HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-23-2015 C6 Assistance to Firefighter Grant ApplicationsCity of San Luis Obispo, Council Agenda Report, Meeting Date, Item Number
FROM: Garret Olson, Fire Chief
Prepared By: Julie Cox, Administrative Analyst
SUBJECT: 2014 ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT APPLICATION
RECOMMENDATION
1. Authorize staff’s submittal of grant application for the amount of $110,464 to the Federal
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to acquire Personal Protective Equipment, coats
and pants, for structural firefighting.
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the grant documents and approve the budget
changes necessary to appropriate the grant amount upon notification that the grant has
been awarded.
3. Delegate Purchase Authority to advertise for Request for Proposals and award contract.
DISCUSSION
State and Federal grants are occasionally offered to assist local governments with the financial
impacts associated with daily operations and/or mandated programs. The Federal Assistance to
Firefighters Grant Program is one of these programs. The purpose of this program is to award
one-year grants directly to fire departments to enhance their abilities with respect to fire and fire-
related hazards. In fiscal year 2014, Congress appropriated $304,503,764.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is the definitive source of standards for
firefighting safety. Per the 2014 Edition of Standard 1851 “Standard on Selection, Care, and
Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting,”
all structural firefighting protective ensembles (henceforth referred to as “turnouts”) must be
retired from service ten years after date of manufacture due to degradation in the turnouts’ ability
to protect firefighters from the extreme environments of a structure fire.
Despite a robust and proactive inspection, cleaning, and maintenance program, 36 sets of San
Luis Obispo City Firefighters’ turnouts must be replaced due to age and condition. These sets of
turnouts no longer provide the minimum level of safety required to perform our mission in the
community and surrounding areas. The structural components of these turnout garments have
deteriorated due to age and use; more specifically occupational wear and tear is deteriorating
both the outer shells as well as the liners.
FISCAL IMPACT
If the City were to submit and accept full funding from the Assistance to Firefighter Grant
Program for our requests ($110,464), we would have to match the Federal grant funds equal to
10% ($10,464) of the total project cost. This has been requested in the FY 2015-16 budget.
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2014 Assistance to Firefighter Grant Application Page 2
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.
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