Report Prepared by: Janet German, Management Analyst, Fire Department
Title
SUBJECT: Acceptance of $7,448.04 in Fiscal Year 2018 State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) Funds and Authorization to Purchase and Install Two (2) Vehicular Repeaters
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers accepting $7,448.04 in Fiscal Year 2018 SHSGP funds for the purchase and installation of two (2) Vehicular Repeaters as revenue, appropriating supplemental funds, and using pooled cash to cover the appropriation until grant funds are reimbursed.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Accepting Fiscal Year 2018 SHSGP grant funds in the amount of $7,448.04 to account 001-0901-324.02-00-Other State Grants, and;
B. Appropriating $7,448.04 to account 001-0901-522.26-00-Supplies and Services / Other Equipment O & M to purchase and install two (2) vehicular repeaters; and,
C. Authorizing the use of pooled cash to cover the appropriation until grant funds are reimbursed.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve as recommended by staff; or,
2. Deny; or,
3. Refer back to staff; or
4. Continue to a future meeting.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200 - Power
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 in the 2020-21 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
Radio communications serves as one of the most critical roles in determining the outcome of any given emergency incident. Poor radio communications predictably lead to a confused scene which affects critical operations and more importantly, firefighter and public safety.
Due to lack of funding, the fire department has worked with a piecemeal and under-resourced radio communications system with issues such as failed communications because of topography; antenna placement; and too few radio repeaters.
The Fire Department was just notified that its grant application was approved and is being awarded a Fiscal Year 2018 State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) grant through the Merced County Office of Emergency Services (OES) in the amount of $7,448.04. The funds will be used towards the purchase and installation of $7,448.04 of two (2) vehicular repeaters (Attachment 1).
The Fire Department will acquire two (2) vehicle repeaters to increase the coverage of the firefighter’s radios when operating on an emergency incident and thereby improving firefighter and public safety.
Within the parameters and requirements of the grant program, the FY 2018 Office of Emergencies State Homeland Security Grant Programs - Equipment, Planning, Administration, Training and Exercises Agreement and the FY 2018 Grant Assurances Agreement have been previously completed.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
The acquisition of the purchase and installation of the vehicular repeaters will be entirely sub-vented using grant funding. Pooled cash will be utilized to cover the appropriation until grant funds are reimbursed.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Quote - Ten-Four