Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager, or His Designee, to Execute a Ten-Year Agreement for Temporary Assignment of Vehicular Equipment with the State of California Office of Emergency Services for a Type 1 Fire Engine to be Utilized for Statewide Mutual Aid Response and Local Use. (Fire 3210)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
It is recommended that the Alameda City Council (Council) approve a motion authorizing the City of Alameda (City) to execute the Agreement for Temporary Assignment of Vehicular Equipment (Agreement) with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). This Agreement allows the City to use a Cal OES engine as a reserve rig for local responses and AFD crews can be called on to provide mutual aid for wildland fires and other disasters throughout the state.
BACKGROUND
Cal OES is responsible for coordinating the overall state response to major disasters and assuring the state's readiness to respond to and recover from all hazards. To this end, Cal OES assists local government agencies in their emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and hazard mitigation efforts through a state master mutual aid plan.
Since 1950, Cal OES has managed a statewide fire and rescue program, the only one in the country, providing Type 1 engines on loan to local fire departments for use in their community while requiring the departments to staff the vehicles for the state when needed. Cal OES purchases the vehicles fully equipped, then assigns the vehicles to local fire agencies through temporary-use agreements. Cal OES maintains the vehicles and twice a year does an onsite inspection of the engines to ensure they are maintained according to their standards. In return, the agencies agree to staff the vehicles when called upon for mutual aid. The Alameda Fire Department (AFD) requests approval to apply for the provision of a Cal OES fire engine valued at $379,599 to use when called upon to provide mutual aid for wildland fires and other disasters throughout the state.
DISCUSSION
In 2018, the State of California experienced some of the largest fires in State history and AFD strike teams with the Cal OES engine responded to both the Mendocino Complex Fire and the Camp Fire. When the 2019 wildfire season occurs, Cal OES will again call upon AFD to provide mutual aid. AFD crews will be assigned to a strike team comprised of four suppression personnel and an engine with associated equipment to help fight wildland fires in Northern California. While Cal OES reimburses the City for staff time and use of vehicles and equipment, the wear and tear on a City fire engine during a wildland fire can be extreme, and the lack of a Cal OES engine in AFD's fleet during the mutual aid period can be challenging for local response in the City. If the City receives the Cal OES engine, it ensures no holes in AFD’s fleet during wildland mutual aid and that the cost of staff time expended during the emergency is reimbursed. The Cal OES engine is also a reserve rig amongst the current AFD fleet that can be used for local responses.
In accordance with the Agreement, Cal OES will provide the City with a fully equipped, Type 1 engine valued at approximately $379,599. During the term of the Agreement, the City is required to adequately house, maintain and keep the apparatus in good repair. But, the City is only responsible for the first $100 of each individual maintenance and repair cost. Cal OES will reimburse the City for repair costs above $100 and will pay the full costs for hoses, batteries and tires. Cal OES assumes responsibility for repair and replacement of the apparatus during State dispatched mutual aid or when reassigned. The City assumes responsibility for repair/replacement if the engine is consumed, lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed in other non-State dispatched operations.
Twice each year, Cal OES will do an onsite inspection of the engine to ensure it is maintained according to the equipment's standards. Nominal (no more than $100 per occurrence) repairs are covered by AFD’s approved operating budget. The City will house the engine at Fire Station Four, which is no cost to the City and, therefore, no cost to Cal OES. Fuel for City use of the engine as a reserve vehicle is accounted for in AFD’s approved operating budget. In addition to being used as a wildland mutual aid vehicle, the Cal OES engine will also serve as a reserve apparatus available for AFD’s responses, as needed. The Cal OES engine will also serve as a Type 3 Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) vehicle and can be put into service as a light rescue vehicle in case of an earthquake or other disaster.
ALTERNATIVES
• Approve request for an agreement with California OES.
• Do not authorize this Agreement This option would result in the City’s inability to receive the Cal OES engine and AFD will not be available to provide mutual aid to Northern California in response to 2019 wildland fires.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
During the term of the Agreement, the City is required to adequately house, maintain and keep the rig in good repair. The City is responsible for the first $100 of maintenance and repair costs for each individual item of repair. Cal OES will reimburse the City for repair costs above $100 and will pay the full costs for hoses, batteries and tires. However, the City assumes responsibility for repair or replacement if the engine is consumed, lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed in non-State dispatched mutual aid operations. The vehicle is valued at approximately $379,599. Nevertheless, staff projects a minimal financial impact on the General Fund or Fleet Maintenance Fund from signing this agreement. Budget for the vehicle maintenance cost is included in the Fleet Maintenance Fund.
In addition to the maintenance and potential replacement costs, the City will have to pay the cost of the insurance for the rig. The City’s vehicle insurance policy premium will increase by approximately $2,200 in the first year with subsequent annual adjustments.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the Alameda Municipal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a project which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378(b)(4).
CLIMATE IMPACTS
This action is consistent with the City’s Safe Climate Resolution No. 15510. The 2019 Type 1 Cal OES engine exceeds current emission standards for the State of California. It has additional features such as a Regen System which burns off built up emissions in the exhaust system.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute a ten year "Agreement for Temporary Assignment of Vehicular Equipment" with the State of California Office of Emergency Services for a Type 1 fire engine to be utilized for statewide mutual aid response.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends approval. This is consistent with current agreements and Fire Department operations.
Respectfully submitted,
Edmond A. Rodriguez, Fire Chief
By,
Monique Raqueno, Fire Admin Service Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1) Agreement
cc: Eric J. Levitt, City Manager