City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MARCH 4, 2020
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Grant Application to the FY 2019 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Firefighter Training, Equipment, and Health Screenings.
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ISSUE: Consideration of a Grant Application to the FY 2019 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for training, equipment, and health screenings.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve the submission of a grant application for $1,754,485 ($1,579,037 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: The FY 2019 AFG application period opened on January 30th and will close on March 13, 2020. 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 for 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 Years 2015 ($337,656) 2017 ($858,390 which paid for paramedic training) and 2018 ($1,269,688 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 four areas of high-priority 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 once again announced that Emergency Medical Technician and Advanced EMT certifications will be high-priorities. The Department anticipates sending firefighters for these certifications, thus starting their process to become dual-role providers. The cross-training of both medic and firefighters allows for the maximization of current resources.
2. The Department is again 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 fitness evaluations, additional cancer screenings, as well as formal fitness and injury prevention training.
3. AFG funds Operations and Safety equipment for effective response, firefighting, rescue, and emergency medical operations to enhance public safety. The department will purchase EMS training equipment, vehicle mounted equipment and accessories, and front-line equipment that has reached the end of its useful life.
4. AFG funds to acquire personal protective equipment (PPE) for new hires and to replace unusable and unrepairable PPE with the goal of increasing firefighter safety.
FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed grant application would request a total award of $1,754,485, ($1,579,037 in federal funds). $312,000 would be to fund firefighters to receive paramedic training and advanced EMT training. $283,000 of federal funding would be to fund health and fitness classes described above. $300,000 would be to fund PPE. $859,485 would fund operations and safety equipment.
The grant requires a 10% local cash match, meaning that a total of $175,449 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
Corey Smedley, Fire Chief