City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: DECEMBER 7, 2021
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of a grant application to the FY 2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Funding for Needed Equipment for the Alexandria Fire Department.
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ISSUE: Consideration of a grant application to the FY 2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for equipment.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve the submission of a grant application for $803,430 in Federal FEMA funding for the Alexandria Fire Department (AFD); and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents that may be required.
DISCUSSION: The AFG is an annual, competitive grant awarded by FEMA for Fire Departments. The AFG this year has several high priority categories that will fund career fire departments. The fire department has identified three areas of high priority equipment and PPE that is both beneficial/necessary for the department and likely to be awarded.
1. AFD is seeking a Roof Top Ventilation Simulator. This mobile unit will allow personnel to train on various types and pitches of roof tops found within the City of Alexandria. This simulator allows personnel to train while remaining in their area of response to provide expedited response to those in need. This simulator provides a safe alternative to operating on roof tops of actual buildings at heights often above 50 feet.
2. AFD is continuing to expand its advanced life support (ALS) capabilities to include our truck and specialty companies as well as battalion management teams and support vehicles. The equipment needed includes a cardiac monitor/manual defibrillator so ALS providers have the capability of monitoring a patient’s heart rhythm and providing life-saving defibrillation/cardioversion or synchronized pacing to a heart in need of these procedures. By having all the response apparatus in our fleet equipped with this resource, ALS providers will have the needed equipment to react quickly to these life-threatening events. Currently these units only have an automated external defibrillator (AED) which only allows for an EMS provider to provide a defibrillation when the AED recognizes the need. The Department would purchase 12 additional Lifepaks which would be placed on units that do not currently have them.
3. Personal Infection Control (PIC) kits that would be carried while on duty by each provider. This will cut down on necessary exposures to infectious disease as well as immediate life-saving equipment for personal protection. At a minimum each PIC Kit will carry:
- Medical exam gloves, properly sized per individual
- Disposable infection control sleeves, for protection when wearing short sleeves
- Surgical masks
- N100, properly fit tested to the individual
- Medical exam gown
- CPR pocket mask for rescue breathing
- Israeli bandage for rapid bleeding control
- Commercial tourniquet for extremity bleeding control
- Narcan, nasal inhalation dose in the event of exposure to a narcotic
BACKGROUND: FY 2021 AFG application period opened on November 8, 2021 and will close on December 17, 2021. The purpose of the AFG Program is to enhance the health and safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire-related hazards by providing direct financial assistance to eligible fire departments for critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards, enhance operational efficiencies, foster interoperability, and support community resilience. Each year the AFG sets different priorities of how it will consider funding proposals. AFD has applied for this grant in the past and was awarded funds five times since FY 2015.
FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed grant application would request a total award of $892,700 ($803,430 of federal funds). $95,000 would be to fund a Roof Top Ventilation Simulator, $720,000 would fund 12 LifePaks and $77,700 would fund PIC Kits for 259 operational personnel.
The grant requires a 10% local cash match, meaning that a total of $89,270 would be required from AFD’s FY 2023 budget. If awarded, funding for the paramedic training match would come from the City’s annual Aid to Localities allocation from the Virginia Department of Fire Programs. The cost match is not a new cost to AFD.
STAFF:
Debra Collins, Deputy City Manager
Corey Smedley, Fire Chief