Title
Resolution to Accept and Approve the 2012 Assistance to Firefighters Grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to the Ann Arbor Fire Department ($87,876.00), Appropriate Matching Grant Funds to the Fire Service FY 13 budget ($21, 969.00), Establish and Appropriate Funding to a Major Grant Fund Account for the Project ($109,845.00) (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
This resolution authorizes acceptance of a grant award in the amount of $87,876 from the Department of Homeland Security under the auspice of the Assistance to Firefighters grant program (AFGP). This grant program is a competitive peer review program and Ann Arbor Fire Department has received an award notification of funding of its submitted grant proposal for Modifications to Fire Stations.
The Fire Department submitted a proposed project to completely replace all of the department's Source Capturing Exhaust Removal Systems that were installed over twenty years ago. In addition, the project will provide capturing exhaust systems for apparatus that have never been fitted for capturing exhaust. In total, the grant would enable the replacement/outfitting of our stations with fifteen (15) Magnetic Nozzle Exhaust Removal Systems.
Matching funds in the amount of $21,969.00, required under the grant, will need to be appropriated from General Fund Balance to the Fire Service Unit's FY 13 budget, documenting the local match. For grant administration, all funds (both grant funds and matching City funds) will then need to be appropriated the Major Grant Fund established for the Project.
Approval of this resolution will allow the department to accept the grant, establish a grant administration fund account, appropriate matching funds to the Fire Department 2013 expenditure funds and finally appropriate all funding to the major grant fund for for the management of the grant and expenditure of the funds for the life of the Project without regard to fiscal year.
Staff
Prepared by: Tammy Jones, Management Assistant, AAFD
Reviewed by: Assistant Fire Chief, Ellen Taylor, AAFD
Reviewed by: Chief Ollice Hubbard, AAFD
Approved by: Steven D. Powers, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The Ann Arbor Fire Department responds to all fire, medical first response, technical rescue, water rescue, hazardous materials, and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and environmental calls; has a mutual aid response agreement with 23 other surrounding jurisdictions; and part of a Hazmat Regional Response Team ready for deployment in Michigan;
Whereas, The Department has been experiencing steady increases in both its own need for mutual aid and in the number of requests for mutual aid it receives from other jurisdictions;
Whereas, Reduced staffing levels and increasing calls for service, including mutual aid requests from other jurisdictions, require that we take steps to reduce all threats to the health and safety of our firefighting personnel and the public we serve;
Whereas, On April 19, 2013, the City of Ann Arbor Fire Department was awarded a 2012 Assistance to Firefighters grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the amount of $87,876 to fund the Department's fifteen (15) Exhaust Removal Systems for the highest use apparatus within the 26 vehicle fleet serving the Ann Arbor citizens and our 23 mutual aid communities;
Whereas, The new Exhaust Removal Systems will replace older outdated equipment allowing firefighters to quickly and confidently utilize the fire apparatus without the threat of breathing toxic diesel emissions or having them released into the air that they breath in the stations;
Whereas, This equipment will be deployed for everyday use by fire department personnel, allowing firefighters to quickly and confidently travel to any situation to protect the lives and property of the public they serve;
Whereas, Matching funds in the amount of $21,969.00, required by the grant terms, will need to be appropriated from General Fund Balance to the Fire Service Unit's FY13 budget for this Project; and
Whereas, It is necessary to establish a Major Grant fund for this award and appropriate both the grant award and the matching funds into the Major Grant Fund for expenditure during the life of the project without regard to fiscal year;
RESOLVED, That City Council accept the 2012 Assistance to Firefighters grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the amount of $87,876 and approve the expenditure of the grant funds in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grant agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security;
RESOLVED, That required matching funds in the amount of $21,969.00 be appropriated from General Fund Balance to the Fire Service Unit's FY 13 budget;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to execute the grant agreement after approval as to substance by the City Administrator and approval as to form by the City Attorney;
RESOLVED, That a Major Grant Fund be established for this Project, and that grant funds awarded be appropriated to the Major Grant Fund together with the allocated matching funds appropriated to the Fire Services Unit's FY 13 budget for this Project, when established, for expenditure during the life of the project without regard to fiscal year; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take all necessary actions to implement this Resolution.