TO: Committee of the Whole - Public Safety and Human Services
FROM: Mayor Angela Birney
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR CONTACT(S):
|
Fire |
Adrian Sheppard |
425-556-2200 |
DEPARTMENT STAFF:
|
Fire |
Jim Whitney |
Deputy Fire Chief |
|
Fire |
Ameé Quiriconi |
Deputy Fire Chief |
TITLE:
title
Contract with Leasing2 for the Financing of SCBA and Air Cylinder Equipment
OVERVIEW STATEMENT:
recommendation
The Fire Department is proceeding with the purchase of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) units and air cylinders to replace outdated and end-of-life safety gear. To support this investment, the Fire and Finance Departments recommend entering into a capital equipment lease agreement with Leasing2. The agreement will preserve departmental cash flow by spreading costs over multiple years while ensuring our firefighters are equipped with reliable and NFPA-compliant breathing apparatus.
body
☒ Additional Background Information/Description of Proposal Attached
REQUESTED ACTION:
☐ Receive Information ☒ Provide Direction ☐ Approve
REQUEST RATIONALE:
• Relevant Plans/Policies:
Redmond Fire Department - Strategic Plan 2022-2027
• Required:
Council approval is required for this lease contract.
• Council Request:
N/A
• Other Key Facts:
SCBA Replacement: Our current SCBAs have reached the last available hydrocycle period for their bottles, with only two years remaining before most become non-compliant. The packs themselves are outdated, and many components can no longer be repaired or replaced.
• Redmond Fire attempted to secure grant funding but were informed that Redmond does not qualify individually. Our regional partners have already replaced their SCBAs through city budgets and do not share our need for a regional grant.
• In the last budget cycle, discussions deferred this replacement in hopes of securing grant funding; however, with no grant options available, immediate action is required.
• Due to increasing failures and escalating maintenance costs ($68,000 so far this year), continued use of the current SCBAs is unsustainable. Fire is now at 12 years of use in a system designed for a 10-year recommended lifespan, with repairs contingent on parts availability and costs.
• A department-wide upgrade is essential to maintain consistency across all fire apparatus, preventing operational confusion and safety risks during emergency responses. Mixing different SCBA models in emergency scenarios could endanger firefighter safety.
OUTCOMES:
The lease will ensure the Fire Department can acquire and deploy modern SCBA and air cylinder systems without depleting reserves, enabling sustained investment in other essential services and capital needs. Equipment will be transferred and conveyed to the City at the commencement of the lease.
COMMUNITY/STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH AND INVOLVEMENT:
• Timeline (previous or planned):
N/A
• Outreach Methods and Results:
N/A
• Feedback Summary:
N/A
BUDGET IMPACT:
Total Cost:
See attachment for proposed costs and lease terms.
Approved in current biennial budget: ☐ Yes ☒ No ☐ N/A
Budget Offer Number:
N/A
Budget Priority:
Safe and Resilient
Other budget impacts or additional costs: ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ N/A
If yes, explain:
N/A
Funding source(s):
General Fund
Budget/Funding Constraints:
N/A
☐ Additional budget details attached
COUNCIL REVIEW:
Previous Contact(s)
|
Date |
Meeting |
Requested Action |
|
N/A |
Item has not been presented to Council |
N/A |
Proposed Upcoming Contact(s)
|
Date |
Meeting |
Requested Action |
|
8/4/2025 |
Business Meeting |
Approve |
Time Constraints:
Air cylinder equipment expires in two years; current SCBA’s are already outdated.
ANTICIPATED RESULT IF NOT APPROVED:
Due to the non-negotiable nature of maintaining SCBA’s for legal and safety requirements, if leasing option is not approved, the Fire Department would need to expend significant cash reserves to purchase equipment outright, reducing flexibility for other capital or emergency needs.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: Leasing2 Agreement for SCBA and Air Cylinder Equipment (Unexecuted)