STAFF REPORT
FIRE DEPARTMENT
DATE: May 6, 2025
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Danny Alvarez, Fire Chief
BY: Christine Alles, Fire Administrator
SUBJECT: Acceptance of a Donation of Approx imately $35,000 from the Victoria Lea DeWane Living Trust and Appropriation of Funds Towards the Burbank Fire Department’s Paramedic Program
RECOMMENDATION
Accept a monetary donation fr om the Victoria Lea DeWane Li ving Trust in the amount equivalent to two and a half percent (2.5%) of the remaining Trust balance, or approximately $35,000, and appropriate funds towards the Burbank Fire Department’s Paramedic Program; and authorize the City Manager or designee to take any necessary action to effectuate the donation transfer.
BACKGROUND
On August 20, 2024, the legal firm representing the acting Trustee of the Victoria Lea Dewane Trust (Trust) notified the Burbank Fire Department of its status as a beneficiary following the passing of Ms. DeWane in July 2024. The Third Amendm ent to the Trust, dated October 13, 2020, specifies that two and a half percent (2.5%) of the remaining Trust Estate, or approximately $35,000 at the time of publication of this staff report, shall be distributed to the Burbank Fire Department in support of its Paramedic Program.
DISCUSSION
The Burbank Fire Department (Department ) has provided high-quality emergency medical services (EMS) to the community for over fifty years. With a deployment model that consists of three rescue ambulances that operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Department employs firefighter paramedics and assessment paramedics that provide critical Advance Life Support (ALS) treatment and transport for Burbank residents as well as neighboring communities through the Department’s automatic aid agreements.
2 Burbank’s Paramedic Program, which includes training and licensure, medical supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE), and health and wellness programs for agency personnel, is primarily funded through an annual budget allocation for materials, supplies, and services within the Department’s EMS Division.
The Department responds to approximately 11,000 EMS calls per year. This generous donation from the Trust will assist with costs related to suppor ting the provision of high- quality paramedic services to the Burbank community and help ensure the Department continues to be a leading EMS agency in LA County. These funds will be utilized to support paramedic training and licensure, procurement of medical equipment and supplies, personal protective equipment, c ontinued education, and health and wellness services.
Pursuant to Administrative Procedure VI-12, Contribution of Merchandise or Money to City Departments, the Department is seeking City C ouncil acceptance of this donation and authorization to proceed with signing and s ubmitting the attached Letter of Intent (Attachment 1) for the Trust to proceed with the intended distribution.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Approval to accept this donati on has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and as such, is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no immediate fiscal impact to the City for the a cceptance of the donation. As a governmental entity, the City of Burbank may receive tax exempt donations under Internal Revenue Code § 170(c) if the ch aritable gift is used for public purposes. Funds will be appropriated from revenue account 001.FD000.58999.0000 (General Fund, Fire Department, Miscellaneous Revenue) to 001.FD03A.62895.0000 (General Fund, Emergency Medical Services, Miscellaneous Expenses).
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends City Council accept this donation and authorize the City Manager or designee to effectuate the transfer of fund s to the Department to support training, supplies, and other program costs related to t he provision of critical emergency medical services in the City of Burbank.
ATTACHMENT
Attachment 1 – Letter of Intent to Donate