Report Prepared by: Janet German, Management Analyst, Fire Department
Title
SUBJECT: Approval to Accept and Appropriate $24,973 in Grant Funds from the California Fire Foundation (CFF); and Approval to Use Pooled Cash to Cover the Appropriation Until Grant Funds are Reimbursed
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers approving to accept and appropriate $24,973 in grant funds from the California Fire Foundation (CFF) under their 2023 Statewide Climate-Related Wildfire & Disaster Prevention and Preparedness grant; and approving the use of pooled cash to cover the appropriation until grant funds are reimbursed.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Accepting $24,973 from California Fire Foundation’s 2023 Statewide Climate-Related Wildfire & Disaster Prevention and Preparedness grant, increasing revenue and appropriating the same in Fund 1000-General Fund-Fire, Project GR240016; and,
B. Authorizing the use of pooled cash to cover the appropriation until grant funds are reimbursed; and,
C. Authorizing the Finance Officer to make the necessary budget adjustments; and,
D. Authorizing the City Manager or Deputy City Manager to execute all documents, including any amendments.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff;
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by staff, identify specific findings;
3. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items as requested by Council; or,
4. Continue to a future City Council meeting; or,
5. Deny request, which would result in the City of Merced being unable to use the California Fire Foundation’s funds.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200 - Powers
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 405 - Powers Vested in the City Council
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 1105 - Budget Appropriations
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Public Safety, as provided for the in 2023-24 Budget.
DISCUSSION
The California Fire Foundation (CFF), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization formed in 1987, provides grants to agencies whose projects focus on keeping California communities and their first responders safe through wildfire / disaster prevention, preparedness and/or relief and recovery assistance. In June 2023, the California Fire Foundation began accepting applications through its 2023 Statewide Climate-Related Wildfire & Disaster Prevention and Preparedness grant. Eligibility was limited to California-based fire departments, firefighter associations, federally recognized tribes, and local nonprofit organizations whose climate-driven wildfire and other disaster prevention or preparedness projects serve under-resourced communities at heightened wildfire risk or traditionally vulnerable populations. The maximum grant amount is $25,000 grant with no matching funds required.
The Merced Fire Department is located within the CAL FIRE Mariposa-Madera-Merced Unit, which serves the Tier 3 areas (Mariposa and Madera County). MFD continues to make all necessary firefighting resources available to ensure that fire suppression efforts are at maximum efficiency in order to protect life and property as well as provide the safety for our own personnel. Wildland firefighting is difficult and dangerous, and it is essential that our firefighters continue to be well trained with the appropriate equipment and resources to perform their job. Safety of our firefighters and members of the public is and always will be our number one priority. We conduct hands-on real-life wildfire training, but we lack the financial resources to provide the most safety for our affected and our firefighters in the form of equipment.
On 06/22/23, the MFD submitted a $24,972.40 grant application with the proposal to purchase backpacks which have increased hydration features, easy fire shelter deployment, fuse storage, and many other vital safety features to increase survivability of our fire personnel. We want our communities to be safe and most of all we want our firefighters to return home safe and sound. The backpacks will increase the odds of providing the best fire suppression available and increase the odds of our firefighters coming back home alive.
On 09/02/23 the Fire Department was notified that it was awarded $24,973 for the purchase of 49 backpacks. Two hundred and forty-three (243) fire department and organizations collectively submitted $5.3 million in requests for just over $1 million in available funding, resulting in their most competitive grant cycle to date. Fortunately, the MFD was awarded 100% of its grant request and we are grateful to the California Fire Foundation and General Motors for the grant funding.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
The grant is fully sub-vented, and no matching funds are required. The use of pooled cash is requested until grant funds are received from the California Fire Foundation.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Grant Award Letter