Fremont City Council Meeting: 12/17/24 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Fire Department
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Grants
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5329) DOC ID: 5329
Updated: 12/12/2024 10:45 AM by Dina Lewis Page 1
ACCEPT AND APPROPRIATE FY 24 BAY AREA UASI GRANT – Accept and Appropriate Fiscal Year 2024 Bay Area Urban Areas Security Initiative Grant for $310,000 to Purchase a Chemical ID Analyzer and Thermal Imaging Cameras.
Contact Persons:
Name: Heather Mozdean Donna Do
Title: Deputy Fire Chief Management Analyst II
Div/Dept: Fire Department Fire Department
Phone: (510) 494-4200 510-494-4200
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: Staff seeks City Council approval to accept a grant in the amount of $310,000 and enter into an agreement with the Fiscal Year 2024 Bay Area Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) to appropriate the funds. The grant award is for the purchase of a Chemical Identification Analyzer ($190,000) and 20 Handheld Thermal Imaging Cameras ($120,000).
BACKGROUND: The City of Fremont Fire Department’s current Thermal Imaging Cameras (TICs) are outdated and beginning to fail due to their age, reducing their effectiveness in emergency situations. The City of Fremont has been using the same TIC model for nearly 20 years, and while these cameras served the City well, advances in technology have significantly improved the capabilities of thermal imagers. Recognizing the need to ensure we are using the best possible equipment; the department initiated an evaluation of available options to replace the aging cameras. In May 2024, the TIC committee conducted a thorough evaluation of several new thermal imagers during a live burn training session at our facility. The goal was to determine if our current model was still the best available or if a newer model could offer superior performance. Key evaluation criteria included screen refresh rate and clarity, ease of use with gloves, and overall fit and comfort for Fremont Fire Department personnel.
Additionally, a significant upgrade to our chemical identification capabilities is long overdue.
One of our machines expired in 2013 and is no longer supported, and both of our current systems—outdated FTIR and Raman devices—are inefficient, often taking up to 45 minutes to identify chemicals. Additionally, these systems lack the credibility needed for court proceedings. To address these issues, the Department conducted a comprehensive evaluation to find suitable replacements and secure the necessary funding to modernize our equipment.
To support these needed upgrades, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) program provides financial assistance to address the unique multi-jurisdictional and multi-discipline needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas. Administered by DHS through its Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) within FEMA, the UASI program has been enhancing regional preparedness since 2003 by helping urban areas build and sustain essential capabilities in support of the National Preparedness Guidelines.
Council Staff Report (ID # 5329) Meeting of December 17, 2024 Updated: 12/12/2024 10:45 AM by Dina Lewis Page 2
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: In October 2023, the Fire Department applied for the Bay Area UASI grant to fund the replacement of 20 Thermal Imaging Cameras (TICs) and the purchase of a new Chemical Identification Analyzer. In July 2024, we were notified of the $310,000 award, which will cover the cost of the TICs ($120,000) and the analyzer ($190,000).
Newer TICs will provide enhanced visual clarity in challenging environments, such as smoke-filled rooms, and enable faster, more informed decision-making during emergencies.
They feature a higher refresh rate, which eliminates the screen freezing issues that have been a challenge with our current cameras. Additionally, new TICs offer superior image clarity and a more comfortable grip, which will improve ease of use, particularly during extended operations. With these improvements, the new cameras will ensure that our firefighters can work more efficiently and effectively in life-saving situations.
Additionally, the new Chemical Identification Analyzer will replace our older, inefficient equipment and provide the HazMat team with the ability to quickly identify over 13,000 chemicals. This upgrade will eliminate the risks involved with transporting hazardous materials, provide court-admissible data, and drastically reduce identification times from 45 minutes to just 1-2 minutes. Fremont Fire also responds to mutual aid calls in Alameda County, and this new handheld system will enhance our ability to respond to chemical and hazardous material incidents, including potential terrorist threats, swiftly and accurately. By replacing our two outdated systems, the new analyzer will align our operations with those of neighboring jurisdictions, improving our overall efficiency and safety.
These enhancements will not only strengthen our Department’s readiness but also benefit our public safety partners and the communities we serve by ensuring a more coordinated and effective response during emergencies.
FISCAL IMPACT: Staff recommends that the City Council recognize and appropriate the Bay Area UASI award in the Federal Operating Grants Fund (Fund 191). There is no matching requirement for this grant.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The action recommended in this report is not a project subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per CEQA Guideline section 15378(b)(2) as it is an administrative and funding activity of government.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
LINKS: None.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Fiscal Year 2024 UASI MOU
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Accept the FY 24 Bay Area Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grant award for $310,000.
2. Appropriate the $310,000 to the Federal Operating Grants Funds (Fund 191).
3. Authorize the City Manager, or her designee, to negotiate and execute all necessary agreements or documents in connection with the grant award.