For City Council Meeting [December 12, 2023]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Henry Garcia, Interim City Manager
FROM: Brian Park, Fire Chief
Title
Request City Council to adopt Resolution No. 8174 and accept Discretionary Funding from the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors in the amount of $150,000 to acquire a specialized medium-duty response vehicle. (ACTION)
Body
BACKGROUND
The vehicles utilized by the Fire Department Chief Officers are specialized and equipped to respond to and provide incident command of fires, large-scale EMS incidents, natural disasters, hazardous materials calls, and rescue incidents. The fire department needs acquiring a new vehicle for this purpose.
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors can provide the full funding for this project through the use of available discretionary funding, at no cost to the city of Rialto.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
It is the policy of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to work with community partners through services provided by San Bernardino County and contractual agreements to identify programs, projects, and initiatives, that support the mission of the County, and to provide services to citizens that promote health, safety, economic well-being, education, recreation, and other public services that enhance quality of life, and meet the needs of the County’s citizens. Under Government Code sections 26224 and 26227 the Board may contract with certain entities to provide certain services to County residents; and,
On September 21, 2021 (Item No. 18), the Board approved the Board of Supervisors Discretionary Fund District Specific Priorities Program and allocated $4 million to each of the five supervisorial districts; and on November 16, 2021 (Item No. 33), the Board approved an additional allocation of $7 million to each of the five supervisorial districts under the Priorities Program.
The County desires to provide funding to acquire a specialized medium-duty truck, including necessary accessories, rescue tools, communication equipment, lights, sirens, and identifying decals, to enhance and support the California Fire Service and Rescue Mutual Aid Plan (Plan). A copy of the contract is attached (Attachment A).
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed action is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has the potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. According to Section 15378(b), a Project does not include: (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
The City of Rialto has outlined key goals and objectives relating to public safety. The purchase of this technology is consistent with meeting these objectives.
5-3.1: Provide for fire personnel, equipment and fire stations to have adequate and appropriate resources to meet the needs and serve all areas of Rialto.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed and supports this staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
There is no impact to the department’s operating budget.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt resolution XXXX;
and approve the agreement with the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors; and accept the $150,000 of discretionary funding; and authorize the City Manager or Designee.