Title
Recommendation to Accept $46,343.39 Grant EMW-2020-FG-00222 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program - COVID-19 Supplemental (AFG-S); and
Adoption of Resolution Amending the Fiscal Year 2020-21 Fire Grants Fund Revenue and Expenditures Budget by $50,977.73 (Fire 220), and the General Fund Expenditures Budget by $4,634.34 to Allocate the Required Matching Funds per the Grant Requirement. (Fire 10032200)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Alameda Fire Department was awarded an Assistance to Firefighters COVID-19 Supplemental Grant EMW-2020-FG-00222 for the reimbursement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Supplies. This grant was awarded in 2020, but a resolution was not presented to the City Council at that time. In order for the City to accept the grant, staff is requesting that the City Council formally accept the grant and adopt the attached resolution. Under the conditions of the award, the grant requires a local match of 10% in the amount of $4,634.34. The federal share of the grant is $46,343.39 for a total amount of $50,977.73.
BACKGROUND
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Grant Programs Directorate implements and administers the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. On April 24, 2020 AFG-Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity was published to apply for critical Personal Protective Equipment and supplies needed to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The City of Alameda Fire Department (Fire Department) has applied for previous AFG grant opportunities. The primary goal of the AFG Program is to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire-related hazards by providing direct financial assistance for critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards, enhance operations efficiencies, foster interoperability, and support community resilience.
In January 2016, the Fire Department applied for and approved for $503,622 AFG Grant funds ($45,783 matching funds and $457,839 federal funds for the purchase of 66 new Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). SCBA are used on a daily basis in many capacities, including structural firefighting and confined space rescue.
In May 15, 2020, the Fire Department applied for a new AFG-S grant. On August 28, 2020, the Fire Department was notified that the AFG-S grant application had been approved and with an award acceptance due by September 27, 2020. As a condition of this award, the City of Alameda (City) is required to contribute a total cost match in the amount of $4,634.34 of non-Federal funds. The Federal share is $46,343.39 of the approved total cost of $50,977.73. Note that the non-federal City match has already been expended in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-21 Fire Department General Fund budget.
DISCUSSION
The primary goal of the AFG Program is to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire-related hazards by providing direct financial assistance for critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards, enhance operations efficiencies, foster interoperability, and support community resilience.
The Fire Department received the AFG-S award to assist with the costs associated with critical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and supplies as needed to prevent, prepare and respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The Fire Department’s FY 2020-21 Budget did not include additional costs that were a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Additional PPE was critical for the Department’s daily operations and response to the community at large. The department identified eligible priority PPE that had been purchased and/or ordered directly related to the COVID-19 Pandemic and included it in the grant request for funding.
The award was accepted on September 14, 2020. A request for reimbursement was submitted and approved on September 17, 2020 in the amount of $46,343.39. Funds were received and deposited with the City’s COVID-19 Account #96027.
ALTERNATIVES
Staff is recommending that the City Council accept the grant. Not accepting this grant would result in the City not receiving reimbursement funds for critical PPE needed in response of the COVID-19 pandemic.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The AFG-S grant is a matching grant program whereby the DHS awards a portion of the total project cost and the City must provide a match. The total cost of eligible PPE was $50,977.73. The grant paid $46,343.39 of the total cost. A local match of $4,634.34 was required.
The local match, grant revenues and expenditures of $50,977.73 will be budgeted in the Fire Grants Fund (Fund 220). The local match portion at 10% is $4,634.34 and is covered by the existing appropriations in the Fire Department’s FY 2020-21 Budget. This amount will be used towards a total transfer of $50,977.73 to the Fire Grants Fund to provide the full required local match funding for the grant.
|
Fund/Account |
Amount |
|
General Fund: |
|
|
Fire Department Expenditures |
$50,977.73 |
|
Fire Department Transfer Out to Fire Grants |
$4,634.34 |
|
Fire Grants: |
|
|
Transfer In (local match share) |
$4,634.34 |
|
Grant Revenue |
$46,343.39 |
|
Grant Expenditures |
$50,977.73 |
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
There is no Alameda Municipal Code/policy document cross-reference.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is not a project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines section 10561(b)(3) as there is no possibility that this action may have a significant effect on the environment.
CLIMATE IMPACT
There are no identifiable climate impacts or climate action opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Accept $46,343.39 grant from Assistance to Firefighters -COVID-19 Supplemental (AFG-S) Grant Program and to adopt a resolution amending the fiscal year 2020-21 Fire Grants Fund Revenue and Expenditures Budget by $50,977.73 and the General Fund Expenditures Budget by $4,634.34 to allocate the required matching funds per the grant requirement.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends acceptance of the $46,343.39 grant from Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. I also recommend amending the Budget and General Fund Budget to allocate required matching funds and appropriation.
Respectfully submitted,
Ricci Zombeck, Interim Fire Chief
By,
Monique Raqueno, Fire Administrative Services Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Annie To, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Award Package
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager
Gerry Beaudin, Assistant City Manager