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E�{��rl�1i�1�i r1p�r�� �� l��ripti��; ��ip�r��l �� p�lk� to Fire�ghters �rant program Back�round• t� �� . � �� Request for Council Action Date: Apri13,2006 Item Number: 3.e A�I�nag�r A��rrn•al.� �'�.�r�� G�.� � r��cn� a ��etion �� la i� it�d �t�t� ]�ep� rtm �n l�rf 1[��i�l�n� �� uril,� .��x i�s�a nc�c The United States Department of Homeland Security's office of Domestic Preparedness is offering the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The program is intended to make grants directly to fire departments of a State for the purpose of enhancing the department's ability to protect the health and safety of the public as well as that of firefighting personnel facing fire and rescue-related hazards. The grants will he awarded on a competitive basis. Congress has made $539.5 million available for the fiscal year 2006. The grant program has two different categories an applicant can choose from. Each applicant is limited to a grant request in only one category. We have chosen to apply under the "Operations and Firefighter Safety" category for the purchase of replacement self-contained breathing apparatus. P��fit}� lrnpli��fi�r��: This grant would help the fire department solve a problem with the current self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) woz-�. by Roseville firefighters. The current SCBAs were designed and purchased before the numerous world events where terrorists have used non-conventional weaponry to inflict mass casualties. These units are not certified to be compliant for chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear exposure. [The acronym used by federal authorities for these non-conventional weapons is CBRN Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear.� The fire deoartment is not eauiyyed to safelv resoond to events that involve CBRN. re,�ardless of whether the event is caused by an act of terrorism or accidentally. The grant would allow the fire department to . r._..- .--...� replace all SCBA with units that are CBRN compliant. Financial• The federal grant has a 10% matching requirement for communities with populations under 50,000. The grant application for the self-contained breathing apparatus will be $291,480 with a required match of $29,148 from the City. The City's match will be paid from fire department's equipment capital budget. Obtaining the federal grant would allow the firefighters to safely operate in environments where io ogical agents have been released and the city's obligation for this safety improvement will be 10% of the expense to replace the units. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends the application for grant funding for the purchase replacement of self-contained breathing apparatus. Council Action Requested: Motion to authorize the fire department to apply for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program in the amount of $291,480 to replace self-contained breathing apparatus with units that are compliant for biological agents.