Approval of an ordinance authorizing the application for and acceptance of award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) FY2019 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION
The Houston Fire Department (HFD) requests City Council to approve an ordinance authorizing the application for and acceptance of award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) FY 2019 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program in the amount of $2,987,675 with a cash match of $448,152.00 for a total program cost of $3,435,827.00. The anticipated project period is to begin May 1, 2020 and end April 30, 2021.
For the 2019 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), HFD proposes two projects; Vehicle Exhaust Extraction System project and Blue Card Incident Command training program.
Previously HFD was awarded the 2017 and 2018 AFG grant to install vehicle exhaust removal systems in our 45 busiest fire stations. HFD is now requesting $2,002,495.00 to install vehicle exhaust removal systems at 31 additional fire stations. These fire stations house multiple emergency response vehicles; all of which release toxic fumes throughout the day. These stations are staffed on a 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year basis. Installation of vehicle exhaust systems is expected to improve air quality at those stations.
Previously, HFD secured funding from the 2016 and 2018 AFG grant to certify every officer, 650 Engineer Operators ("EOs,") Incident Command Technician in the Blue Card Program. The intent of this program is to address multiple core competencies identified in the National Preparedness Goal through the introduction of the Blue Card Hazard Zone Incident Command Training and Certification Program (Blue Card). The Blue Card program enables HFD to improve upon issues related to fire management and suppression, threat and hazard identification, operational coordination, and operational communication. As HFD implemented the training and certification process, the need to include all of our EOs became apparent, as EOs are capable of functioning as an officer for HFD. Therefore, HFD is now seeking $1,433,332.00 to continue the Blue Card training for 625 EOs and recently promoted officers' renewals.
The Houston Fire Department also requests City Council to authorize the Fire Chief or his designee to act as the City's representative in the application process with the authority to apply for, accept, and expend the grant funds as awarded, and apply for, accept, and expend all subsequent awards, if any, to extend the budget period, and to authorize the Mayor to execute all related agreements with the approval as to form of the City Attorney in connection with the grant not to exceed five years.
Fiscal Note:
Funding for the cash match is included in FY21 Adopted Budget
Fiscal Note:
No fiscal note required on grant items.
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Samuel Peña, Fire Chief
Houston Fire Department