For City Council Meeting [May 12, 2020]
TO: Honorable City Council
APPROVAL: Rod Foster, City Manager
FROM: Sean Grayson, Fire Chief
Title
Request City Council to Authorize the Submission of a Grant Application in an Amount Not-To-Exceed $400,000 with a Local Match Not-To-Exceed $20,000 to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fire Prevention & Safety Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program FY2019 Cycle.
(ACTION)
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BACKGROUND
On April 20, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Fiscal Year 2019 Fire Prevention & Safety (FP&S) Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) program. The due date for submission is May 29, 2020. The grant submission will be for more than $15,000 and includes a required local match, as such City Council authorization is sought to submit an application for the AFG Program.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
The purpose of FP&S AFG program is to improve firefighter safety, health, or wellness through research and development that reduces firefighter fatalities and injuries. This is accomplished through the funding of projects with qualified applicants in the areas of Fire Prevention and Safety Activities and Firefighter Safety Research and Development Activities. The City's Fire Department is a qualified applicant.
The Fire Department intends to submit an application to fund a Wildfire Risk Reduction project. Specifically, this project would provide for fuels reduction and wildfire risk mitigation in high-risk areas and those with a history of wildfire ignition and spread in the City. Removing fuel beds and creating defensible space between areas of vegetation and structures can greatly reduce the threat of wildfire in the community and help the fire department contain any fires that do start. This may include traditional methods such as mechanical removal of fuel and controlled fires to provide defe...
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