Agenda Item
City Council
Item #: 3.6. 9/26/2023 File #: 23-0608
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THRU: Tom Kisela, City Manager
FROM: Sean deMetropolis, Fire Chief
1. SUBJECT
Appropriation of $180,000 from the Fire Facility Fee Districts Fund (560) into various Capital Improvement Project (CIP) accounts.
2. SUMMARY
The Fire Department is seeking to appropriate funds from the Fire Facility Fee Districts Fund (560 Fund) for Turnout Equipment and Replacement, Fire Station Maintenance, ePCR Replacement, Wellness Equipment Replacement, and SCBA Retrofit and Replacement programs.
3. RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Authorize the total appropriation of $180,000 from the Fire Facility Fees Fund (560) unreserved fund balance into the following CIP expenditure accounts as specified in Section 6 of the staff report:
a. $90,000 for Turnout Equipment and Replacement (20124) b. $50,000 for Fire Station Maintenance (20334)
c. $19,000 for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Electronic Patient Care Report (ePCR) Replacement Program (20171)
d. $16,000 for Wellness Equipment Replacement (30032)
e. $5,000 for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Retrofit and Replacement (20104)
4. FISCAL IMPACT
If approved, the total expenditure for these appropriations is $180,000 and will be funded through the Fire Facility Fee Districts Fund (560).
5. STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Goal 1: Provide for a safe community
a. Provide staffing and resources to deliver services that ensure public safety. b. Provide and maintain infrastructure necessary to ensure the safety of the public.
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Item #: 3.6. 9/26/2023 File #: 23-0608
6. DISCUSSION AND BACKGROUND
The Fire Department has a number of CIP projects in place to improve the city's public safety infrastructure and capital assets, as well as for restorations, repairs, and investments in technology and safety equipment. The Department’s CIP projects serve as a budget and strategic planning tool to establish the scope of future capital upgrades and may be funded through restricted funds. The Fire Department is requesting an appropriation of $180,000 from the 560 Fund. This fund's revenues are confined to purchasing, developing, maintaining, and enhancing fire prevention services in accordance with Government Code Sections 66000 through 66009 of the Mitigation Fee Act. The 560 Fund receives revenue from fees paid at the issuance of building permits to finance the fire facility requirements created by new development based on land use types. Due to the inability to predict developer impact fees, developer-funded CIP projects were not included in the final Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) budget, unless there was already a sufficient fund balance. Since the start of FY24, the 560 fund has received $467,444 in revenue. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-2024, staff requests that the specified funds be appropriated into CIP expenditure accounts for the following programs:
Turnout Equipment and Replacement Project - $90,000
Funding for the purchase and maintenance of over 230 sets of turnout safety gear. Firefighter turnout safety equipment is used to ensure the well-being and safety of firefighters during emergency response operations by providing thermal insulation and protection from exposure to hazardous materials. According to the national firefighting safety standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Section 1851.10.1.2 mandates that structural firefighting personal protective equipment must be retired no later than 10 years after the date of manufacture. The average cost of outfitting one suppression personnel with the safety equipment needed is $8,500.
The department's annual maintenance and inspection expenditures for safety equipment average $15,000 per year.
Fire Station Maintenance Project - $50,000
This project is designed to allocate funds for essential improvements and maintenance to ensure that all fire facilities provide a safe and efficient environment for our personnel and enhancing our ability to provide exceptional service to the community. For FY 24, the department will use allocated funding for painting, flooring, window coverings, and other miscellaneous improvement needs.
EMS ePCR Replacement Program - $19,000
Since 2012, the Department has utilized EMS ePCR iPads in accordance with the mandatory requirements and national standards set forth by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These devices are essential for collecting real-time patient data in the field and allows the department to effectively gather and document patient data with precision and efficiency. To ensure the continued functionality of this critical equipment, the replacement program covers not only the iPads themselves but also protective cases, vehicle chargers, and keyboard equipment.
Wellness Equipment Replacement Program - $16,000
The Orange Fire Department (OFD) is deeply committed to promoting and implementing the wellness program endorsed by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). To cultivate a strong and physically fit workforce, wellness equipment is provided at each of the eight fire stations. To proactively maintain the effectiveness of our wellness program, the department has initiated a long- term replacement plan to address repairs and replacements of fitness equipment while prioritizing the City of Orange Printed on 9/21/2023Page 2 of 3
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Item #: 3.6. 9/26/2023 File #: 23-0608
well-being of our team members.
SCBA Retrofit and Replacement Program - $5,000
To meet the national firefighting safety standards established by the NFPA, SCBA systems are essential for firefighters to safely enter and operate in environments filled with smoke and low oxygen levels. These systems provide a continuous supply of breathable air, allowing firefighters to navigate and communicate effectively in fire and smoke, conduct search and rescue operations, and address emergencies involving hazardous environments that pose an immediate threat to life and health.
Regular maintenance and replacement of SCBA components are crucial to ensuring the equipment functions properly for the safety of firefighter personnel and maintaining compliance with regulations.
7. ATTACHMENTS
· None.
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