City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JANUARY 28, 2025 FROM: FIRE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: HAWARDEN FIRE RESPONSE - SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUES:
Authorize a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $79,471.66 for assistance provided to the City during the Hawarden Fire incident.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
With at least five affirmative votes, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $58,948.13 in the General Fund, Hawarden Fire Program, expenditure account from available fund balance; With at least five affirmative votes, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenue and appropriate expenditures in the amount of $20,523.53 in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund Hawarden Fire Program revenue and expenditure accounts; and Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute any agreement necessary to make the authorized payment to respective parties, including the ability to make minor and non-substantive changes.
BACKGROUND:
On July 21, 2024, a fire started in the Hawarden area, which is comprised of private and County property The fire was a threat to life and property. The fire known as the Hawarden Incident quickly grew to nearly 600 acres, destroying 7 homes with damage to another 10. The fire took significant support from mutual aid fire companies and aircraft. The City requested assistance from the Orange County Fire Authority for the use of their water dropping helicopter. They responded to the request with the ability to provide through their assistance-by-hire program. Fire Incident Command approved the request due to the exigent threats to life and property. In addition, CalOES coordinated requests for aid from outside departments that need reimbursement.
DISCUSSION:
City Resolution No. 24101 Article Three Section 301 “Emergency Procurement,” provides, in part, that “An “emergency” shall be deemed to exist under any one or more of the following circumstances: (a) A great public calamity; (d) A Using Agency operation directly affecting the public health, welfare, safety, the property, or personal/confidential information, is so severely impacted by any cause that personal injury or property destruction appears to be imminent and probable unless Goods, Services or Construction designed or intended to mitigate the risks thereof are Procured immediately”.
Due to life safety and threats to property the Fire Incident Command approved the request for air resources assistance by hire and CalOES coordinated aid.
Funding in the amount of $79,471.66 is now being requested to cover extraordinary incident costs for personnel, equipment, aircraft and administrative (PE&A) charges for PE&A associated with the request to the Orange County Fire Authority ($20,523.53) and California Office of Emergency Services ($58,948.13).
The Office of Emergency Management is working toward qualifying up to $20,523.53 for federal disaster recovery assistance reimbursement.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
The temporary hiring of the Orange County Fire Authority helicopter and other resources to assist in the defense of the Hawarden neighborhood supported the priorities of the City of Riverside’s Envision Riverside 2025 Strategic Plan, by contribution to Strategic Priority No 2 Community Well-Being.
Goal No. 2.5. Foster relationships between community members, partner organizations, and public safety professionals to define, prioritize, and address community safety and social service needs Goal No. 2.6. Strengthen community preparedness for emergencies to ensure effective response and recovery.
This item aligns with Each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – The Riverside Fire Department is dedicated to improving quality of life by creating a safe environment in partnership with the people it serves. RFD’s ability to partner with regional fire partners serves to benefit the public safety of the City’s diverse populations, and results in the greater public good.
Equity – Wildfire response is provided in all Wards of the City to keep all communities within the City of Riverside safe.
Fiscal Responsibility – The purchasing of all services for this project is in accordance with Purchasing Resolution No 24101 Innovation – The Riverside Fire Department diligently worked to get resources to the fire working both with state agencies and nearby local agencies to provide air resources.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The Riverside Fire Department dedicates sufficient resources to sustain the needed resources to adequately prevent property damage and loss of life during the event of a wildfire.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is $79,471.66, which includes an increase in revenue and expenditures of $20,523.53. Upon Council approval, an increase in revenue and supplemental appropriations will be recorded in the funds and accounts as listed in the table below. There are sufficient General Fund reserves to accommodate the supplemental appropriation.
Fund
Program
Account
Amount
Grants & Restricted Programs
Hawarden Fire Program
Revenue
9181500-331100
$20,523.53
Expenditures
9181500-426800
$20,523.53
General Fund
9181510-426800
*$58,948.13
Total Expenditures
$79,471.66
*Denotes General Fund Supplemental Appropriation
Prepared by: Mark Annas, Emergency Services Administrator Approved by: Steven McKinster, 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: Jack Liu, Interim City Attorney
Hawarden Fire ● Page 3