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
End
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 addit...
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