Broken Arrow City Council
Meeting of: 09-20-2016
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Office of the City Manager
Title:
title
Consideration, discussion, and possible acceptance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fiscal Year 2015 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant that will fund the salaries and benefits of eleven (11) new firefighter positions for a period of two years
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Background:
The Broken Arrow Fire Department has been awarded a $1,486,320 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to hire eleven (11) new firefighters. This will allow the department to increase the authorized strength and fulfill to the citizens the goal and our message regarding the Vision 2025 Extension. The grant will enable the Broken Arrow Fire Department to continue providing superior fire protection and advanced medical care to the citizens of Broken Arrow.
The purpose of a SAFER grant is to provide funding directly to fire departments to assist them is increasing the number of firefighters. This is achieved by: (1) hiring new firefighters, (2) rehiring firefighters that have been laid off, (3) allow retention of firefighters facing imminent layoffs, or (4) the filling of positions that were vacated through attrition.
The 2015 SAFER grant will provide 100% funding for salaries and benefits of eleven (11) entry level firefighters for a period of two years. This performance period begins February 1, 2017, and will conclude on January 31, 2019. The grant does not require cost-sharing for funds under the FY2015 appropriation, and does not establish limits for annual salaries. Beginning February 1, 2019 the City will be responsible for all salaries and benefits paid to these 11 firefighters.
During the two-year performance period, the Broken Arrow Fire Department will be required to maintain the staffing level that existed at the time of the award, in addition to the SAFER funded positions. The current staffing level is 156, with an authorized strength of 162. A hiring process is currently underway, and the goal will be to hire 17 new cadets with an expected start date of February 1, 2017. Of the 17 cadets, eleven (11) of the new firefighters will be funded by the SAFER grant increasing the Fire Department’s total authorized strength to 173. Upon completion of the two-year performance period, the City of Broken Arrow is under no obligation to retain the positions funded by the SAFER grant. However, since the citizens of Broken Arrow approved the Vision 2025 extension, sufficient funding will exist to retain these new employees. With the addition of these firefighters the City will have fulfilled its promise to the voters of adding 20 new firefighters approximately three years before expected.
Upon acceptance of the grant, additional unbudgeted expenses will be incurred to employ the eleven (11) new firefighters. These expenses include training costs, bunker gear, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), radios and various equipment that is needed to accommodate departmental growth. The additional unbudgeted expenses are not expected to exceed $200,000.00. Subsequent to the academy, the addition of these eleven (11) firefighters will assist in absorbing current overtime expenses and provide increased staffing on Fire Department apparatus.
Staff recommends acceptance of the SAFER Grant.
Cost: None
Prepared By: Jeremy K. Moore, Fire Chief
Reviewed By: Finance Department
Human Resources
Legal Department
Assistant City Manager-Administration
Approved By: Michael L. Spurgeon, City Manager
Attachments: 2015 Capital SAFER Costs
FY2015 Broken Arrow Fire Department Pre-SAFER Roster
SAFER Hiring Grant User Guide - final 8.26.16
SAFER Award Letter and Agreement Articles
Recommendation:
recommend
Accept the Fiscal Year 2015 SAFER grant.
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