City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: OCTOBER 17, 2018
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
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Consideration of a Grant Application to the FY 2018 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Funding for Firefighter Training Classes and Wellness and Fitness Training.
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ISSUE: Consideration of a grant application to the FY 2018 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for funding for firefighter training classes and wellness and fitness training.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve the submission of a grant application for $830,000 ($747,000 of which comes from federal funding) for paramedic training and firefighter training classes; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: FY 2018 AFG application period opened on September 24, 2018 and will close on October 26, 2018. 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 and received this grant in the past and was awarded funds in the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2015 and City FY 17 ($400,000 which paid for paramedic training) and FFY 2017 and City FY 2018 ($850,000 which paid for paramedic training and technical rescue training) grants.
DISCUSSION: The AFG has several high-priority categories that it will fund for career fire departments. The Fire Department has identified two areas of high-priority training that are both beneficial and necessary for the Department and likely to be awarded.
1. In 2015, the Alexandria Fire Department (AFD) began the implementation of a plan to move from single-role medics to a dual-role Firefighter/Medic capability. Dual-role providers have both Medic and Firefighter competencies, and will be able to staff any unit in the City. This staffing model is used by other surrounding metro region Fire Departments.
The dual-role cross-training process will continue incrementally over the next several years, and requires additional training for interested personnel to become dual-role providers. This year the AFG has announced that a National Registry Paramedic certification will be a high-priority training. The Department anticipates sending approximately seven firefighters to classes that would certify them as paramedics, thus starting their process to become dual-role providers. Cross-training of both medic and firefighters allows for the maximization of current resources.
2. The Department is seeking health screenings for employees in several wellness and fitness high-priorities categories addressed in the grant, including increased medical testing during annual physicals, annual medical and fitness evaluations, additional cancer screening, as well as formal fitness and injury prevention training.
FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed grant application would request a total award of $830,000, ($747,000 of federal funds). $500,000 would be to fund approximately seven firefighters to receive paramedic training. $330,000 of federal funding would be to fund the entire Alexandria Fire Department to take the health and fitness classes described above.
The grant requires a 10% local cash match, meaning that a total of $83,000 would be required from the Department’s 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 the department.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
STAFF:
Debra Collins, Deputy City Manager