City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JULY 16, 2024 FROM: FIRE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: ACCEPTANCE OF 2024 CAL OES SWIFTWATER TRAINING FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $89,610 FROM THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES (CAL OES) ISSUE:
Approve the acceptance of the 2024 Cal OES Swiftwater Training funding in the amount of $89,610, from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Accept a grant awarded from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) in the amount of $89,610; With at least five affirmative votes, and upon receipt of the grant award, authorize the City Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenue and appropriate expenditures in the amount of $89,610, or the actual award amount, in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, 2024 Cal OES Swiftwater Flood grant revenue and expenditure accounts; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to sign related Cal OES Swiftwater Training documents from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) 2024, including making minor and non-substantive changes.
BACKGROUND:
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has initiated a contractual agreement with the City of Riverside Fire Department to oversee the reimbursement process for Swiftwater Flood/Search and Rescue (SF/S&R) team training and associated travel costs. Under the terms of the Cal OES Swiftwater Training agreement, the City of Riverside Fire Department is tasked with ensuring the readiness of its personnel to respond effectively to larger or more complex SF/S&R events within the State of California. This contractual arrangement underscores Cal OES's commitment to bolstering emergency preparedness initiatives statewide and enhancing the capabilities of local emergency response teams.
DISCUSSION:
The Cal OES Swiftwater Training agreement represents a vital collaboration between the City of Riverside Fire Department and Cal OES aimed at enhancing the readiness of emergency response teams in swift water rescue scenarios. By facilitating reimbursements for training and travel expenses, the agreement ensures personnel receive essential instruction while adhering to industry standards. With an initial award amount not exceeding $89,610.00, the agreement prioritizes the prudent allocation of funds, covering only essential costs incurred in delivering SF/S&R Swiftwater Flood /Search & Rescue training. The training period is set to take place between March 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025, and there is an option to extend it for one year.
The training period will be between March 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, with a one-year extension option. The contract allows for comprehensive training initiatives and periodic reviews to adapt to evolving needs and best practices. This collaborative and adaptive approach strengthens efforts to safeguard communities against swift water emergencies.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item aligns with Strategic Priority No. 2: Community Well-Being and Goal No. 2.6 – Strengthen community preparedness for emergencies to ensure effective response and recovery.
This item aligns with the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust: The Cal OES Swiftwater Training Contract enhances community trust by ensuring that emergency response teams are well-prepared and equipped to handle swift water emergencies effectively, thereby fostering confidence in the community's safety and well-being.
Equity: This agreement promotes equity by providing essential training and resources to emergency response teams, ensuring that communities across the region receive equitable access to high-quality emergency preparedness services and swift water rescue capabilities.
Fiscal Responsibility: By emphasizing prudent utilization of funds and reimbursement for essential costs, the contract demonstrates fiscal responsibility, ensuring that taxpayer resources are allocated efficiently and effectively to support critical emergency preparedness initiatives.
Innovation: The Cal OES Swiftwater Training Contract encourages innovation by facilitating ongoing training and education for emergency response teams, enabling them to stay abreast of the latest techniques and technologies in swiftwater rescue operations, thereby enhancing overall effectiveness and adaptability in emergency response efforts.
Sustainability & Resiliency: Through comprehensive training initiatives and adherence to industry standards, the contract promotes sustainability and resiliency by strengthening the capabilities of emergency response teams to effectively mitigate swift water emergencies, thereby enhancing community resilience and readiness in the face of potential disasters.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is an increase in revenue and expenditures of $89,610. No matching funds are required for the Cal OES grant. Upon Council approval, an increase in revenue in the amount of the grant award will be recorded and an equal amount appropriated in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, 2024 Cal OES Swiftwater Flood grant revenue account 9351600-331100 and expenditure account 9351600-427100.
Prepared by: Michael Staley, Division Chief
Approved by: Michael Moore, Fire Chief
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Mike Futrell, City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
FY 2024 Swiftwater Training ● Page 3