Fiscal Note
These funds will be accounted for in a segregated fund (SO99). There is no effect on the Expenditure Restraint Program.
Title
Approving the Fire Department to raise funds and contract with TriData Corporation to conduct a fire safety study.
Body
The Fire Department is now able to capture specific data in our Fire reporting system. However, the Department does not have a system for analyzing this data. Some questions that need answers for use in future planning are:
How do we calculate fires that never happen?
How do we calculate lives saved?
In short, how do we calculate the "safety" of our community and the impact we as a Department have on that result ?
TriData Corp. is an Arlington, VA-based management consulting firm best known for studying safety issues. TriData has produced studies for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The City of Madison Fire Department proposes to use TriData expertise to determine whether we are safer, to what degree we are safer, and to quantify that safety in both lives and dollars saved.
Over the past 25 years TriData has produced more landmark research studies than any other company in the United States, if not North America. TriData was established in 1981 to provide credible research and analysis for public safety and government. Company founder Phil Schaenman's previous position was as an associate U.S. fire administrator in charge of the National Fire Data Center and the Fire Technology Program
For the past 15 years the company has authored Fire in the United States for the USFA. Over the years, Fire Chief magazine has relied on TriData's research for the state of the fire and emergency services.
The company has worked with almost every industry that has a product that starts fires, publishing studies on tobacco, candles, electricity, gas, home appliances and products. In analyzing data, the company educates Fire Departments on how to put data together graphically and how to interpret the data.
This project would also measure the success of our existing prevention program as to what is working and what program improvements can be made to benefit the community.
The Department needs approximately $60,000-$70,000 for a contractor to conduct this analysis. TriData is the preferred vendor due to the depth of experience in fire service and emergency management. In analyzing data, the company shows Fire departments how to put it together graphically and how to interpret that information.
The City of Madison Fire Department wishes to pursue funding to contract with TriData Corp. for the purpose of:
Analyzing existing data
Developing a targeted prevention program
Creating a prevention-driven initiative based on the City of Madison's specific fire problems and high risk populations.
Budget for this program will be in Fund SO99 The account number for revenue is SO99-78540 and the expense account number is SO99-54950-consulting services.
WHEREAS, the Fire Department is willing to conduct a fund raising drive for a Fire Safety Study.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council approves a fund raising program for a Fire Safety Study; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council approves TriData as the vendor of choice for contracting for this project; and.
BE IT STILL FURTHER RESOLVED, that upon availability of funding, the Mayor and Clerk are authorized to execute a contract with TriData Corporation to conduct a Fire Safety Study.