, light bars, display module and other safety features not standard
on a UTV. The application for this grant is in Fiscal Year 2024 -25, however, if awarded
the grant period is in Fiscal Year 2025 -26, and that is when the City would receive the
funds.
While many Mutual Aid assignments do generate revenue for the City, the Auto Aid
response agreements with the nearby local agencies generally do not. There is a
minimum commitment time of twelve hours before any payment will be received and these
incidents rarely extend long enough to reach that time minimum. Since the UTV is in high
demand in the City it does not leave the immediate response area for the longer Mutual
Aid assignments that would generate revenue.
The OHV grant program does not require any City matching funds. The department has
requested funds to fully fund a new UTV, plus necessary accompaniments for use as a
rescue vehicle. If the grant is awarded to the City, the department estimates costs of
$500.00 annually for ongoing maintenance whic h can be absorbed by the mechanic’s
current budget, as repairs are already budgeted and a new UTV would require fewer
repairs than the current UTV.
ALTERNATIVES
Council could decide not to pursue the grant monies. This is not recommended by
staff as fire service grant opportunities are limited and the grant funds would only serve
to enhance the City’s safety while increasing sustainability for the City by allowing funds
on the fleet replacement schedule to be allocated elsewhere.
ATTACHMENTS
None
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