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APRIL 8, 2014 14-150 RESOLUTION
(CARRIED__7-0_____ LOST _______ LAID OVER _______ WITHDRAWN _______)
PURPOSE: AUTHORIZE GRANT APPLICATION FOR FIRE PREVENTION
AND SAFETY GRANT
INITIATED BY: OSHKOSH FIRE DEPARTMENT
BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of Oshkosh that the proper
City officials are hereby authorized and directed to complete an application for a Fire
Prevention and Safety Grant from the Department of Homeland Security through FEMA for
a community risk assessment and smoke detector installation program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the proper City officials are hereby authorized
and directed to execute any and all documents required by the Department of Homeland
Security and FEMA, and are further authorized and directed, if said grant is awarded, to
accept such funds pursuant to the terms of the grant application and to purchase needed
equipment with the grant funds.
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council
FROM: Tim Franz, Fire Chief
DATE: April 2, 2014
RE: Permission to Apply for Fire Act Grant
BACKGROUND
The Department of Homeland Security through the FEMA has opened the application
period for Fire Prevention and Safety Grants. These competitive grants are available for
fire prevention programs, research and risk analysis. We were successful this past year in
receiving a grant to install 10 year life smoke detectors in the community, which we
found to be a need even greater than anticipated. In the past few years, we have targeted
one neighborhood per year for our "Detector Trek" where we go door to door installing
smoke detectors. We also install detectors, when time allows on non emergent calls for
service though our project "SAFE" (Smoke Alarms for Everyone). This grant period we
would like to seek funding to for two purposes a community risk assessment and
additional funding for the smoke detector installation program.
ANALYSIS
In this past year's program, we found 52% of homes needed a detector and 29% had
missing or expired batteries. We have also seen our last two fire deaths to be directly
attributable to a lack of operating smoke detectors in their homes. We see the need to
stretch our limited resources with this demand coupled with an increase in our call
volume for service. This grant will provide funding for a community wide risk analysis to
better target our highest risk in the community, that we may focus our resources on the
greatest risk. As an added value this risk analysis will also provide the base of
information needed for the department to become accredited in the future. In addition, if
successful we will receive additional funding to purchase more smoke detectors for the
targeted programs we will identify.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost of this project will total no more than $80,465.00. The grant requires a 5% local
cost share which would be $4,235.00 and would be budgeted for in the 2015 operating
budget.
RECCOMENDATION
We recommend the Council grant permission for us to apply for this grant as it will help
us make Oshkosh a safer community..
Respectfully Submitted,
Timothy Franz
Fire Chief
Approved:
City Manager