City of Gonzales
FIRE DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: September 16, 2024
FROM: Jason Muscio, Fire Chief
THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Office of Traffic Safety Grant Acceptance for New E-Draulic Vehicle Extrication Equipment
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council authorize the City Manager to accept the California Office of Traffic Safety Grant EM25022 in the amount of $42,933 for the purchase of new E-draulic vehicle extrication equipment and make the necessary adjustments to the Fire Department budget line 100-30-6210 special department expenses to reflect the available funds.
BACKGROUND
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) provides grant funding for municipalities to enhance highway safety programs to reduce the amount of traffic accident-related injuries and deaths on California roadways. One specific area of funding available is for the purchase of vehicle extrication equipment for the Fire/EMS services. Our Fire Department began carrying hydraulic extrication equipment in the late 1980s as part of our standard equipment complement for vehicle accidents. Our Fire Department last purchased extrication equipment in 2008, this equipment was some of the best available at the time but still required the use of an external gasoline powered engine as a power source. Over the next decade advances in rechargeable battery technology made battery powered or E-draulic extrication equipment practical and powerful enough for everyday use. An additional benefit of E-draulic equipment is the need for a gasoline powered power source is eliminated, thus making the equipment faster to deploy when needed and saving space in our already overloaded engine compartments. All of our neighboring departments and mutual aid partners currently carry E-draulic equipment for frontline use. Following the City Manager’s directive to seek grant funding for updated equipment whenever possible, a grant application was submitted to the Office of Traffic Safety for the purchase of E-draulic extrication equipment and the application was approved.
AGENDA
ITEM
18 REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
Staff believes this grant provides the best opportunity to equip our Firefighters with state-of-the-art lifesaving extrication equipment.
Explain Recommendation and How it Supports the Vision
Gonzales will continue to be a safe, clean, family-friendly community, diverse in its heritage, and committed to working collaboratively to preserve and retain its small town charm.
Explain: This grant supports the vision by providing extrication equipment that can be rapidly deployed at accident scenes, saving precious time for critically injured patients. This equipment will also benefit our automatic aid partner departments CTF/SVSP Fire and Monterey County Regional Fire who together with or Fire Department respond to 11 miles of Highway 101 and hundreds of miles of County Roads and City Streets within our operational area.
Explain how the Recommendation Directly Implements the Mission The City Council and Staff of the City of Gonzales will realize our Vision by providing the leadership, commitment, and resources necessary to provide excellent services that enhance the quality of life of our diverse community.
Explain: Fire Department leadership applied for this grant to provide equipment that will increase our Fire Department’s capabilities, and provide better outcomes for our patients.
Strong fiscal policies allow us to provide appropriate infrastructure for:
• Public Safety X Yes ___ No NA
• Housing Yes ___ No X NA
• Recreation Yes ___ No X NA
• Environment Yes ___ No X NA
• Education Yes ___ No X NA
Explain: Gonzales Fire Department strives to supplement the budget whenever possible with grants to provide the best service in a cost effective manner to support the City’s vision of a safer community.
ALTERNATIVES
1. The City could choose not to accept the grant and not purchase new extrication equipment. Staff recommends against this option as the new equipment is vital to improving service and patient outcomes.
BUDGET IMPACT
The grant provides $42,933 leaving a balance of $2,284.77 which the City will cover. This excess will be paid from 100-310-6210 special department expenses. There may also be a small cost of $100 or less to secure junk vehicles for training.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends the City Council authorize the City Manager to accept the California Office of Traffic Safety Grant EM25022 in the amount of $42,933 for the purchase of new E-draulic vehicle extrication equipment and make the necessary adjustments to the Fire Department budget line 100-30-6210 special department expenses to reflect the available funds.
Attachments:
1. EM25022 Draft Grant Agreement - Second