Report Prepared by: Derek Parker, Fire Chief, Fire Department
Title
SUBJECT: Approval to Accept and Appropriate Grant Funds from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fiscal Year 2022 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant in the Amount of $8,903,616
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers approving to accept and appropriate Grant Funds from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fiscal Year 2022 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant in the Amount of $8,903,616.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Accepting $8,903,616 from SAFER Grant for Fire Department personnel and fringe benefits; and,
B. Appropriating $2,763,888 in Fiscal Year 2023-24 for personnel and fringe benefits in Fund 1000-General Fund-Fire, project GR240017 for the first year of the grant; and,
C. Increasing the revenue budget in Fiscal Year 2023-24 for $2,763,888 in Fund 1000-General Fund-Fire, project GR240017 for the first year of the grant; and,
D. Authorizing the Finance Officer make the necessary budget adjustments; and,
E. Authorizing the City Manager or Deputy City Manager to execute all necessary documents, including any amendments; and,
F. Authorizing the use of pooled cash until grant funds are reimbursed.
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 SAFER 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
Grant Background
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency response (SAFER) Grant Program is one of three grant programs that constitute the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Preparedness grants. The purpose of the SAFER Grant Program is to provide funding directly to the fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to assist in increasing the number of firefighters to help communities meet industry minimum standards and attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards, and to fulfill traditional missions of the fire department. FEMA has determined that the City of Merced project was consistent with the SAFER Grant Program’s purpose and worthy of award.
The SAFER grant is highly competitive, and the City of Merced has been awarded in the first round of funding. This demonstrates the need for support to ensure the safe operations for firefighters and citizens within our community. FEMA has awarded the City of Merced $8,903,616 over a three-year period to support the addition of 24 new firefighters to the Merced Fire Department (MFD). The fire department will have staffing to support a new rescue squad with two (2) persons on each shift and add an additional firefighter to each fire engine. The SAFER grant will increase the number of firefighters on the scene of a fire to 22 which is more in line with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards 1710 and 1720.
MFD currently employs 63 sworn safety positions serving the populous. The local firefighter per capita rate of 0.71 members per 1,000 residents is one of the lowest in the State of California and country for comparable cities. For comparison, the state average per capita rate is 0.82 firefighters per 1,000 residents. The increasing population and demand for services requires the MFD to continue to provide excellent service for all-risk incidents.
MFD is dedicated to protecting lives, property, and the environment, as indicated by our mission statement. The limiting factor at many of the structure fires which the fire department responds to is personnel. The increase in personnel will bring safety to the forefront and allow for buildings to be rapidly searched as well as provide advanced life support (ALS) personnel to the scene of the emergency under the auspices of the fire department. ALS personnel on scene remove the need to request valuable ambulances which respond to the community’s medical emergencies.
MFD has been awarded a SAFER grant before. In 2006 the City of Merced accepted an award for $900,000 as part of a cost share agreement with FEMA. The grant was spread over five years and had a significant match through the grant cycle. The current award is for 100% of salary and benefit for three years. The administrative report request increase revenue and appropriation of $2,763,888 to cover the estimated costs of the first year per the table below. Grant funding estimated for year two and three will be included in the budget process for future years.
Grant Award Details
|
Object Class |
First Year |
Second Year |
Third Year |
Total |
|
Personnel |
$1,528,704.00 |
$1,701,504.00 |
$1,786,752.00 |
$5,016,960.00 |
|
Fringe Benefits |
$1,235,183.04 |
$1,314,262.08 |
$1,337,210.88 |
$3,886,656.00 |
|
Federal |
$2,763,887.04 |
$3,015,766.08 |
$3,123,962.88 |
$8,903,616.00 |
|
Match |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
|
Total |
$2,763,887.04 |
$3,015,766.08 |
$3,123,962.88 |
$8,903,616.00 |
MFD will begin a high-profile effort to increase local recruitment as well as increase diversity within the fire department. We desire to have local residents, local members of the community, and local influence be part of this agency moving forward. In 2021, MFD reviewed and identified barriers preventing local candidate from achieving their goals of employment as a firefighter with the MFD. MFD made the change to the minimum standards to be able to reach and mirror our community. 8 personnel will be added to each of the three (3) duty shifts after the completion of a fire academy.
Twelve personnel were calculated to be hired as Firefighter/Paramedic personnel to support the department’s direction to staff a fully ALS first response organization.
The mission of the MFD is, “We, the members of the City of Merced Fire Department, will prevent, prepare for, and mitigate emergencies to protect the citizens of the City of Merced through exceptional service and visionary leadership.” The grant award allows Merced Fire Department to hire 24 firefighters and firefighter/paramedics. 24 firefighters and firefighter/paramedics will be trained and ready to staff the new Fire Station 56, which will serve the Bellevue Ranch neighborhood. To open Fire Station 56 it will take 21 personnel to staff the new station which will house a new fire engine and fire truck. MFD is preparing to protect the citizens of the City of Merced for many years to come.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
The SAFER grant reimburses for salary and fringe benefit costs. The SAFER grant does not reimburse for new personal protective equipment (PPE) or overtime. The City estimates PPE to cost $4,000 per firefighter. In FY 23/24, the Fire Department will cover the additional costs with their operating budget. Future year grant revenue and expenses as well as non-covered costs will be included as part of the budget process.
The use of pooled cash will be required to cover the initial outlays of the grant until the grant funds are reimbursed.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Grant Award Letter - EMW-2022-FF-01425
2. FEMA Notice of Funding Opportunity - FY 22 SAFER