TO: Members of the City Council
FROM: Mayor Angela Birney
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR CONTACT(S):
|
Fire |
Adrian Sheppard, Fire Chief |
425-556-2200 |
DEPARTMENT STAFF:
|
Fire |
Jim Whitney |
Deputy Fire Chief |
TITLE:
title
FY24 Assistance to Firefighters Grant - Joint Peer Support Training MOU Amendment
OVERVIEW STATEMENT:
recommendation
Authorize the Mayor to execute the First Amendment to the FY24 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program Joint Peer Support Training Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), adding the City of Redmond Fire Department as a participating agency in place of the City of Bothell Fire Department.
body
☒ Additional Background Information/Description of Proposal Attached
REQUESTED ACTION:
☐ Receive Information ☐ Provide Direction ☒ Approve
REQUEST RATIONALE:
• Relevant Plans/Policies:
2025-2050 Redmond Fire Department Functional Plan (Workforce Wellness)
2022-2027 Fire Department Strategic Plan (Firefighter Health and Safety)
• Required:
N/A
• Council Request:
N/A
• Other Key Facts:
N/A
OUTCOMES:
Participation will provide Redmond Fire Department's internal Peer Support Team access to specialized training designed to strengthen the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to support firefighters and other cross-department personnel.
The regional training initiative focuses on Peer Support and behavioral wellness and includes training related to resilience, post-traumatic stress, resource awareness, peer education, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, behavioral health resources, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and best practices for supporting members following difficult or traumatic events.
A well-trained Peer Support Team is an important component of supporting the health and resiliency of Redmond Fire personnel. Firefighters routinely respond to traumatic incidents and high-stress situations, and Peer Support members are often among the first trusted resources available to employees following those experiences. This grant provides an opportunity to significantly expand the training available to Redmond's Peer Support Team while leveraging federal funding and a regional training partnership.
Participation will also strengthen Redmond's ability to provide support to department’s throughout the City and work alongside neighboring agencies during significant incidents and provide or receive regional peer support when additional resources are needed.
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:
$7,653.09
Approved in current biennial budget: ☒ Yes ☐ No ☐ N/A
Budget Offer Number:
0000277
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 |
|
9/1/2026 |
Committee of the Whole - Planning and Public Works |
Provide Direction |
Proposed Upcoming Contact(s)
|
Date |
Meeting |
Requested Action |
|
9/1/2026 |
Business Meeting |
Approve |
Time Constraints:
Redmond must send its allotted Peer Support members to the September training in order to maintain participation in the grant. Redmond has already missed one scheduled training and based on the number of training seats allocated to the Redmond, participation in the September session is necessary to fulfill Redmond’s grant commitment. The executed MOU amendment was originally requested by the end of August; however, Redmond was unable to meet that deadline and has been granted an extension to provide the executed amendment following anticipated Council approval on September 1.
ANTICIPATED RESULT IF NOT APPROVED:
If the amendment is not approved, Redmond would be unable to participate in the regional grant and would forgo the federally funded Peer Support training available through the award.
Redmond’s required local cost share is $7,653.09 and if Redmond is unable to fulfill its commitment, that amount would need to be redistributed among the remaining participating agencies, increasing their respective local contributions.
Redmond would also need to independently fund comparable Peer Support training through the General Fund to maintain an appropriately trained internal Peer Support Team. Comparable training is anticipated to cost at least three times Redmond’s grant cost share without the benefit of the federal grant funding. Redmond would also lose access to the regional training framework and associated collaboration with neighboring fire agencies.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: First Amendment to Memorandum of Understanding
Attachment B: Original Grant Application
Attachment C: Memorandum of Understanding