Title
Resolution to Approve the Amended (2016) Michigan Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Association Agreement
Memorandum
In October of 2013, Council approved resolution R-13-323 for the City of Ann Arbor Fire Department to participate in the Michigan Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MI-MABAS). In 2016, the agreement was amended. However, the City of Ann Arbor did not adopt the amended agreement. MI-MABAS recently performed an audit, and they have requested all communities who did not adopt the 2016 version to do so.
The main substantive change to the amended agreement is in Section Eight - Compensation. The 2013 version was silent on MI-MABAS Special Operations Teams reimbursement. The 2016 version states, “Requests for a response from any MI-MABAS Special Operations Team may require full and complete reimbursement to the responding Team for all expenses, including but not limited to, expenses for equipment, personnel, management and administration, and all other services provided at an incident.” If we were to decline adopting the 2016 version, the City would be required to sign a reimbursement agreement at the time of the incident prior to the deployment of any MI-MABAS Special Operations Team assets.
MI-MABAS was created to enhance coordination, cooperation, and resource-sharing among local emergency response agencies in Michigan and participating jurisdictions. The Organization provides a standardized system for mutual aid response to incidents that exceed local capabilities, ensuring rapid, organized, and efficient deployment of resources. Additionally, MI-MABAS maintains and provides Special Operations emergency response both intra-state and inter-state with Michigan Task Force 1 (MI-TF1). This Special Operations exceeds capabilities possessed by the City of Ann Arbor Fire Department and Washtenaw County Technical Response Team.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: There is no cost to this agreement unless the City of Ann Arbor experiences a major disaster. Any such incident causing the City to be invoiced would likely also trigger a request for a State of Michigan Disaster Declaration, which may assist in covering a portion or all of these expenses.
Staff
Prepared by: Chantel Jackson, Safety Services Administrative Manager
Reviewed by: Mike Kennedy, Fire Chief
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor recognizes that emergencies and disasters may exceed the response capabilities of a single fire department;
Whereas, The Michigan Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Association (MI-MABAS) is a nationally recognized mutual aid system designed to provide an organized and efficient method for requesting and providing fire, emergency medical, rescue, and related emergency services across jurisdictional boundaries;
Whereas, The Michigan Constitution of 1963, Article 7, § 28, and the Urban Cooperation Act of 1967, Act No. 7 of the Public Acts of 1967, Ex. Sess., being MCL 124.501 et seq. (the "Act"), permit a political subdivision to exercise jointly with any other political subdivision any power, privilege or authority which such political subdivisions share in common and which each might exercise separately; and
Whereas, Participation in MI-MABAS enhances statewide cooperation, interoperability, standardized response protocols, and resource sharing among participating agencies;
RESOLVED, That City Council approves the Amended (2016) Michigan Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Association Agreement (“Agreement”), and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized and directed to execute the Agreement subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney.