HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-13-2018 Item 7 2018 Assistance to Firefighters Grant
Meeting Date: 11/13/2018
FROM: Keith Aggson, Interim Fire Chief
Prepared By: James Blattler, Administrative Analyst
SUBJECT: 2018 ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Authorize the Fire Department to apply for a grant to the Federal Assistance to Firefighters
Grant (AFG) Program for the amount of $158,155 to acquire replacement portable radios and
associated accessories.
2. Authorize the City Manager, or 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.
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 Emergency
Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program is one of these
programs. The purpose of the AFG program is to award one-year grants directly to fire
departments to enhance their abilities with respect to fire and fire-related hazards. For fiscal year
2018, Congress appropriated $315,000,000 in funding for AFGs and is projecting to award
grants to 2,500 applicants.
Background
Portable radios are one of the most important life safety equipment items for a firefighter. They
allow for personnel accountability and critical communication between first responders at the
scene of an emergency and provide a direct link between suppression personnel and the
emergency communication center dispatchers. The lack of dependable portable radios could
immediately jeopardize the safety of both the public and suppression staff.
The Fire Department’s current inventory of portable radios has become obsolete due to age. The
model the Department utilizes was discontinued in 2013 and the manufacturer is running out of
parts to perform even basic repairs and is often not able to perform any repairs. As part of the
2017-19 Financial Plan an Information Technology (IT) project was funded in the amount of
$180,000 to replace public safety hand-held radios in fiscal year 2017-18, but the Police
department’s portion of the project utilized all the funding. The Department participated in a
regional AFG in 2017 to replace the radios but was unsuccessful in that attempt.
Upon grant award, City staff would return to Council for approval of releasing an RFP for 41
replacement portable handheld radios and associated accessories in the amount totaling the grant
award plus the City’s match requirement of 10%. The RFP will require the equipment to meet all
grant requirements and standards necessary for use by a fire agency.
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CONCURRENCES
The Information Technology Division has assessed the Fire Department’s radios and concluded:
the portable radios are past their useful lifespan; they are no longer supported by the
manufacturer for parts or repair; and failure of this equipment will pose a considerable safety risk
to the Department’s suppression personnel.
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 section 15278.
FISCAL IMPACT
If the Fire Department were to receive funding from the AFG Program, the City would have to
match the Federal grant funds equal to 10% of their total project cost share. The total grant
request is $158,155, and if fully funded would require a match from the City of $14,377. The
Fire Department will absorb the match requirement in the operating budget with the approved
general carryover monies from the 2017-18 budget.
ALTERNATIVE
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 while increasing fiscal sustainability for the City.
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