Item C29Meeting Date. April 16, 2008
Bulk Item: Yes X No
Division: Emergency Services
Department: Fire Rescue
Staff Contact Person: Susan Hover
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of Resolution authorizing Monroe County Fire Rescue to
enter into a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Agreement with U.S.
Department of Homeland Security, if awarded and commit to the 5-year SAFER grant program
requiring graduated county match funds for hiring 14 firefighters to improve fire rescue service
delivery, and authorization for the County Administrator to execute all related grant documents during
term of grant.
ITEM BACKGROUND: The SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) Grant
was created to provide funding directly to fire departments to increase the number of trained, "front-
line" firefighters available in their communities. The goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire
departments' abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards established by NFPA
and OSHA (NFPA 1710 and/or NFPA 1720 and OSHA 1910.134). The five-year grant pays a portion
of the salaries of newly hired firefighters. These newly hired positions must be in addition to
authorized and currently funded firefighter positions. Grantees must maintain the number of authorized
and funded positions as declared at the time of application in addition to the awarded new firefighter
positions throughout the period of performance (five years). Grantees that fail to maintain this level of
staffing are at risk of losing all or a portion of the grant award. The grant requires Monroe County to
match an increasing proportion of the salary over a four-year period, with the fifth year funding the
entire cost of grant positions.
Monroe County Fire Rescue has applied for a SAFER grant for 14 firefighter positions and needs a
commitment from the Board of County Commissioners for the match portion of the grant in order to
proceed in the application process.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: None.
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Approval
TOTAL COST: $ 5,_481,869* over 5d ears BUDGETED: Yes No X
*Year 1: $953,246; Year 2: $1,019,973; Year 3: $1,091,371; Year 4: $1,167,767, Year 5: $1,249,511
Of the total, $1.9 million will be funded with grant funds from the U.S. Dept of Homeland Security
COST TO COUNTY:$ 3 584 219** over 5 years SOURCE OF FUNDS: **
"Year 1: $270,146; Year 2: $412,833; Year 3: $711,931; Year 4: $939,797, Year 5: $1,249,511
through ad valorem or non -ad valorem fire assessment
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No X AMOUNT PER MONTH Year.
APPROVED BY: County Atty OMB/Purchasing Risk Management.
DOCUMENTATION: Included X Not Required
DISPOSITION: AGENDA ITEM #
Revised 8/06
RESOLUTION No. - 2008
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire
and Emergency Response) Grant was created to provide funding directly to fire departments and
volunteer firefighter interest organizations in order to help them increase the number of trained, "front-
line" firefighters available in their communities; and
WHEREAS, the goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments' abilities to comply with
staffing, response and operational standards established by NFPA and OSHA (NFPA 1710 and/or NFPA
1720 and OSHA 1910.134; and
WHEREAS, specifically, SAFER funds should assist local fire departments to increase their
staffing and deployment capabilities in order to respond to emergencies whenever they may occur. As a
result of the enhanced staffing, response times should be sufficiently reduced with an appropriate number
of personnel assembled at the incident scene; and
WHEREAS, ultimately, a faster, safer and more efficient incident scene will be established and
communities will have more adequate protection from fire and fire -related hazards; and
WHEREAS, the hiring of firefighters activity involves a five-year grant to assist fire departments
to pay a portion of the salaries of newly hired firefighters. These newly hired positions must be in addition
to authorized and funded active firefighter positions; and
WHEREAS, grantees must do everything in their power to maintain the number of authorized and
funded positions as declared at the time of application PLUS the awarded new firefighter positions
throughout the period of performance (five years). Grantees that fail to maintain this level of staffing risk
losing all or a portion of their grant; and
WHEREAS, these grants require the awardee to match an increasing proportion of the salary over
a four-year period; in the fifth year of the grant, the awardee must absorb the entire cost of any positions
awarded as a result of the grant; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County Fire Rescue had applied for grant funds for 14 firefighters, and in
March of 2008, received notification of potential grant approval and needs a commitment from the Board
of County Commissioners for the match portion of the grant in order to proceed further in the application
process; and
Page I of 2
WHEREAS, if the grant is awarded, it would be necessary for Monroe County to fund the county
match portion from ad valorem sources, and/or through the adoption of a non -ad valorem fire assessment;
and
WHEREAS, the federal grant portion total amount for five years of $1,897,650, with the county
match portion total amount for five years of $3,584,219 with the annual breakdown as follows:
Description
FY09
FY09
FY2009
FY2010
FY2011
FY2012
FY2013
Totals
Cost
#Positions
Per
to add
Position
Including
Loadings
Federal Grant Portion
$683,100
$607,140
$379,440
$227,970
$0
$1,897,650
Monroe County
$270,146
$412,833
$711,931
$939,797
$1,249,511
$3,584,219
Portion
Personnel -
Firefighter/Paramedic
$68,089
14
$953,246
$1,019,973
$1,091,371
$1,167,767
$1,249,511
$5,481,869
(14)
1. Monroe County Fire Rescue is hereby authorized to enter into a Staffing for Adequate Fire and
Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Agreement with U.S. Department of Homeland Security if
awarded; and commit to the 5-year SAFER Grant Program requiring graduated County match funds for
hiring 14 firefighters to improve fire rescue service delivery.
2. County funds necessary to meet the County portion of the grant will be appropriated and set
aside for this purpose each year for the 5-year term of the grant.
3. The County Administrator is hereby authorized to execute all related grant documents during
the term of the grant.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida
at a regular meeting of said Board held on the day of , A.D., 2008.
Mayor Charles McCoy
Mayor Pro Tem Mario Di Gennaro
Commissioner George Neugent
Commissioner Dixie Spehar
Commissioner Sylvia J. Murphy
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
(SEAL) OF MONROE COUNTY FLORIDA
Attest: DANNY L. KOLHAGE, Clerk
By By
Deputy Clerk Mayor/Chairman
MONROE COUNTY ATTORNEY
Page 2 of 2 PROVEP AS O RM:
CYNTHIA L. HALL
�,r ns.1-r c:oUNTY ATTORNEY