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)
Body
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 defensible space. It may also include non-traditional methods such as the use of goat herds to remove grass fuel beds or the placement of fire-resistant walls or fields to generate defensible space.
Fire Department staff attended a pre-applicant webinar presented by FEMA. The Fire Department will seek letters of support from U.S. Representatives Pete Aguilar (CA-31) and Norma Torres (CA-35).
The AFG program requires a five (5) percent local match which may be allowed as an in-kind match depending upon the approval of the application. The local match amount would be a maximum of $20,000. If awarded and accepted, this amount will be designated as an expenditure in the fiscal year 2020/2021 Fire Department budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This report 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 a 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
Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business. This action is also consistent with the following policy:
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
This action has no impact on the operating budget.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
This action has no impact on the current capital improvement budget. The Fire Department will identify funds for the local match in the City’s 2020/2021 fiscal year budget.
Licensing
No licensing fees are required as part of this action.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council 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.