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Home My WebLink About02/07/2017 15 SAFER Grant Application (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response)BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDASTATEMENT Item No. 15. For Meeting of: February 7, 2017 ITEM TITLE: Resolution authorizing the Fire Chief to submit an application for a SAFER Grant SUBMITTED BY: Bob Stewart, Fire Chief SUMMARY EXPLANATION: During the 2017 budget process, there was discussion with Council about the Fire Department applying for the SAFER Grant. Staff reported that, at the time the budget was adopted, the guidelines for the next round of SAFER funds had not been published. Previously SAFER funds covered 100% of a firefighter's salary for a two or three year period. The new requirement is for the jurisdiction receiving funds to cover 25% of the salaries for the first two years, 65% in year three and thereafter at 100%. As we continue to study staffing capacity in the Fire Department, we wanted to be sure Council was aware of this option as grant funds could be a helpful infusion to the department's budget. With this item, we are respectfully requesting that Council approve a resolution allowing staff to apply for the grant. If successful, we would again come before Council seeking approval to accept funds. ITEM BUDGETED: STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Public Safety APPROVED FORV*�� SUBMITTAL: '-City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: Forward to the City Council for authorization to apply for the SAFER grant ATTACHMENTS: Description Resolution for SAFER grant Applicaton Authorization Me rno to Public Safety Committee on SAFER Grant Upload Date 2122017 1130/2017 Type Resolution RESOLUTION NO. R -2017- A RESOLUTION authorizing the Fire Chief to execute all necessary documents to complete and submit an application for a "Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response" (SAFER) grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) WHEREAS, the City of Yakima recognizes that emergency response personnel are important to all residents and businesses of the community; and, WHEREAS, the City of Yakima is exploring alternate funding methods in order to hire 3 additional firefighters to maintain adequate staffing levels; and, WHEREAS, FEMA awards grant funds to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help increase or maintain the number of trained, "front line" firefighters available in the community; and, WHEREAS, the goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments' ability to comply with staffing, response and operational standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA: That the City Council of the City of Yakima hereby authorizes the Fire Chief to submit a SAFER grant application with FEMA. ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 7th day of February, 2017. ATTEST: Sonya Claar Tee, City Clerk Kathy Coffey, Mayor E DATE: TO: FROM: RE: 401 North Front Street, Yakima, 98901 (509) 575-6060 Fax (509) 576-6356 w.yakimafire.com MEMORANDUM January 17, 2017 Public Safety Committee Bob Stewart, Fire Chief SAFER Grant update The purpose of this memo is to: 1. Provide the Public Safety Committee with an update on the SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant application period. 2. Provide a brief explanation of award changes that have been made for this grant cycle. 3. Propose funding options. 4. Obtain direction on how to proceed. The FY 2016 SAFER grant application period is now open, and will remain open through February 10, 2017. This 3 -year grant cycle differs from previous years in that it includes the requirement for cost sharing. Please recall that previous grant awards funded salary and benefits at 100% for either 2 or 3 years. By comparison, FY 2016 SAFER has a cost share of 25%, 25% and 65% respectively over the 3 -year grant period. The following is an example of the City's monetary contribution for 3 firefighters using current salary and benefits numbers. (Note that these numbers are approximate and future COLA is not factored in) Year 1 $65,000 Year 2 $65,000 Year 3 $162,000 Year 4 and beyond $260,000 (current approximate numbers without future COLA) M 401 North Front Street, Yakima, 98901 (509) 575-6060 Fax (509) 576-6356 w.yakimafire.com Directly associated with our current staffing challenges is the Fire Services Agreement with Union Gap. When this initial 3 -year agreement was drafted, it included funding for 9 personnel, whereas deployment of a 24/7 fire apparatus actually requires 12 personnel. Staff members from Yakima and Union Gap are currently meeting to renegotiate the Fire Services Agreement for 2018 and beyond. Both sides agree that personnel funding must be increased, and it is the goal of these negotiations that Union Gap will contribute additional funding for 1 firefighter per year over the 3 -year period to include 2018, 2019 and 2020. Conceivably, this would provide funding for the City's portion of the SAFER grant — if awarded, without being burdensome to the general fund. Given the change in the FY 2016 SAFER grant, staff is requesting guidance from the Public Safety Committee on how to proceed.