Title
Resolution to Approve Participation in 2014 Assistance to Firefighters Regional Grant (AFG) from the US Department of Homeland Security ($357,050.00), Appropriate Matching Grant Funds ($35,704.00), and Establish and Appropriate Funding for the Project ($392,754.00) (Mobile Training Facility) (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
The attached resolution allows the continuation of the application process for a 2014 Assistance to Firefighters Regional Grant (AFG) from the US Department of Homeland Security and authorizes the acceptance of the grant if awarded.
The grant will provide an accessible and professional mobile training facility for safety service personnel. Washtenaw County fire departments are working together in seeking the competitive grant to provide a much needed training facility. With the recent demolition of the fire training tower at the University of Michigan north campus fire training facility, located at station five (5), it is much more difficult for fire departments to find structures to perform fire training. The mobile training facility will comply with the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) mandated firefighter training requirements. The trailer simulator will provide live fire, ventilation, forcible entry, standpipe, sprinkler, rappelling, confined space and self-contained breathing apparatus training. The grant will include instruction costs and overtime.
All fifteen fire departments will incur a portion of the 10% match to the grant ($35,704.00) determined by the number of personnel of each fire department. AAFD will incur 20% ($7,225.81) of the overall 10% match to the grant. If the grant is awarded, the AAFD matching funds would be appropriated from General Fund Balance to the Fire Service Unit without regard to fiscal year and a grant administration fund would be established.
Staff
Prepared by: Asst. Chief Ellen Taylor, AAFD
Reviewed by: Chief John Seto, AAPD, Safety Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Steven D. Powers, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, Part of the city's commitment is to providing its fire fighting personnel a safer and more professional workforce and a need to provide a facility to conduct consistent safe training;
Whereas, The Ann Arbor Fire Department is applying for a regional grant on behalf of a total of fifteen fire departments in need of an accessible training facility (Ann Arbor Township, City of Chelsea, City of Milan, City of Saline, City of Ypsilanti, Dexter Area, Pittsfield Township, Manchester Township, Northfield Township, Salem Township, Scio Township, Superior Township, Ypsilanti Township, and Van Buren Township);
Whereas, The fire departments need a training facility to comply with the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) mandated firefighter training requirements;
Whereas, The approval of continuing the application and accepting this regional AFG grant will provide an accessible, and professional training facility to conduct consistent safe training for safety service personnel;
Whereas, If the grant is awarded, the City will receive a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the amount of $357,050.00 to fund the purchase of a complete, mobile, dual, live fire and tactical training simulator to be shared with the fourteen other fire departments;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve the continuation of the regional application process for, and if awarded, accept, on behalf of the Ann Arbor Fire Department and fourteen other fire departments a 2014 Assistance to Firefighters Regional (AFG) from the US Department of Homeland Security ($357,050.00) for the purchase of a mobile, dual, live fire and tactical training simulator;
RESOLVED, That City Council agree to the grant local funding requirement of and appropriate the necessary share of its ten percent (10%) matching funds of $7,255.81 from General Fund Balance to the Fire Unit budget to be available for expenditure for this Project without regard to fiscal year;
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator is directed to establish a Major Grant Fund for this Project and appropriate the matching funds and the grant award, if and when received, for expenditure during the life of this Project without regard to fiscal year;
RESOLVED, That if awarded the grant, the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized and directed to execute the grant award contract subject to approval as to substance by the City Administrator and approval as to form by the City Attorney; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator is authorized to take all necessary actions to implement this Resolution.