Report Prepared by: Janet German, Management Analyst, Fire Dept.
Title
SUBJECT: Acceptance of a Type VI Fire Engine and Approval of an Agreement for Temporary Transfer of Vehicular Equipment - Type VI Fire Engine by and Between the State of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the Merced Fire Department
REPORT IN BRIEF
Accept the Type VI fire engine and enter into an “Agreement for Temporary Transfer of Vehicular Equipment - Type VI Fire Engine” by and between the State of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the Merced Fire Department; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute the Agreement to Implement City Council’s Actions.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Accepting the Cal OES Type VI fire engine; and,
B. Authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute the Agreement for Temporary Transfer of Vehicular Equipment - Type VI Fire Engine between the State of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (State) and the Merced Fire Department (Transferee) for the transfer of Cal OES Fire Engine No. 5601.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Provide direction on specific revision to Agreement; or,
3. Request additional information; or,
4. Continue the matter to a certain date; or,
5. Decline to take action.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200 - Powers
Charter of the City of Merced Section 501. - City Manager - Powers and Duties.
Charter of the City of Merced Title 8 - Health and Safety.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Public Safety as provided for in the fiscal year 2021-2022 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
The State of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has the responsibility of administering the California Fire Service and Rescue Emergency Mutual Aid Plan. This plan, in which the City of Merced participates, provides for emergency resources to be shared throughout the state during major emergencies which exceed the capability of a local jurisdiction to mitigate on their own. Major emergencies include, but are not limited to wildfires, pandemics, floods, and earthquakes. As part of the statewide mutual aid system, Cal OES purchases fire apparatus and equipment for responding to incidents in furtherance of the California Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid Plan. These fire apparatuses are assigned, through agreement, to fire departments throughout the state to be staged for Cal OES purposes and for use by local jurisdictions.
Due to the increased need for additional resources, Cal OES notified fire agencies in Region 5, which includes the City of Merced, of an enhancement to the State’s Master Mutual Aid fire equipment resources with the addition of a Type VI fire engine. Fire agencies interested in receiving a Type VI fire engine were asked to submit a request to participate as a transferee in the system. City Council provided concurrence on June 15, 2020 via Agenda Item No. 20-273.
The Type VI Fire Engine No. 5601 is now ready to be delivered to the Merced Fire Department and should city council concur with the acceptance, Cal OES will be provided with the signed Agreement along with evidence of insurance.
In accepting responsibility for the Cal OES Type VI fire engine, the City will be responsible to staff the engine with three people and respond to support statewide emergencies. Responding to these statewide emergencies provides valuable experience for the City’s firefighters and the city is reimbursed for personnel costs associated with staffing and responding with the fire engine provided by the State, in addition to a City administrative fee of 22.52% for fiscal year 2021/2022.
The City also gains the benefit of utilizing the fire engine during a local emergency, or as a result of multiple City fire engines being out of service. The Type VI engine can maneuver into smaller places and adding this engine would increase the department’s current capability. Currently, the apparatus could not be used as a “frontline” engine but can be used as a backup if an apparatus is out of service. We do not anticipate any substantive changes to unreimbursed overtime with the acceptance of this engine.
Continuously since May 15, 1989, the fire department has been the transferee Cal OES apparatus and equipment. Throughout the years (1989, 1998, 2001, 2004, and 2018) the City has periodically been required to renew agreements with Cal OES, due to newer equipment being assigned to the city or other changes in the terms of the agreement. The city is being assigned a new Type VI fire engine and accessories; therefore, a new agreement needs to be executed.
Vehicle Description: 2020 Ford (HME) Type VI Fire Engine
Vehicle Designation: 5061
Value of Vehicle: $215,599
Value of Hose and Appliances: $ 41,826
Total Value of Engine & Accessories: $257,425
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Accepting this Type VI fire engine creates a positive fiscal impact to the city.
At no cost to the city, the fire department is being provided with a new Type VI engine valued at $215,599 and its hose and appliances valued at $41,826, which may be placed into service when the need arises. The City’s maintenance costs of this fire apparatus are minimal when compared to the benefit derived from having an additional fire engine available to locally. Repairs with a cost of ≤ $100 are the responsibility of the City and any repairs exceeding $100 are the responsibility of the state. Any maintenance costs for the engine may be absorbed through the applicable fiscal year’s budget.
As mentioned earlier, the City is reimbursed for the cost of personnel responding to state emergencies in addition to being reimbursed for a City administrative fee of 22.52% for fiscal year 2021/2022.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Agreement for Temporary Transfer of Vehicular Equipment.
2. Certificate of Insurance