TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and any necessary subsequent amendments including term extensions, with the Department of Homeland Security for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant funding for the hiring activity of seven (7) Firefighters in the amount of $3,049,915, for the performance period of October 23, 2023, to October 22, 2026; and
Increase appropriations in the General Grants Fund Group in the Fire Department by $3,049,915, offset by grant revenue. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program is one of three grant programs under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP) that constitute the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) focus on enhancing the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire-related hazards.
The SAFER Program objectives are to assist local fire departments with staffing and deployment capabilities to respond to emergencies and help communities meet industry minimum standards and attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards, and to fulfill traditional mission of fire departments. In acceptance of the grant award, Long Beach Fire Department can more effectively and safely respond to emergencies with enhanced staffing levels, experience a reduction in response times and an increase in the number of trained personnel assembled at the incident scene.
SAFER 2021 does not require a non-federal recipient contribution. The SAFER grant will be used to hire seven (7) Firefighters full-time operational positions whose primary assignment is on a fire suppression vehicle, regardless of collateral duties. The SAFER Program Office will work with recipients to establish the correct staffing maintenance numbers, which combine the number of pre-SAFER Program and SAFER Prog...
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