DATE: September 15, 2026
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Amendment to the Agreement with Sharp Performance to Extend the Term for Four Additional Years and Increase the Maximum Compensation Amount from $65,000 for a One-Year Term to $325,000 for a Five -Year Term to Provide Digital Mental Health Support Services for the Hayward Fire Department
RECOMMENDATION
That Council approves a resolution (Attachment II) authorizing the City Manager to execute an amendment to the agreement with Sharp Performance to extend the term for four additional years and increase the maximum compensation amount from $65,000 for a one-year term to $325,000 for a five-year term to provide digital mental health support services for the Hayward Fire Department.
SUMMARY
The Hayward Fire Department entered into an initial agreement with Sharp Performance in fiscal year 2026 to provide mental health support services via an app-based system that is available to all sworn members of the department. Mental health support is a crucial element in the well -rounded health of the fire service community, and Sharp Performance has been positively reviewed by the frontline staff during the first year of implementation. Services available to the department include mental performance coaching, self-paced training modules, personalized onboarding, utilization reports, tech support, and a resource directory for additional services as needed.
BACKGROUND & DISCUSSION
Sharp Performance, based Carlsbad, California, is an organization founded and run by US Special Operations veterans, sports psychologists, and performance experts, providing well rounded and relevant experiences that are highly intuitive to the needs of first responders. All sworn staff members have access to their app -based platform that provides a wide array of mental health services that can be adapted to recovery, growth, and stress management.
Firefighters must remain ready to respond to unpredictable and high-consequence incidents.
Over a career, shift work, interrupted sleep, repeated trauma exposure, and sustained vigilance
can create cumulative physical and psychological stress. These demands may contribute to fatigue, disrupted recovery, and difficulty transitioning from a heightened state of alertness.
Behavioral health, peer support, and wellness resources can help streng then resilience, recovery, and long-term operational readiness.
The Hayward Fire Department includes mental health support as part of the total health approach to supporting firefighters. In addition to cancer and physical health screenings, it has proven extremely valuable to provide mental health support as well, ensuring that the staff is both physically and mentally supported throughout their careers. The Sharp Performance app provides not only clinical support but also training modules to provide tools for frontline personnel to learn breathing techniques that assist with managing energy, stress reset, and relaxation. These are practical tools that can be implemented throughout daily operations to ensure that personnel can self-regulate during high -stress environments associated with emergency response work.
STRATEGIC ROADMAP
This initiative Strengthens Organizational Health by supporting workforce wellness and resilience, which improves operational readiness and, in turn, Enhances Community Safety.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this agreement is included in the Fire Department’s adopted operating budget.
Funding for future years will be incorporated into future year’s budget.
PUBLIC CONTACT
No public contact is needed for this item.
NEXT STEPS
If Council adopts the resolution, the City Manager will execute an amendment to the agreement with Sharp Performance to continue the mental health support services app for the Hayward Fire Department extending the term for four additional years and increasing the maximum , compensation from $65,000 for a one-year term to $325,000 for a five-year term.
Prepared by: Lauren Dekas, Management Analyst
Recommended by: Ryan Hamre, Fire Chief
Approved by:
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Jennifer Ott, City Manager