City Council
February 1, 2022
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Edward D. Reiskin FROM: Reginald Freeman
City Administrator Fire Chief
SUBJECT: FY 2020 Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA)
Assistance to Firefighters Grant
DATE: January 3, 2022
City Administrator Approval Date: Jan 20, 2022
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Administrator To:
1) Enter Into An Agreement With The U.S. Department Of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) To Accept The Fiscal Year 2020 Assistance To Firefighters Grant (AFG) Funds In The Amount Of One Hundred Seventy-Nine Thousand Five Hundred And Eighty-Four Dollars And Seventy-Three Cents ($179,584.73) For The Project Period Starting June 4, 2021 And Ending June 3, 2023; And
2) Appropriate And Administer Said Funds For The Fire Department to Receive Specialized Training in Hazardous Materials Response, Technical Rescue / Heavy Rescue, and Water Rescue; And
3) Expend Assistance To Firefighter Funds In Accordance With The City’s Purchasing Requirements And Programs/Policies; And
4) Allocating Matching Funds In The Amount Of Seventeen Thousand Nine Hundred Fifty- Eight Dollars And Forty-Seven Cents ($17,958.47); And
5) Authorizing A General Purpose Fund Contribution At A Rate Of 13.34% To Cover Disallowed Central Service Overhead (CSO) Charges Estimated At Fifteen Thousand Eight Hundred And Eighty One Dollars ($15,881).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) are a tremendous asset to the Oakland Fire Department. These grants provide direct financial assistance to obtain critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards, enhance operations the Department’s efficiencies, and support community resilience.
In 2021, the Oakland Fire Department (OFD) applied for and was awarded an AFG grant in the amount of) one hundred seventy-nine thousand five hundred and eighty-four dollars and
Edward D. Reiskin, City Administrator
Subject: FY 2020 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant
Date: January 3, 2022 Page 2
City Council
February 1, 2022
seventy three cents ($179,584.73). The grant is intended to provide specialized training for the project period starting June 4, 2021, and ending June 3, 2023. Due to a large volume of ongoing projects, the Fire Department was delayed in bringing this item to the City Council.
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Since 2001, FEMA’s AFG program has helped firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
By accepting and administering these FEMA funds, OFD will be able to provide specialized training for the project period starting June 4, 2021, and ending June 3, 2023.
The specialized training requested through this grant will benefit the OFD Special Operations Teams providing Hazardous Materials Response, Technical Rescue / Heavy Rescue, and Water Rescue. The courses that will be provided using this grant are:
• Hazardous Materials Technician A – D (four one-week courses) • Rescue Specialist 1 – 3 (three one-week courses)
• Rope Rescue Technician
• River and Flood Rescue Technician
• River and Flood Rescue Technician Boat Operator
Ensuring that the Fire Department has the tools and training necessary to conduct these specialized operations when called upon is in strategic alignment with Citywide priorities to advance holistic community safety and promote and preserve vibrant sustainable infrastructure.
FISCAL IMPACT
As a condition of this grant, the City of Oakland is required to contribute non-Federal funds equal to or greater than 10.00 percent of the Federal funds awarded, or $17,958.47 for a total approved budget of $179,584.73. Matching funds shall be drawn from the Department’s current General Funds (Fund 1010).
SOURCES OF FUNDING:
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Firefighters Grant - $179,584.73
• City of Oakland 10% match: $17,958.47
PERFORMANCE PERIOD: June 4, 2021, to June 3, 2023.
Edward D. Reiskin, City Administrator
Subject: FY 2020 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant
Date: January 3, 2022 Page 3
City Council
February 1, 2022
The personnel costs associated with this grant will be met through the City of Oakland required 10% match.
This report authorizes the use of a General Purpose Fund contribution at a department central service overhead rate of 13.34% estimated at fifteen thousand eight hundred and eighty one dollars ($15,881) to cover the City’s Central Service Overhead (CSO) charges for disallowed personnel costs associated with the grant.
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
No outreach was deemed necessary for the proposed policy action beyond the standard City Council agenda noticing procedures.
COORDINATION
The Office of the City Attorney and the Budget Bureau were consulted in the preparation of this report.
SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES
Economic: Acceptance of this federal grant to support specialized training will provide relief to the City’s general fund.
Environmental: There are no environmental opportunities or direct impacts associated with this report.
Race and Equity: Acceptance of this grant supports Oakland firefighters in their daily mission to protect lives, particularly our most vulnerable populations, and property throughout the city by ensuring access to this critical specialized training for first responders.
Edward D. Reiskin, City Administrator
Subject: FY 2020 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant
Date: January 3, 2022 Page 4
City Council
February 1, 2022
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Administrator To:
1) Enter Into An Agreement With The U.S. Department Of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) To Accept The Fiscal Year 2020 Assistance To Firefighters Grant (AFG) Funds In The Amount Of One Hundred Seventy-Nine Thousand Five Hundred And Eighty-Four Dollars And Seventy-Three Cents ($179,584.73) For The Project Period Starting June 4, 2021 And Ending June 3, 2023;
2) Appropriate And Administer Said Funds For The Fire Department to Receive Specialized Training in Hazardous Materials Response, Technical Rescue / Heavy Rescue, and Water Rescue;
3) Expend Assistance To Firefighter Funds In Accordance With The City’s Purchasing Requirements And Programs/Policies;
4) Allocating Matching Funds In The Amount Of Seventeen Thousand Nine Hundred Fifty-Eight Dollars And Forty-Seven Cents ($17,958.47);
5) Authorizing A General Purpose Fund Contribution At A Rate Of 13.34% To Cover Disallowed Central Service Overhead (CSO) Charges Estimated At Fifteen Thousand Eight Hundred And Eighty One Dollars ($15,881).
For questions regarding this report, please contact Assistant Chief Robert Lipp, at (510) 238- 2364.
Respectfully submitted,
Reginald D. Freeman
Fire Chief