HomeMy WebLinkAbout15 - Donation of Fire Engines to Des Moines Area Community College Fire Science ProgramQ �EwPpRT
CITY OF
s NEWPORT BEACH
`q44:09 City Council Staff Report
April 25, 2023
Agenda Item No. 15
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Jeff Boyles, Fire Chief - 949-644-3101, jboyles@nbfd.net
PREPARED BY: Sander Huang, Purchasing and Contracts Administrator,
shuang@newportbeachca.gov; and
Raymund Reyes, Administrative Manager,
rreyes@nbfd.net
PHONE: 949-644-3080, 949-644-3352
TITLE: Donation of Fire Engines to Des Moines Area Community College
Fire Science Program
ABSTRACT:
The City of Newport Beach (City) has two surplus American LaFrance (ALF) fire engines.
These engines were removed from service after each reached the end of its useful life
and serviceability. The Fire Department would like to donate both engines to the Des
Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Foundation for its Fire Technology Program.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
a) Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because
this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly;
b) Authorize and approve the donation of two surplus fire engines to the Des Moines
Area Community College Fire Science Program Foundation (DMACC) and authorize
the Finance Director to execute any agreements or documentation necessary to
complete the donation process.
DISCUSSION:
The City has two surplus decommissioned ALF fire engines:
• Unit 2410 — 2003 Eagle fire engine purchased in May 2004 for $316,363
• Unit 2415 — 2005 Eagle fire engine purchased in May 2006 for $342,693
Each unit reached the end of its expected service life and was replaced per the City's
Vehicle Replacement Policy (Council Policy F-9). Both units were completely
decommissioned and remain in storage at the City's Corporation Yard. Additionally, the
manufacturer ceased its operations in 2014.
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Donation of Fire Engines to Des Moines Area Community College Fire Science Program
April 25, 2023
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The DMACC Fire Technology Program is Iowa's only accredited, college -based Fire
Technology Program that provides an academic pathway for applicants to meet the
understaffed needs of fire departments across the nation. Resources are logistically and
financially challenging for DMACC and having more than one fire engine to work on is an
opportunity for students to train and prepare for real life incidents and scenarios while
keeping costs down.
DMACC's program chair and lead instructor (a former City employee) originally contacted
the Fire Department in 2018 to see if there was any possibility of obtaining donations of
surplus fire engines. Staff indicated that any request for donations would need to be
handled through appropriate channels. Staff also reached out to fire academy programs
at Southern California based colleges to see if there was any local interest. At the time,
neither the Santa Ana College or Moreno Valley College programs had a need for
additional units.
With no local interest, staff began coordinating with DMACC. However, due to various
factors and delays, the donation process has not yet been completed. DMACC has been
running a single apparatus (a 1999 Freightliner) and is still interested in obtaining the
units.
Staff is requesting City Council approval to donate Unit 2410 and 2415 to DMACC
Foundation for its Fire Technology Program to assist with educational efforts.
Transportation and delivery will be coordinated and paid for by DMACC.
FISCAL IMPACT:
If the City chooses to donate the units instead of auctioning them off, there will be minimal
revenue loss to the City. The value of these surplus units is estimated to be around
$10,000 each, based on the prior history of disposed ALFs sold at auction:
• Unit 2407R — 2001 American Lafrance fire engine, sold November 2016, for
$12,230
• Unit 2408R — 2001 American Lafrance fire engine, sold December 2014, for
$8,430
• Unit 2409R — 2001 American Lafrance fire engine, sold December 2014, for
$10,520
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not
result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment)
and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA
Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no
potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
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Donation of Fire Engines to Des Moines Area Community College Fire Science Program
April 25, 2023
Page 3
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of
the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment A — Des Moines Area Community College Donation Request Letter
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ATTACHMENT A
DES MOINES AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
]FIR
TECHNOLOGY
Battalion Chief Lucas,
The DMACC Fire Science Program provides students the opportunity to develop the academic,
technical, and professional competencies required for fire and emergency service professions.
The Fire Technology Program has two pathways of educational opportunities, offering different
tracks to jobs within the fire service. We offer an AAS Degree or Certificate in Fire Science
Technology and partner with the Iowa Fire Service Training Bureau to train personnel affiliated
with local fire departments to obtain their Firefighter I training and eventual certification.
As the Des Moines metro continues to grow, fire departments are struggling to find qualified
applicants to meet their understaffed needs. DMACC is Iowa's only accredited, college -based
Fire Technology Program and we currently have 24 Firefighter I students enrolled this fall
semester. We are proud to say every fire department in the metro area has employees that
have participated in the DMACC Fire Technology program.
The ability for the DMACC Fire Technology Program to create partnerships with municipalities
to procure equipment allows us to meet the needs of our stakeholders while keeping education
costs down. Without these partnerships, our program would not have the quality equipment
needed to train our students to become future fire service professionals. As you can imagine
operating a Fire Technology Program is demanding. Having enough adequate resources like
personal protective equipment (PPE) and fire suppression apparatus can be logistically and
financially challenging. Currently, DMACC Fire Technology operates only one fire engine, a 1999
Freightliner on a Commercial Chassis. In the real world, operating on the fire ground is typically
a multiple -company operation. Not having multiple engine companies to train and work on
limits our ability to educate and prepare the students for real life incidents and scenarios.
Having the ability to add these additional resources to our training evolutions better prepares
students for the reality of an all -hands event in their communities upon graduation.
Respectfully,
Brent Conklin
Program Chair/Lead Instructor
DMACC Fire Technology Program
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