HomeMy WebLinkAboutVIII-13 Approve Fire Department Submission of Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant City Council Memorandum
To: Mayor Fasbender & City Council Members
From: John Townsend, Fire Chief
Date: February 15, 2023
Item: Approve Fire Department Submitting for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency
Response (SAFER) Grant Application
Council Action Requested:
Approve fire department submitting for SAFER grant application.
Background Information:
FEMA has opened up the SAFER grant process. This grant opportunity opened February 13, 2023 with a deadline
of March 17, 2023. This grant provides funding for additional new firefighter positions for a period of 36 months.
There are no matching dollars during the 36-month period. At the end of the grant funding, for these positions,
they become the responsibility of the City.
The department would request funding for two additional full-time firefighters.
Two additional full-time firefighters would move us forward from the four hires in 2023. These hires will be
working a power truck schedule increasing our staffing for 12 hours each day to 7 on-duty staff. The additional
two staff will allow for these staff to increase to 7 on shift for the full 24-hour shift. This will increase each of the
three shifts from five to seven staff on each of our 24-hour shifts. This increase in full-time staff would allow the
department to staff more appropriately for an effective response force. This increase in staff will also have an
impact on decreasing overtime to our full-time staff.
Financial Impact:
Estimated costs covered by grant for the initial 36 months:
Year Cost/FTE Cost for 2
2024 $142,158. $284,317.
2024 $147,538. $295,077.
2025 $153,192. $306,384.
City Costs after the 36-month grant period:
2026* 159,138. $318,276
Advisory Commission Discussion: N/A
Council Committee Discussion: N/A
Council Workshop: Discussed department needs and operations at council workshops in previous years budget
cycle.
Attachments: None
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