2002 AGN JAN 15 I11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item #11 CITY OF COLTON AGENDA REPORT FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING OF January 15, 2002 TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council FROM: Thomas T. Hendrix, Fire Chief SUBJECT: Approve acceptance of a $70,295 FEMA Grant and provide $7,810 in required matching funds. DATE: December 18, 2001 BACKGROUND: The Colton Fire Department was one of only 1,866 fire departments nation-wide to receive a grant through the FIRE (Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program) Act of 2001. FEMA awarded Colton Fire Department a grant in the amount of $70,295 to equip our rescue unit to meet California Office of Emergency Services "Heavy Rescue" certification requirements. The grant requires the City to provide a 10% match in the amount of $7,810. ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION The FIRE Act of 2001 provided one hundred million dollars to be distributed on a competitive basis nation-wide. More than 19,000 applications were received by FEMA. Out of those, only 1,866 were funded. Colton Fire Department successfully obtained a grant to upgrade our rescue capabilities. The funding will be used to obtain equipment, which will bring our heavy rescue unit to a level that meets state -certified Heavy Rescue Certification. The rescue equipment we will purchase with the grant monies will assist in areas such as victim rescue in collapsed buildings, trench rescues, and technical rescue. The equipment obtained will be a necessity in the event of an earthquake, terrorist attack, or other major disaster. The grant, in the amount of $70,295, requires a 10% match ($7,810) by the City of Colton. The grant also requires that the "grantee maintain their operating expenses in the funded grant category at a level equal to or greater than the average of their operating expenditures in the two fiscal years preceding the fiscal year in which the grant is awarded." Upon acceptance of the grant by the City, we may draw the funds in advance of equipment purchase. The equipment will be purchased using existing City procurement policies. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: None anticipated.