HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/08/2008, C2 - 2007 FIRE PREVENTION & SAFETY GRANT C,
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CITY O F SAN LUIS O B I S P O
FROM: John Callahan, Fire Chief
SUBJECT: 2007 FIRE PREVENTION & SAFETY GRANT
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Authorize staff to submit a grant application in the amount of $21,010 to the Assistance to
Firefighter's Grant Fire Prevention & Safety Program for an Enhanced Child Passenger Safety
Seat Program.
DISCUSSION
Background
State and federal grants are occasionally offered to assist local governments with the financial
impacts associated with daily operations and/or mandated programs. The Assistance to
Firefighters Grant Program is one of these programs. In fiscal year 2007, Congress appropriated
$32 million to be used for fire prevention and safety.
Grant for Child Passenger Safety Seat Program.
The City Fire and Police Departments, in partnership with local hospitals, State and County law
enforcement agencies, and the County Department of Social Services, is requesting funding in
the amount of $21,010 to support and enhance our Child Passenger Safety Seat Program.
Creating a more comprehensive program will further reduce injuries and prevent deaths to
children who are born in, live in and visit San Luis Obispo.
The proposed program would
1. Enable our first responders to provide seats at the scene of vehicle accidents where seats have
been compromised, damaged or do not exist allowing parents and caregivers to transport their
children safely.
2. Provide seats to our hospital emergency rooms for patients discharged to a vehicle without a
child safety seat.
3. Provide seats to Social Service employees who may need to transport a child placed in their
care for emergency situations.
4. Educate and train parents in the best way to transport a child safely on the basis of the child's
age, weight, height and body development, how to choose the appropriate type of seat for the
child and the vehicle they own and how to properly install the seat they choose. Life-size
training mannequins are used to simulate a real child. This aids parents in the process of
choosing the appropriate seat and proper placement of their child in that seat.
5. Train and certify additional personnel as well as provide required continuing education for
existing certified technicians. Having available certified technicians will allow us to continue
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2007 Fire Prevention & Safety Grant Page 2
to provide daily on-site child safety seat inspections for customers and expand the number of
regularly scheduled safety seat checkpoint stations.
6. Incorporate additional checkpoint stations during Fire Prevention Week Open House and
Child Passenger Safety Week. Both of these events afford a perfect opportunity to reach a
large number of parents to educate them in the proper installation and use of child safety seats
and booster seats.
CONCURRENCE
The Chief of Police concurs with the recommendation.
FISCAL IMPACT
If the City was to receive grant funding through this grant, we would have to match the Federal
grant funds equal to 10% or $2,101 of the total project cost. The match would be split equally
between the Fire and Police Departments using existing operating budgets.
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
effectiveness of the Fire Department to the public we serve.
G:/Council Agenda Reports/CAR-2007 FP&S Grant Program
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