CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT

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1 CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT TO: FROM: BY: Mayor and City Commission Ambreen Bhatty, City Manager Rudy Neumann, Fire Chief Susanna Laurenti, Grants Administrator DATE: June 26, 2012 SUBJECT: FY 2012 Assistance to Firefighter Grant The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security, has opened the Fiscal Year 2012 Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The grant provides funds to urban, suburban and rural Fire Departments to meet a wide variety of departmental needs. This year, some items have been deemed high priority by FEMA, and are therefore more likely to be funded. We come before you tonight requesting approval to submit a grant application in the amount of $128,406 to pay for equipment and training programs found on FEMA s high priority list. This will pay for 90% of the total program cost, which is $142,673 ($132,220 for equipment and $10,453 for training). The City will be required to supply the remaining 10% of costs, totaling $14,267. Some of these purchases (totaling $75,000) were already approved by the Commission on August 23, 2011 when we last came before you regarding the Assistance to Firefighters Grant. Our 2011 application was deemed competitive by FEMA officials but did not get funded due to the grant program running out of money. We were advised to apply for the same items again this year, which we have done, while also adding some other needed pieces of equipment. In last year s application, the department requested SCBA communication devices that would enhance radio transmissions on the fire scene. The department also requested additional funds for officer training. (detailed in Resolution number ) For this year s AFG application the department is also requesting two hydraulic patient-loading devices. These devices are designed to automatically lift stretchers into an ambulance without assistance from EMS personnel, thus preventing back strain and other injuries that occur when manually lifting patients. The Fire Department uses Thermal Imaging Cameras to locate potential victims during structure fires. Our cameras are over ten years old and are in need of replacement. During the last ten years there has been more updated software that has been introduced that enhance operations on the fire ground. The total grant request comes to $128,406 - $67,500 for the previously requested items and $60,906 for new equipment. Again, these funds will cover 90% of the total program costs with the City paying the remaining 10% ($14,267). These funds would come from the Fire

2 Department s training budget (budget code ) and fire equipment (budget code ). RECOMMENDATION The City Administration recommends Commission s approval to submit the Assistance to Firefighter grant application in an amount not to exceed $128,406 to fund training classes and new equipment. If the grant is awarded, the City will be required to provide $14,267 which is equal to 10% of the total project cost.

3 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE ALL STEPS NECESSARY TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR A FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $128,406 TO PROVIDE 90% OF NEEDED FUNDING FOR TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CITY WILL SUPPLY THE REMAINING 10% OF COSTS ($14,267); BRINGING THE TOTAL PROJECT COST TO $142,673 PROVIDING FOR FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS WITH REGARD TO THE BENEFITS TO BE DERIVED BY ACCEPTING SUCH GRANT FUNDS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City of North Lauderdale strives to provide extemporary emergency response services to all citizens through its Fire Rescue Department; and WHEREAS, Department officials have identified unmet training needs and have established that improved SCBA communication devices and new thermal imaging cameras are necessary to facilitate optimal performance in the event of a fire, and automatic stretcher lifting devices will enable the City s Firefighter Paramedics to safely move all patients; and WHEREAS, these needs have been deemed high priority by FEMA for the purposes of the FY 2012 Assistance to Firefighters Grant; and WHEREAS, the Department is prepared to submit a grant application in an amount not to exceed $128,406 which will cover 90% of the necessary training and equipment costs; and WHEREAS, the City Commission recognizes the City s obligation to provide matching funds in the amount of $14,267, if the grant is funded; and 1

4 WHEREAS, funds in this amount are available from the Fire Department s Training and Equipment Budget; and WHEREAS, the City Commission finds that the receipt of and Assistance to Firefighters Grant will be in the best interest of the health, safety and welfare of the citizens and residents of the City of North Lauderdale. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Commission of the City of North Lauderdale, Florida, that: Section 1. The foregoing Whereas clauses are hereby ratified and confirmed as being true and correct and are hereby made a specific part of this Resolution upon adoption hereof. Section 2. That the City Manager be and the same is hereby authorized and directed to apply to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a grant to provide funding in the amount of $128,406 in order to provide training, improved SCBA communication devices, thermal imaging cameras and automatic stretcher lifting devices. Section 3. That the CITY COMMISSION recognizes that in the event the grant is awarded, the City will be obligated to provide in-kind matching funds in the amount of $14,267. Section 4. That the CITY COMMISSION finds and determines that it is in the best interest of the citizens and residents of the City of North Lauderdale, Florida, to accept said grant funds. Section 5. The proper officers of City of North Lauderdale be, and each of them hereby is, authorized and directed to execute and deliver any and all papers, 2

5 instruments, opinions, certificates, affidavits and other documents and to do or cause to be done any and all other acts and things necessary or proper for carrying out this resolution. Section 6. All resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict. Section 7. If any clause, section, other part or application of this Resolution is held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or invalid, in part or application, it shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions or applications of this Resolution. Section 8. That this resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the CITY COMMISSION of the City of North Lauderdale, Florida this 26th day of June, APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM: CITY ATTORNEY SAMUEL S. GOREN MAYOR JACK BRADY VICE MAYOR DAVID G. HILTON ATTEST: PATRICIA VANCHERI, CITY CLERK 3