Broken Arrow City Council
Meeting of: 09-15-2015
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 2014 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant that will fund the salaries and benefits of nine new firefighter positions for a period of two years
End
Background:
The Broken Arrow Fire Department has been awarded a $1,090,791 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to hire nine (9) new firefighters. This will allow the department to augment the authorized strength and convey 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 2014 SAFER grant will provide 100% funding for salaries and benefits of nine (9) entry level firefighters for a period of two years. This performance period begins February 21, 2016, and will conclude on February 20, 2018. The grant does not require cost-sharing for funds under the FY2014 appropriation, and does not establish limits for annual salaries.
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 141, with an authorized strength of 153. A hiring process is currently underway, and the goal will be to hire 21 new cadets with an expected start date of November 2, 2015. Of the 21 cadets, nine (9) of the new firefighters will be funded by the SAFER grant increasing the authorized strength to 162. 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. If the citizens of Broken Arrow vote to approve the Vision 2025 extension, sufficient funding would exist to retain these new employees. If the Vision extension does not pass, the City would have the option to reduce the authorized strength back to the current level of 153, and staffing could be reduced through attrition.
Upon acceptance of the grant, additional unbudgeted expenses will be incurred to employ the nine (9) 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 $70,000.00. Subsequent to the academy, the addition of these nine (9) firefighters will assist in absorbing current overtime expenses and provide increased staffing on Fire Department apparatus. This cost savings will be realized in the FY2017 and 2018 budgets. At the close of the performance period, the Broken Arrow Fire Department will be preparing to deploy an additional suppression unit to cover the City’s fire suppression and first response needs.
Cost: $0
Prepared By: Jeremy K. Moore, Fire Chief
Reviewed By: Finance Department
Human Resources
Legal Department
Assistant City Manager
Approved By: Russell M. Gale, Acting City Manager
Attachments: BAFD-SAFER (FY) 2014 Award Package
FY_2014_SAFER_FOA_FINAL_v2
SAFER Hiring Grant User Guide - Final 7.9.15
Recommendation:
Accept the Fiscal Year 2014 SAFER grant.