Item #07
Date: February 1, 2022
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ron Karlen, Fire Chief
Jim Schaad, City Manager
Subject: CALFIRE Fire Prevention Grant
Recommendation:
Pass a Motion to approve Resolution 2022-XX authorizing the City Manager, to submit and accept the CALFIRE Fire Prevention Grant for the purchase of vegetation management equipment in the amount of $179,000.
Rationale for Recommendation:
The Fire Department has a need to purchase vegetation management equipment. The Fire Department has taken on the task of reducing vegetation in and around the City to prevent the threat that wildland fires present.
The CALFIRE Fire Prevention Grant is 100% funded with no required match by the City of Marysville. The goal of the grant is to help communities become more fire resilient by reducing vegetation in areas where structures can be damaged, and lives lost. Last year the Department suffered a significant fire in the Hollywood Trailer Park area where property was destroyed, and lives were threatened. This equipment will assist in removing and maintaining vegetation in our open space areas. Heavy equipment is more efficient, productive, and safer than removing vegetation with hand tools.
Background:
The Marysville Fire Department has utilized vendors to conduct mastication of vegetation in open space areas including Hollywood Trailer Park, Sand Plant, City Cemetery and Thorn Tree over the past year.
There is a great deal more to do with vegetation management and it would be advantageous for the City to own equipment that could complete the work along with ongoing maintenance. The proposal will include a gooseneck trailer, a skid steer tractor and several implements to attach to the skid steer tractor.
Further details will be provided to Council at the dais.
Alignment with City Council Goal(s):
The proposed code amendments facilitate achieving City Council Goal #1, Increase Fiscal Sustainability and Goal #4, Enhance Public Safety.
Fiscal Analysis:
There is no fiscal impact to the Fire Department budget as there are no matching funds to this grant proposal.
Attachment:
1) Resolution 2022-XX