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� Request for Council Action Date: March 26,2004 Item Number: 3.0 D�pa��n� �ippr�n�ai Manager �pp �i Agenda Section ��. � �, [#�rrr �� t A�p ra,r � t tr� to Firefighters Grant Program Back�round: f�, e the United Stat�s Department of Homeland Security Assistance 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 fire-related hazards. The grants will be awarded on a competitive basis. Congress has made $750 million available for the fiscal year 2004. To be eligible, grant applications must be received at the FEMA offices by Apri12,2004. The grant program has three different categories an applicant can choose from. Each applicant is limited to grant request in only one category. We have chosen to apply under the "Operations and Firefighter Safety Program" category for the purchase of 800 Megahertz (MHz) mobile and portable radios. ��li�� Emvli��ti��s: 800 MHz Radio System: The State of Minnesota has invested millions of dollars into building the backbone for a state-wide 800 MHz radio system to improve interoperability of public safety services throughout the state. In 2003, the Hennepin County system became operational. The Ramsey County system is scheduled to be operational in 2005. This will mean that communities who wish to participate in this radio system will need to purchase or lease radios. The funding source for the backbone has been identified through federal grants and other county sources. The conversion to the 800 MHz radio system will allow Roseville Fire Department to talk to other communities, via radio, during critical emergencies. The ability to communicate across community boundaries is known as"interoperability"and is among the highest priorities in this year's grant program. Financial• The federal grant has a 10% matching requirement for communities with populations under 50,000. The grant application for the radio equipment will be for $351,000 with a required match of $35,100 from the City. The City's match will be paid from fire department's capital budget. In the capital budget schedule dated October 11,2000, the fire department identified the need to transition to the new radio system and has included it as a capital funding item each year. The current capital improvements schedule has $350,000 for upgrading the fire department to the new radio system in 2005. Obtaining the federal grant would allow for the upgrade using only 10% of the originally anticipated funds. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends the application for grant funding for the purchase of 800 MHz radios.. Council Action Reauested: Motion to authorize the fire department to apply for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program in the amount of $351,000 for the purchase of 800 Megahertz radios.