Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Item - 2001-10-16 - Number 10.1.1 - i or�n�iq,wfco itk 10. 1 . 1 ^� 10/16/01 AGENDA REPORT SUMMARY MEETING DATE: OCTOBER 16, 2001 SUBJECT: RESOLUTION No. 01-77. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF LAKE ACCEPTING A FEMA GRANT FOR $258,750 TO PUT FIRE SPRINKLERS IN ADULT FOSTER HOMES. RECOMMENDED MOTION: Move to adopt Resolution No. 01-77. A Resolution of the City of Lake Oswego to accept a FEMA grant for$258,750 to put fire sprinklers in adult foster homes. EST. FISCAL ATTACHMENTS: NOTICED (Date): IMPACT: • Schmitz memo dated $258,750 FEMA October 11, 2001 $28,750 City • Council Report dated Resolution no.: 01-77 October 8, 2001. STAFF COST: $ NA . • Resolution No. 01-77 Findings no.: N/A BUDGETED: • Grant Award Letter Y N X Previous Council consideration: NO FUNDING SOURCE: • FEMA • Public Safety Capital Fund DEPT. DIRECTOR ASST. CITY MANAGER CITY AGER Signoff/date Signoff/date Signoff/date // �c--ft.s d/ Ord\rptcov00.doc OE LAKE OSS'°O CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MEMORANDUM OREGO$ TO: Judie Hammerstad, Mayor Members of the City Council FROM: Douglas J. Schmitz, City Manager SUBJECT: FEMA Grant DATE: 11 October 2001 Council is asked to consider acceptance of a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in response to an application that the City's Department of Fire, Rescue and Life Safety submitted for the installation of sprinklers in adult foster homes as well as Special Residences and Homes for Children with Special Needs. The Fire Department, particularly Fire Chief Dan Semrad and Fire Marshal Phil Sample,was one of two specifically singled out for its innovative fire prevention application when FEMA made its announcement of grant awards on 24 September. The City needs to contribute 10%, or $28,750, towards the grant. Resolution 01-77 proposes the utilization of monies in the Public Safety Capital Equipment Fund. The Finance Department will examine the activity within that fund when the mid-year budget text is prepared in December. If funding is needed for this program beyond that appropriated of FY 2001-02, a line item will be included in the mid-year budget. The fund has an estimated ending fund balance of $482,122. Why not use the Water Fund? We're prohibited by the Charter,Section 50, Revenue from Utilities,which reads, in part, "Revenue received. . . shall be used solely for the operation of such utility, retirement of any debt of the utility, and for its purchase, construction or expansion." .tot%AKE Osk,FCO CITY OF LAKE OSWEGO ��--J- COUNCIL REPORT OREGO$ TO: Douglas J. Schmitz, City Manager FROM: Dan Semrad, Fire Chief PREPARED BY: Phil Sample, Fire Marshal SUBJECT: Resolution No. 01-77—Accept Federal Emergency Management Grant to place residential fire sprinklers in homes for elderly, children and disabled residents in need of assistance. DATE: October 8, 2001 ACTION The action before the City Council is consideration of approval of Resolution No. 01-77. This resolution accepts a Federal Emergency Management grant for $258,750 and requires a 10% City match of$28,750. The money would make possible a City program to put fire sprinklers in the homes of residents most vulnerable to and least protected from fire. BACKGROUND Fire sprinkler systems virtually eliminate uncontrolled fires and fire deaths in buildings. In a conscientious effort to prioritize Lake Oswego fire prevention programs, the targets are easy to identify. Fire death victims in our community have always been elderly, young, or disabled. In an effort to wipe out the fire risk to the most vulnerable, the city's Fire Sprinkler Grant City Council Report Page One of Five BACKGROUND (cont.) fire prevention efforts are promoting the use of fire sprinkler systems in apartments, in all schools, adult foster care homes, special care residents and foster care homes for children. With the City Council's recent support of fire sprinklers in all public schools, the Federal Emergency Management Agencies' announcement of grant money available for innovative fire prevention programs seemed like the right time to try to add protection for our most vulnerable seniors. The grant program was a competitive process based on the long-term impact of the program and protection offered for United States Fire Administration high-risk populations (i.e., children under fourteen years of age, seniors over sixty-five and firefighters). With sprinklers in the schools AND sprinklers in adult and juvenile foster homes, Lake Oswego will have taken a huge step in fire protection, placing it head and shoulders above most communities. Lake Oswego has a fair record. The last fire deaths in Lake Oswego were two seniors living in an adult foster care home in 1989. While that is a fair record, no fire deaths are acceptable in light of the fact that we have affordable technology to prevent them. This program will provide that technology to those most likely to be trapped in a fire and is a proactive approach to public safety. Fire Sprinkler Grant City Council Report Page Two of Five Fire Protection in Adult Foster Homes Adult Foster Homes are ordinary residential homes that take up to five people who are elderly, or have physical disability, mental disability, or developmental disability. Federal law prohibits the requirement of fire sprinkler systems being placed in adult foster homes, even with the vulnerability of the residents. It is common to have only one staff member in the middle of the night to offer any assistance for evacuation. Having experienced two fire deaths in one of these homes, staff believes that the installation of residential sprinkler systems would almost guarantee that this group never has to experience the horrors of limited mobility with a fire racing down the hall. HOW THE PROGRAM WOULD WORK The budget in the grant proposal includes money to contract with a coordinator to assist the fire department in overseeing the program. Further funds are available to offset city administrative cost for fire department oversight, financial and legal services. There are currently 18 adult foster homes registered in the areas served by the city's fire department. There are several other homes listed as Special Residences and operate similarly to adult foster homes. There are also several homes serving children with special needs that are eligible for this program. Applications to have a residential fire sprinkler system installed at no charge to the applicants would be handed out to the homes listed above. Priority will be given first to adult foster homes in the city, next to adult foster homes in the unincorporated areas served by the City's fire department, next to Special Residences, and then to homes for special needs kids. Fire Sprinkler Grant City Council Report Page Three of Five HOW THE PROGRAM WOULD WORK(cont.) The applications will be prioritized with vulnerability to fire being the primary consideration. A construction bid process will be initiated that will have several alternates allowing the installation of fire sprinklers in as many residents as allowed by construction funds. Part of the program will include advertisement and promotion of the advantages of fire sprinklers systems in all residential homes. POTENTIAL COUNCIL ISSUES This program was not budgeted for in city funds. The decision to offer$100 million dollars in grant funds for"Assistance to Firefighters"was a last minute decision by the federal government that staff did not anticipate. The 90% match by FEMA for a program that almost eliminates the risk of fire to some of our most vulnerable seniors and children is a remarkable opportunity. The grant provides for more dollars to compensate for city administration of the program than required for the city's matching 10%. While this does not automatically eliminate the city's match, it should help offset the cost to the city. The program is for protection from fire for people in adult foster homes,juvenile foster homes, special residences, and treatment homes. There are children taken in by families, elderly who are too much for families to care for or do not have families, and children in treatment homes (some who may have fire setting behaviors). In all cases these are people who live in group situations and are at risk from others. Staff proposes that it is an appropriate government role to step in and protect people from others when they are unable to do so themselves. Fire Sprinkler Grant City Council Report Page Four of Five ALTERNATIVES The Council may approve staff's recommendation to approve Resolution No.01-77 to accept $258, 750 towards fire sprinklers in special care homes. The Council may approve and amend Resolution No. 01-77. The Council may choose not approve Resolution No. 01-77. CONCLUSION In group housing a person can do everything right and still they are at the mercy of their neighbors. This situation is compounded for seniors and others with limited mobility. Automatic fire sprinkler systems would nearly eliminate the potential for loss of life, injury, and displacement caused by fires in group housing. This program supports previous Council action that now requires fire sprinklers in newly constructed apartments and Council action to get fire sprinklers in public schools. With the addition of fire sprinklers in group homes for seniors and children, Lake Oswego will be a leader in fire safety. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the approval of this Resolution. EXHIBITS 1. Grant Award Letter 2. Agreement Articles—Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program Fire Sprinkler Grant City Council Report Page Five of Five RESOLUTION 01-77 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE OSWEGO ACCEPTING A FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY(FEMA) GRANT TO ASSIST IN THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO PROVIDE SPRINKLERS TO FOSTER CARE FACILITIES WHEREAS,there are 18 foster care facilities,as well as Special Residences and Homes for Children with Special Needs,within the area served by the City of Lake Oswego's Department of Fire,Rescue &Life Safety;and WHEREAS,the City made application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)for a grant;and WHEREAS, the City has been notified that it will receive approximately$258,750 for the stated purpose;and WHEREAS,the City is required to make a 10% match of$28,750;and WHEREAS,the Public Safety Capital Fund is the source for the City's match; NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Lake Oswego does authorize: 1. The acceptance of the grant from FEMA in the amount of approximately$258,750 for the purpose of providing sprinklers to foster care facilities that currently do not have sprinklers; 2. The City's 10% match be derived from the City's Public Safety Capital Fund with an adjustment to that budget at mid-year. Approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Lake Oswego at a regular meeting held on the 16th day of October 2001. AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: EXCUSED: Judie Hammerstad,Mayor ATTEST: Robyn Christie,Deputy City Recorder APPROVED AS T RM: 4 David Powell,City Attorney SPA Federal Emergency Management Agency • '` :%��;: �' Washington, D.C. 20472 V G SEP 24 2001 Phil Sample, Fire Marshall City of Lake Oswego Fire, Rescue and Life Safety Post Office Box 369 Lake Oswego, Oregon 97034 Re: Grant No. EMW-2001-FG-06874 Dear Mr. Sample: Congratulations, your grant application submitted under FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program for a fire prevention program has been approved. The approved project costs amount to $287,500. Ninety percent(or$258,750) of the approved amount is the Federal share and 10 percent(or $28,750)is your share of the costs. Enclosed with this award letter, you will find FEMA's grant agreement articles. Please make sure you read and understand the articles as they outline the terms and conditions related with your grant award. Maintain a copy of these documents for your official files. You establish acceptance of these grant agreement articles when you expend any of the grant funds available to you. Grant payments under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program are made on a reimbursable or an immediate-needs basis. When you need a draw from your grant funds, fill out the attached Request for Advance or Reimbursement(Standard Form 270) and send it to us at the address listed below. In order to speed up the payment process, you also have the option of sending the request via fax at 202-646-3846. We will initiate the payment with the faxed copy but you must also send us the original, signed copy to us at the address provided below. Each request for payment must be made by using this form, i.e., SF-270. Send all grant payment documents to: Federal Emergency Management Agency Financial & Acquisition Management Division Grants Management Branch 500 C Street, SW, Room 350 Washington, DC 20472 Attn: Sylvia A. Carroll If you have any questions or need additional information, please call Tom Harrington at 202-646-3386. Sincerely, 1!/11f,-&- C/ Patricia A. Englis Senior Procurement Executive Administration and Resource Planning Directorate Enclosures: FEMA Form 76-10A Agreement Articles Checklist Standard Form 270 Standard Form 1199A, if applicable 2