Fiscal Note
This two-year grant, if awarded, would provide funding to pay the full cost of salaries and fringe benefits for 18 additional firefighters to be hired Nov. 5, 2012. The grant would provide a total of $2.61 million over the two-year grant period. The grant would not provide funding for other necessary items (e.g., uniforms, supplies, and recruit class expenses). The City's cost for those items in 2012 is estimated at $123,200; an additional appropriation may be requested later in the year after a review of the financial status of the Fire Department. The ongoing cost for the items not funded by the grant is $36,000 annually.
The 2012 Capital Budget includes funding to design a new Far East Station, and the Capital Improvement Program anticipates construction in 2013. These 18 firefighter positions would be used to staff that new station. In addition, the City would need to fund the incremental cost of upgrading 9 firefighter positions for this station: 5 to Lieutenant and 4 to Apparatus Engineer. These upgrades would be effective when the station opens. The 2013 cost is estimated at $26,600, assuming the station opens in September of 2013. The ongoing incremental cost is estimated at about $93,000 annually.
The attached spreadsheet includes the total estimated costs by budget year for the period Nov. 5, 2012 through Dec. 31, 2015. The net expense to the City for this 38-month period is estimated at $2.06 million ($4.67 million of total expenditures less $2.61 million of grant revenue). The cost for 2015, the first full year with no grant funding, is $1.58 million.
Title
Amending the 2012 Fire Operating Budget and accepting a SAFER Grant (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) if awarded from the U. S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for eighteen (18) firefighter positions.
Body
A SAFER application is pending for eighteen firefighter positions. The SAFER grant application is requesting staffing for the Far East Station (No. 13) planned for construction in 2013. The goal of SAFER is to help local fire departments to comply with staffing, response and operational standards as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.(OSHA). All grant awards are to be made by September 30, 2012.
FEMA needs approval by the City for acceptance of the grant if awarded. The City would have ninety (90) days after award to hire these eighteen (18) employees.The grant performance period would require the Fire Department to start the 18 recruit firefighters in the Fire Academy scheduled for the fall. The Department plans to have a recruit class starting November 5, 2012.
The 2012 Fire operating budget does not include funding for any class. This class size may be larger than 18 SAFER hires to include hiring employees for vacant positions. Any remaining vacant positions would require the Department to conduct a spring of 2013 firefighter recruit class.
The grant covers a two year period. The 2012 Fire Operating Budget impact for acceptance of this grant for the first year assumes a start date of November 5, 2012. The grant would cover the cost of the positions but not recruit class expenses. Attached is a summary of the costs which reflects the two years of grant revenue. The summary also includes the City funding the cost for upgrading of 9 firefighter positions to 4 apparatus engineer and 5 Fire Lieutenant positions in the 2013 Fire Operating budget.
The grant amendment to the 2012 Fire Operating Budget if the grant is awarded is:
EXPENSES
Permanent Salaries (51110) $ 125,525
Benefits (52000) 51,339
TOTAL GROSS EXPENSE $ 176,864
LESS GRANT REVENUE (176.864)
NET EXPENSE $ -0-
If the grant is awarded, the cost of recruit class expenses of $123,200 is not covered and will require a Fire Department Operating Budget amendment.
WHEREAS, the City wishes to increase emergency response capabilities and reduce response time for Fire Department services on the Far East side by adding Station No. 13.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City approve acceptance of the SAFER Grant upon award for eighteen positions for the planned Far East Station No. 13.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the 2012 Fire Operating Budget be amended upon award by up to $176,864 in expenses, offset by revenue of up to $176,864.
BE IT STILL FURTHER RESOLVED, that a Budget amendment appropriating $123,200 may be required to cover the expense for conducting the recruit class.
BE IT STILL FURTHER RESOLVED, the budget will be amended to add eighteen positions of firefighter upon award of the grant.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Mayor, Clerk and other designated officials are authorized to sign any necessary documents.