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Home My WebLink About10 - Firefighters Grant• CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT Agenda Item No. io January 27, 2004 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: Fire Department Tim Riley, Fire Chief, 644 -3101, triley @city.newport- beach.ca.us SUBJECT: Accept Assistance to Firefighters Grant RECOMMENDATION: City Council accept Federal Emergency Management Agency's United States Fire Administration Assistance to Firefighters Grant for $42,140.00 in funding for the Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety. 2. City Council approve a Budget Amendment BA appropriating the $42,140.00 • grant funds and the needed 30% matching funds of $18,060.00 into Fire Department account 2320 -4894. DISCUSSION: In FY 2003, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) United States Fire Administration (USFA) announced the availability of grants for fire agencies to enhance their abilities with respect to fire and fire - related hazards. In analyzing past fire incidents, the need for a four component "Fire Safety Kit" came to light. Given our past history of major fires with the potential to spread to other structures, due to dense building construction, or an urban wildland interface conflagration, the "Fire Safety Kit" will be built to ensure firefighter safety and increase firefighters' ability to assess fire hazards. The Fire Safety Kit is built around the addition of Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) tools, thermal imagers, a command remote video observation unit, and flashlights. The production of this Fire Safety Kit provides the opportunity to increase firefighters' capability on both structure and wildland fires. Since Newport Beach encompasses major hazards in both areas, this kit will significantly impact our ability to safely respond and save lives in our community. Importantly, the Newport Beach Fire Department will be able to share the benefit of these tools with neighboring jurisdictions when responding through mutual aid. • This program will be of assistance to the Newport Beach community because it will enhance fire operations and firefighter safety, assist with lifesaving operations, reduce Accept Assistance to Firefighters Grant January 27, 2004 Page 2 damage to property and the environment and provide the ability to manage the hazards in our community. The Fire Safety Kits will incorporate Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) tools as solutions for a multitude of situations which compromise firefighter safety. Often, firefighters find themselves in critical conditions in which they must rescue the life of a fellow firefighter. When this occurs, RIT tools are necessary to improve the chances of survival for that firefighter. The RIT tools include a rescue bag complete with a self- contained breathing apparatus, a face piece and the capability to administer oxygen in a critical environment. In addition, the kits will include three thermal imagers, which will greatly expand our ability to assess a fire's danger, locate hot spots in our urban wildland interface, and assist us in the location of possible victims. To complement these items, a Command Remote Video Observation (CRVO) unit will augment fire ground safety. A CRVO unit will serve as a tool for the on -scene Safety Officer and Incident Commander. On large incidents, firefighter safety is often difficult to ensure if fire operations are spread out. With a CRVO unit, a small camera can be set up to feed real -time images to the Incident Command Vehicle for viewing by the Safety Officer and Incident Commander. This will expand our capabilities for incidents within our city, as well as those incidents involving mutual aid. The last component of the Fire Safety Kit is flashlights. Proper flashlights are a basic safety need, to put light on extremely hazardous situations. Lighting can dramatically improve firefighter safety by illuminating areas which are unsafe for entry, victims in need of rescue, and other hazardous surroundings. Firefighter safety is the key element to properly managing emergencies. With the proper tools, firefighters can safely meet the needs of their target populations, while also reducing the damage associated with fires and major disasters. The Newport Beach Fire Safety Kit provides the optimum tools to enhance firefighter safety in an efficient and effective manner. Being able to respond to the large community of Newport Beach, while doing so in a safe and successful manner, will produce benefits that are truly immeasurable. These tools will save the lives of our community members, as well as our firefighters. In December of 2003, the Department's grant application was approved by FEMA. In accordance with council policy, the Fire Department requests Council to accept this grant funding, appropriate the 30% matching funds and deposit all funds into the Fire Department Operation Division account 2320 -4894. Prepared by: Q�� S c � Jen fifer Schulz Emergency Services Assistant Attachments: Budget Amendment: Submitted by: E • City of Newport Beach BUDGET AMENDMENT 2003 -04 CT ON BUDGETARY FUND BALANCE: X Increase Revenue Estimates X Increase Expenditure Appropriations Transfer Budget Appropriations SOURCE: from existing budget appropriations X from additional estimated revenues X from unappropriated fund balance EXPLANATION: NO. BA- 026 AMOUNT: $so,zoo.00 Increase in Budgetary Fund Balance AND X Decrease in Budgetary Fund Balance No effect on Budgetary Fund Balance This budget amendment is requested to provide for the following: To increase revenue estimates and expenditure appropriations related to a receipt of a FEMA Grant for Fire Safety Kits. ACCOUNTING ENTRY: BUDGETARY FUND BALANCE Fund Account 010 3605 Description General Fund Fund Balance REj[�NUE ESTIMATES (3601) Fund /Division Account Description FY 03 -04 2320 4894 Fire Operations - FEMA FY 04 -05 2320 4894 Fire Operations - FEMA EXPENDITURE APPROPRIATIONS (3603) Amount Debit Credit $18,060.00 $21,070.00 $21,070.00 $60,200.00 Signed: &�4� J�O Financial Approval //: Administrativ Services Director Date Signed: . Administrative Approvo City Manager D Signed: City Council Approval: City Clerk Date Description Division Number 2320 Fire Operations Account Number 82001 FEMA Grant Expenses Division Number Account Number Division Number Account Number Division Number Account Number Amount Debit Credit $18,060.00 $21,070.00 $21,070.00 $60,200.00 Signed: &�4� J�O Financial Approval //: Administrativ Services Director Date Signed: . Administrative Approvo City Manager D Signed: City Council Approval: City Clerk Date 71 City of Newport Beach Wo. BR- C26 BUDGETAMENDMENT 2003 -04 AMOUNT: $so,2oo.00 EFFECT ON BUDGETARY FUND BALANCE: Increase Revenue Estimates Pq Increase Expenditure Appropriations Transfer Budget Appropriations SOURCE: from existing budget appropriations X from additional estimated revenues X from unappropriated fund balance EXPLANATION: Increase in Budgetary Fund Balance AND X Decrease in Budgetary Fund Balance No effect on Budgetary Fund Balance This budget amendment is requested to provide for the following: To increase revenue estimates and expenditure appropriations related to a receipt of a FEMA Grant for Fire Safety Kits. A",L)UNIINV r-NIKT: BUDGETARY FUND BALANCE Fund Account 010 3605 REVENUE ESTIMATES (3601) Fund /Division Account FY 03 -04 2320 4894 FY 04 -05 2320 4894 EXPENDITURE APPROPRIATIONS (3603) Division Number Account Number Division Number Account Number Division Number Account Number Division Number Account Number Signed: Signed: Signed: Financial Adm roval: Description General Fund Fund Balance Descri Fire Operations - FEMA Fire Operations - FEMA Description 2320 Fire Operations 82001 FEMA Grant Expenses City Council Approval: City Clerk Amount Debit Credit $18,060.00 $21,070.00 $21,070.00 $60,200.00 rvices Director � Date I--- Z 2 % r�� Date 70 Date I