DATE:
May 14, 2024
CATEGORY:
Consent
DEPT.:
Fire
TITLE: Increase Appropriations in the Fire
Department for Reimbursement of
Mutual-Aid Support
RECOMMENDATION
Increase appropriations in the Fire Department in the amount of $130,266 .27 received as Strike Team reimbursements for overtime associated with the Smith River Complex Fire. (Five votes required)
BACKGROUND
The City of Mountain View Fire Department (MVFD) participates in the State of California Mutual- Aid System and deploys staff to assist with wildland fires and other emergency incidents . The California Fire Assistance Agreement (CFAA) with the State of California’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) requires that fire agencies be reimbursed for time and resources expended in the support of California fires requiring mutual- aid fire suppres sion services. The funds requested reimburse the City for overtime costs , administrative costs, travel expense fees, and vehicle - related expenses associated with strike team deployments in accordance with FEMA’s Code of Federal Regulations.
ANALYSIS
Table 1 shows the reimbursement funds received from costs associated with MVFD’s deployment to the Smith River Complex Fire.
Table 1: Smith River Complex Fire
Dates Fire/
Incident Total Amount MVFD
Personnel
Vehicle
Fees/Fleet
Travel
Expense
Fees
Admin. and
Misc.
Fees
Status
August 20, 2023
to
September 3,
2023
Smith River
Complex
$176,982.36 $130,266.27 $0.00 $0.00 $46,716.09 Reimbursement received
Increase Appropriations in the Fire Department for Reimbursement of Mutual -Aid Support May 14, 2024
FISCAL IMPACT
Strike Team Reimbursement
The City will be reimbursed a total of $176,982.36 by the California OES related to fire suppression efforts during the Smith River Complex Fire. The reimbursement of $46,716.09 for administrative and other miscellaneous expenses is revenue to cover the City’s fixed costs already included in the Operating Budget. The remaining reimbursement of $130,266.27 is for direct personnel costs related to mutual-aid support, which was not budgeted in Fiscal Year 2023 -24. Therefore, staff requests the approval to appropriate $130,266.27 associated with Fire personnel hours to cover the additional expenses incurred due to the Smith River Complex Fire mutual-aid support.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Decline the increase in appropriations for the reimbursement of Mountain View Fire Department personnel hours and allow the personnel cost to exceed the budgeted amount.
2. Provide other direction.
PUBLIC NOTICING—Agenda posting.
Prepared by:
Amanda Slovick
Senior Management Analyst
Approved by:
Juan F. Diaz
Fire Chief
Audrey Seymour Ramberg
Assistant City Manager
AS/8/CAM
141-05-14-24CR
204132