Title
Resolution to Approve Participation in 2016 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant (FPSG) from the US Department of Homeland Security ($123,500.00), and Appropriate Share of Matching Grant Funds ($5,880.00) (Community Smoke and Weather Bed Shaking Alarms) (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
The attached resolution approves the Ann Arbor Fire Department (AAFD) agency participation in the 2016 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant (FPSG) from the US Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security requires a resolution documenting City Council’s authorization of the administrative and budget actions necessary to implement the grant if received.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: The anticipated grant amount is $123,500.00. The City of Ann Arbor agrees to participate in the grant and, if the grant is awarded, are responsible for a share of the 5% match to the grant ($5,880.00). The City’s portion ($5,880.00) will be appropriated from General Fund balance to the Fire Service Unit without regard to fiscal year, if the grant is received.
With the partnerships developed with the Washtenaw Intermediate School District and the Warning Hearing Impaired Program (WHIP). This FPSG would fund 475 lithium battery smoke detectors and 475 wireless smoke and weather bed shaking alert systems to disabled children households. Each qualifying household having a child with a hearing or visual disability, will receive a compatible lithium battery operated smoke alarm, a wireless smoke and weather bed shaking alert system, a home safety checklist, an escape route planner and a follow up evaluation. These specialized alarm systems provide visual, tactile, and audible notifications of an emergency, which will aid disabled children and their household occupants in how they respond to a potentially catastrophic event.
This grant will reduce community fire risk in a National recognized high-risk area of disabled children and it will improve the fire department’s community engagement activities as an identified need within the department’s strategic plan.
This grant is an important part of the US Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to ensure the safety of firefighters and the public they serve and will fund the purchase of new technological smoke and weather alert systems, ultimately improving community risk and the fire departments community engagement.
There will be no maintenance future costs incurred for this grant-funded bed shaking alert system program. In order to implement a successful program including community stakeholder partnerships that assure future growth, approximately three to four hundred AAFD work force hours will be incurred. Preparing and scheduling for the necessary presentations and demonstrations with partnering organizations, identifying and communicating with eligible households, evaluating the equipment and emergency safety improvements, along with documenting the program will account for most of this time commitment.
Staff
Prepared by: Asst. Chief Ellen Taylor, AAFD
Reviewed by: Chief Larry E. Collins, Fire Services Area Administrator / Fire Chief
Approved by: Howard S Lazarus, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The Fire Department is seeking to continue their participation on a 2016 Department of Homeland Security Fire Prevention and Safety Grant (FPSG) application for smoke and weather bed shaking alert systems for disabled children;
Whereas, If the FPSG is awarded the grant in the amount of $123,500.00 the City of Ann Arbor Fire Department (AAFD) will be required to contribute its share of the 5% matching grant terms of $5,880.00;
Whereas, Part of the City’s commitment is to reduce community risks and improve community engagement;
Whereas, Wireless smoke and weather bed shaking alert systems will assist disabled children with hearing and visual disabilities in responding to emergency situations in a more timely lifesaving way;
Whereas, The new wireless alert systems will be provided to eligible households with disabled children with the help of partnering businesses and organizations;
Whereas, Presentations will be held to educate and illustrate the systems’ installation and maintenance needs in bettering household emergency planning with disabled children before being dispersed to qualifying households; and
Whereas, The approval of continuing the application and accepting this FPS Grant would fund 475 smoke and weather bed shaking alert systems for high risk community disabled children and their household occupants;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve AAFD for Fire Prevention and Safety Grant (FPSG), and subject to grant award, accept requirements from the US Department of Homeland Security for community risks smoke and weather bed shaking alert systems, including the required AAFD 5% share ($5,880.00) of grant local funding;
RESOLVED, That on receipt of award notice from the Department of Homeland Security, City Council appropriate the necessary five percent (5%) matching funds of $5,880.00 from General Fund Balance to the Fire Unit budget to be available for expenditure by AAFD for this Project without regard to fiscal year;
RESOLVED, That on receipt of award notice, the City Administrator is directed to establish a Major Grant Fund for this Project and transfer all matching funding to the major grant fund for grant management and expenditure of the funds by AAFD for the life of the Project without regard to fiscal year;
RESOLVED, That if AAFD be awarded the grant, the Mayor, City Clerk, and Fire Chief be authorized and directed to execute on behalf of the City as an agency participant any required supporting grant documentation after approval as to substance by the City Administrator and after approval as to form by the City Attorney; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take all necessary actions to implement this Resolution.