CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT TO: FROM: BY: Mayor and City Commission Ambreen Bhatty, City Manager Rodney Turpel, Fire Chief Dave Sweet, Deputy Chief DATE: December 10, 2013 SUBJECT: FY 2013 Assistance to Firefighter Grant The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security, has opened the Fiscal Year 2013 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 once again 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 $263,773 to pay for fitness equipment and personal protective gear found on FEMA s high priority list. The total project cost is $293, 081. The grant will pay for 90%, or $263,773, and the City s responsibility will be 10%, or $29,308. A majority of the current grant request is devoted to replacing the masks and air packs that are critical components of the Department s self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) system. This equipment is issued to each firefighter individually and allows personnel to breath safely when fighting a fire. Because this equipment is so critical, it must be maintained to the highest standard. The Department s current SCBA equipment is due to expire in 2014 and no funds are available to replace it. As a result, the Department is seeking Commission approval to request $148,532 in FEMA funds for the purchase of new SCBA face-pieces and air packs for every firefighter. In addition, Department officials plan to request $12,925 to purchase 47 new fire helmets and $37,568 to buy a state-of-the-art air compressor system, which is used to fill firefighters air packs. Both of these purchases will replace obsolete, aging equipment. Another $72,749 of the grant request will cover the cost of new fitness equipment for both stations. This is part of an overall effort to create a full-scale wellness and fitness program that will include training two officers as Peer Fitness Trainers and offering a non-denominational Chaplain Service that will focus on Critical Incident Stress Management Techniques. The total staff cost of the wellness initiative is estimated to be $11,919, which will include overtime and training costs for both Peer Fitness Trainers, and $2,500 for the part-time services of a Chaplain.
Finally, the staff intends to request $9,568 to carry out minor renovations to the exercise room at Station 34 in order to create a fully functional fitness room. Staff at that station currently does not have adequate space to exercise while on duty, so we propose remedy the situation by removing several walls between the fitness room and some unused office space. This renovation would be relatively easy to carry out, and would not change the building s overall footprint. Funds for permitting, plans, demolition and materials have been included in the current grant request. The total grant request comes to $263,773. The total project cost is $293, 081. The grant will pay for 90%, or $263,773, and the City s responsibility will be 10%, or $29,308. RECOMMENDATION The Administration recommends Commission s consideration and approval of the Assistance to Firefighter grant application in an amount not to exceed $263,773 to fund the purchase of personal protective gear and fitness equipment, and facilitate the creation of a comprehensive wellness program for firefighters. The total project cost is $293, 081. The grant will pay for 90%, or $263,773, and the City s responsibility will be 10%, or $29,308.
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 $263,773 TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE GEAR AND FITNESS EQUIPMENT, AND FACILITATE THE CREATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE WELLNESS PROGRAM FOR FIREFIGHTERS; 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 outstanding needs in terms of replacing obsolete personal protective equipment and providing a comprehensive wellness program for firefighters; and WHEREAS, these needs have been deemed high priority by FEMA for the purposes of the FY 2013 Assistance to Firefighters Grant; and WHEREAS, the Department is prepared to submit a grant application in an amount not to exceed $263,773, which will cover 90% of the necessary costs; and WHEREAS, the City Commission recognizes the City s obligation to provide matching funds in the amount of $29,308 if the grant is funded; and WHEREAS, funds in this amount are available from the Fire Department s budget; and 1
WHEREAS, the City Commission finds that the receipt of an 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 $263,773 in order to fund the purchase of personal protective gear and fitness equipment, and facilitate the creation of a comprehensive wellness program for firefighters. 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 $29,308. 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, instruments, opinions, certificates, affidavits and other documents and to do or cause to 2
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 10th day of December, 2013. APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM: CITY ATTORNEY SAMUEL S. GOREN MAYOR JACK BRADY VICE MAYOR RICH MOYLE ATTEST: PATRICIA VANCHERI, CITY CLERK 3