Title
Assistance to Firefighters Grant FY09 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Emergency
Access System (NB)
This item requests that the Commission authorize the City Manager to apply for, and execute a grant if awarded, for updating Gainesville Fire Rescue's emergency access system for secure properties.
Explanation
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides support to local fire departments through the annual Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program, which includes a Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Program with a 20% match.
The City of Gainesville has annexed several large commercial properties over the past few years that have access systems set up under Alachua County's Knox Box® system. This system is different than the system used by Gainesville Fire Rescue (GFR). The annexed areas have County-keyed boxes that the City keys will not fit. This defeats the purpose of the Knox Box® program which provides a means of emergency access to commercial properties by hindering operational response. Of additional concern is the fact that Alachua County Fire Rescue Station 19 is located in the City, but does not have access to any City boxes and that GFR currently has only five units which have Knox Box® key units. The County units have key systems on all of their response vehicles. The upgrade would result in GFR having all response vehicles equipped with compatible access devices and would eliminate future compatibility problems with properties that may be annexed by the City in the future. The total cost of the grant includes parts, labor, and installation of the key secure devices and the cylinder lock replacement and labor costs.
Fiscal Note
The total cost of the project is not to exceed $15,000; the Federal Share is 80% or $12,000 and the Applicant Share is not to exceed 20% or $3,000. Matching funds have been identified in the FY10 GFR Support Services budget.
Recommendation
The City Commission authorize the City Manager, if awarded the grant, to: 1) execute the grant award contract and other necessary documents, pending approval by the City Attorney as to form and legality; and 2) approve the required payments process for expending the grant funds and matching funds.
Alternate Recommendation A: The City Commission not authorize the City Manager to execute the grant award contract or provide the required match funding.