August 6, 2024, Item #7DATE: TO: FROM: CONTACT: SUBJECT: Summary: AGENDA REPORT CityofPoway August 6, 2024 Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council Jeff Chumbley, Fire Chief~ Jenna Stein, Sr. Management Analyst 858-668-4474 or [email protected] CITY COUNCIL Resolution Authorizing the Acceptance of Grant Funding Through the Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides funds through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program to cities and agencies to fund critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel, enhance efficiencies and support community resilience. The Poway Fire Department was awarded $27,792.72 in support of an expanded firefighter health and wellness program. The funding will provide two years of hearing tests and cancer screenings for firefighters. Recommended Action: It is recommended the City Council adopt the resolution authorizing staff to accept funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Discussion: Since 2001, the AFG Program has helped firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. Funds are provided annually for the program through FEMA and funding priorities are set as a part of the FEMA Strategic Plan. Priorities for the FEMA federal Fiscal Year 2023 program include firefighter wellness and fitness activities intended to strengthen emergency responders so their mental, physical and emotional capabilities are resilient enough to withstand the demands of all hazardous operations. The City of Poway recognizes firefighters, by virtue of their profession, encounter incidents that require extreme physical output and face situations that expose them to traumatic events which may result in physiological and psychological outcomes. To address these physical and mental outcomes, a comprehensive health and wellness program has been implemented. The existing program includes an annual blood panel, annual fitness appraisals, regular training exercises, a peer support program, 1 of 4
August 6, 2024, Item #7a chaplain program, and cancer awareness and prevention activities. On March 8, 2024, the Fire Department submitted an application to the AFG Program for a two-year expansion of the existing health and wellness program. The program, totaling $30,572, is 90% funded by the AFG Program and will allow for the implementation of a hearing loss prevention program and an early detection biomarker cancer screening program for all firefighting personnel. The hearing loss prevention program includes audiometric testing and medical referrals based on the results to identify early onset hearing loss. The early detection biomarker cancer screening program will fund additional blood panels to screen for cancer. The goal of both programs is to identify life altering medical conditions before irreversible damage is done thereby improving the overall health and wellness of our firefighting personnel. At the completion of the two-year grant program, the Fire Department will evaluate the outcomes of the expanded health and wellness program and determine what, if any, components should be recommended for inclusion in the ongoing program. Environmental Review: This item is not subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Fiscal Impact: Acceptance of the Assistance to Firefighter Grant requires 10% matching funds. Matching funds, totaling $2,779.28, will be expended from the existing Fire Department budget in the current and next fiscal year. It is anticipated all expenditures and reimbursements will be completed by October 1, 2026. The reimbursed funds will allow the City to expand its firefighter health and wellness program for the duration of the performance period. Public Notification: None. Attachments: A. Resolution Reviewed/Approved By: Wendy Krman Assistant City Manager 2 of 4 Reviewed By: Alan Fenstermacher City Attorney Approved By: Ch~> City Manager
August 6, 2024, Item #7RESOLUTION NO. 24-A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POWAY, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS THROUGH THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT PROGRAM WHEREAS, the City of Poway is eligible to receive federal grant funds through the 2023 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program; WHEREAS, the City of Poway has been awarded $27,792.72 in federal grant funds to expand the existing firefighter health and wellness program; WHEREAS, the federal grant funds for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program require a 10% match of $2,779.28 to be allocated from the existing Fire Department budget; and WHEREAS, it is the desire of the City of Poway to participate in this program to enhance Firefighter health and wellness. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Poway as follows: SECTION 1: The following staff are hereby authorized to execute for and on behalf of the City of Poway, a public entity established under the laws of the State of California, any actions necessary for the purpose of obtaining federal financial assistance provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Brian Mitchell, Deputy Fire Chief Jenna Stein, Sr. Management Analyst II II II II II II II II II II 3 of4 ATTACHMENT A
August 6, 2024, Item #7Resolution No. 24-Page 2 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Poway, California on the 6th day of August, 2024 by the following vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSTAINED: ABSENT: DISQUALIFIED: Steve Vaus, Mayor ATTEST: Carrie Gallagher, CMC, City Clerk 4 of 4