TITLE:
title
A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT (AFG) AWARD FROM THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)
end
DEPARTMENT: FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT
PRESENTED BY: KRISTIN STEVENS, MANAGEMENT ANALYST
CONTACT INFORMATION: DANIEL STEFANO, FIRE CHIEF (714) 754-5144
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt the proposed resolution (Attachment 1) which ratifies the application for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and authorizes the City Manager to execute the grant agreement for the amount of $730,613.76 for the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other firefighting equipment; and
2. Approve budget appropriations of $664,194.33 from FEMA and the City’s required 10% match of $66,419.43 for the Fiscal Year 2020 Assistance to Firefighters Grant for a total budget of $730,613.76.
3. Approve the City’s 10% match appropriation transfer of $66,419.43 from the FY 2021-2022 General Fund Non-Departmental Adopted Budget to the Federal Grant Fund 230 to comply with the FEMA award requirement.
end
BACKGROUND:
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program serves to protect the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel. The grant helps firefighters and other first responders obtain needed resources and equipment necessary for protecting the community and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.
The Costa Mesa Fire and Rescue Department (CMFR) regularly inspects, inventories and requests equipment needs annually. Equipment inspected includes Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the department identified outdated PPE and equipment in need of replacement that is eligible for AFG funding.
On February 11, 2021, the department submitted a grant application under the Fiscal Year 2020 Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program for the purchase of PPE and equipment.
On August 13, 2021, the City received notification of the AFG award (Attachment 2) in the amount of $730,613.76 for the purchase of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBAs), equipment and radios.
City Council approval is requested to accept the AFG award and the proposed budget adjustments to the Federal Grant Fund 230.
ANALYSIS:
Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.
Although in prior years the department has not been awarded AFG funds, this year the department successfully secured grant funding for the replacement of PPE and equipment. This award is critical to the department’s equipment replacement, especially during this economic recovery period, as the City emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
On February 26, 2020, the County of Orange Health Officer declared a local health emergency based on the imminent threat to public health from the introduction of a novel coronavirus in Orange County. Consequently, in March 2020, the City declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 public health emergency and shelter in place orders. As a result, our state and City have been faced with funding challenges and revenue shortfalls.
The AFG funding will help fund the replacement of aging self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with new industry standard units. Additionally, the grant will fund the replacement of the department’s radios and outdated vehicles extraction equipment. Currently, the radios, which have been in use for over 15 years, limit direct communication with other agencies and peer departments. Since the existing radios are outdated and no longer in production, replacement parts are difficult to obtain as the manufacturer no longer makes them.
In order to receive the grant funds, it is necessary that the City Council formally accept the award and make the necessary budget adjustments.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City could elect to not accept the grant; however, the Department would not be able to fund the replacement of PPE and equipment within the department’s current budget.
FISCAL REVIEW:
Upon acceptance of the Fiscal Year 2020 Assistance to Firefighters Grant, the FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget will be amended to increase revenue and expense appropriations respectively, each in the amount of $730,613.76. The appropriations are comprised of the FEMA approved funding in the amount of $664,194.33, and the City’s 10% match requirement of $66,419.43 transfer from the General Fund Non-Departmental Adopted Budget to the Federal Grants Fund for a total approved budget of $730,613.76.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed the proposed 2020 AFG award agreement, the proposed resolution and this report and approves them as to form.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES:
This project achieves the following City Council Goals:
• Strengthen the Public’s Safety and Improve the Quality of Life
• Achieve Long-Term Fiscal Sustainability
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt the proposed resolution (Attachment 1) which ratifies the application for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and authorizes the City Manager to execute the grant agreement for the amount of $730,613.76 for the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other firefighting equipment; and
2. Approve budget appropriations of $664,194.33 from FEMA and the City’s required 10% match of $66,419.43 for the Fiscal Year 2020 Assistance to Firefighters Grant for a total budget of $730,613.76.
3. Approve the City’s 10% match transfer of $66,419.43 from the FY 2021-2022 General Fund Non-Departmental Adopted Budget to the Federal Grant Fund 230 to comply with the FEMA award requirement.