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File #: AM No. 24-141   
Type: Consent Item Status: Passed
File created: 9/11/2024 In control: City Council
On agenda: 10/1/2024 Final action: 10/1/2024
Title: Acceptance of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grant
Attachments: 1. Agenda Memo, 2. Attachment A: Bellevue Fire and Redmond Fire Department Joint Application FY23 FPS Grant MOU, 3. Attachment B: 2023 Fiscal Year Fire Prevention and Safety FEMA Grant Award Letter, 4. Attachment C: 2023 Fiscal Year Fire Prevention and Safety FEMA Grant Application, 5. Attachment D: Interlocal Agreement

TO: Members of the City Council

FROM: Mayor Angela Birney

DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR CONTACT(S):

Fire

Chief Adrian Sheppard

425-556-2201

 

DEPARTMENT STAFF:

Fire

Rich Gieseke

Fire Marshal

Fire

Gary Smith

Assistant Fire Marshal

 

 

TITLE:

title

Acceptance of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grant

 

OVERVIEW STATEMENT:

recommendation

The Fire Department is seeking Council’s approval to accept funding from a U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety grant to provide enhanced security for the Fire Department emergency key access systems. The Bellevue and Redmond Fire Departments have coordinated efforts in securing this grant to improve the security and accountability of the existing emergency key access system used on our commercial, mixed-use and multifamily buildings. The total grant award is $707,423.39 with $298,871.99 being allocated to the City of Redmond, and $408,551.40 allocated to the City of Bellevue. This grant has a required 5% matching requirement that can be fulfilled through existing staff time and associated labor costs in lieu of a cash match.

body

  Additional Background Information/Description of Proposal Attached

 

 

REQUESTED ACTION:

 

  Receive Information                                            Provide Direction                                            Approve

 

 

REQUEST RATIONALE:

 

                     Relevant Plans/Policies:

Fire Department Strategic Plan 2022-2027

                     Required:

2021 Redmond Fire Code, Section 506.1

                     Council Request:

N/A

                     Other Key Facts:

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

OUTCOMES:

The Redmond and Bellevue Fire Departments share a jurisdictional border of 9.5 miles and responded to a combined 2,126 mutual aid calls in 2023. Bellevue provided aid to Redmond 563 times in 2023 in buildings equipped with fire department key box safes as required in the 2021 International Fire Code, Section 506 (Knox box). Redmond provided similar support into Bellevue 948 times. Of those: 50 were cardiac arrest calls, 8 were strokes, and 22 were confirmed structure fires, including 14 of in multi-family buildings. In at least 80 of these calls, any time delays would have significantly impacted patient outcomes and extent of structure damage. Implementing “eLock Knox” systems in tandem will allow both departments to share electronic key access to each other’s Knox boxes while adding security features.

 

The Redmond and Bellevue Fire Departments partnered to apply for a regional grant through FEMA’s Fire Prevention & Safety grant, which has been tentatively awarded for $707,423.39. This grant requires completion within a 24-month performance period as well as a 5% matching in either cash or staff time/labor equivalent.  The allocation is $298,871.99 in equipment for the City of Redmond and $408,871.40 in equipment to the City of Bellevue.

 

Both fire departments currently use an older version of the Knox Box key security system, which still uses traditional key lock cores. The inventory of Knox Box systems in Redmond is over 1,400 and growing each year. This award will cover transition costs for both municipalities to install electronic key lock hardware in the apparatus and a majority of key box cores.  Historically, this cost would have been passed on to local property owners, but this grant allows the transition to occur while minimizing the cost to local property owners.

 

Accepting this Fire Prevention & Safety Grant award will improve community safety and emergency response, and greatly enhance key security in both the Bellevue and Redmond Fire Departments’ service areas while minimizing the economic impact on property owners within our service areas.

 

 

COMMUNITY/STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH AND INVOLVEMENT:

 

                     Timeline (previous or planned):

Award letter received with an effective date beginning on 7/16/24, if the grant is formally accepted by both cities. If accepted, the departments have 24 months from this date to utilize funds and install the equipment purchased through grant funds

                     Outreach Methods and Results:

N/A

                     Feedback Summary:

N/A

 

 

BUDGET IMPACT:

 

Total Cost:

Installation of hardware in department apparatus $2,250

Exchange of current hardware in response apparatus by fire mechanic shop $1,282

Installation of 808 e-cores with current fire department staff est. $44,225 (light duty and prevention staff time)

 

Approved in current biennial budget:                                            Yes                                            No                                            N/A

 

Budget Offer Number:

N/A

 

Budget Priority:

N/A

 

Other budget impacts or additional costs:                       Yes                                            No                                            N/A

If yes, explain:

The grant has a 5% matching requirement of $14,944 that can be satisfied with staff time used to install cores and equipment in department apparatus.  No cash payment is necessary.

 

Funding source(s):

Fire Department General Fund

 

Budget/Funding Constraints:

Grant acceptance by October 1, 2024

 

  Additional budget details attached

 

 

COUNCIL REVIEW:

 

Previous Contact(s)

Date

Meeting

Requested Action

9/17/2024

Committee of the Whole - Public Safety

Provide Direction

 

Proposed Upcoming Contact(s)

Date

Meeting

Requested Action

Click and select a date, or click and press delete if none.

Click and select a meeting from the dropdown menu.

Click and select an action from the dropdown menu.

 

Time Constraints:

Bellevue is the lead agency for this grant and will purchase all equipment and complete all grant documentation and reporting. To move forward with purchasing, Bellevue requests Redmond approve receiving the grant by October 1, 2024.

 

 

ANTICIPATED RESULT IF NOT APPROVED:

If the grant award is not accepted the full expense of updating the fire department key box system will be required to be covered by the Fire Department General fund and individual property owners.

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment A: Bellevue Fire and Redmond Fire Department Joint Application FY23 FP&S Grant MOU

Attachment B: 2023 Fiscal Year Fire Prevention and Safety FEMA Grant Award Letter

Attachment C: 2023 Fiscal Year Fire Prevention and Safety FEMA Grant Application

Attachment D: Interlocal agreement