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Home My WebLink AboutCM Firefighters Fire Station Construction GrantCITY OF AGENDA ITEM NO.: 4 SAN RAFAEL MEETING DATE: July 6, 2009 REPORT TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL SUBJECT: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR THE ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS FIRE STATION CONSTRUCTION GRANT PROGIM UNDER THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009 FOR IRE STATION #4 UPGRADE , SUBMITTED BY: 't4&uJ Nancy Mackle, Deputy City Manager APPROVED BY: � Ken Nordhoff, City Manager RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council approve the attached resolution authorizing an application for Assistance to Firefighters Fire Station Construction Grant funds for the Fire Station # 4 upgrade. BACKGROUND: The Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was passed in February 2009. One of the grant programs under the ARRA is the Assistance to Firefighters Fire Station Construction Grant ("AFG"). This grant provides funds for modification, upgrades or construction of new fire stations. Grants have a maximum award of $15 million. The grant application deadline is July 10`h. ANALYSIS: The project meets the following priorities of the AFG grant: • Project will improve firefighter safety. • Station is staffed 24 hours per day. • Station provides emergency medical services using the fire suppression personnel and equipment. The nearest ambulance is housed at Station #1. • Project will provide gender segregated sleeping facilities. • Project will incorporate energy conservation, environmental compliance and include "green purchasing" practices to the maximum extent practicable. • San Rafael participates in mutual aid and Station # 4 is integral to mutual aid south of the Puerto Suello hill. • The City owns the Station and has substantially completed construction plans so the project can begin shortly after the grant award. FOR CITY CLERK ONLY File No.: City Council Meeting: Disposition: The improvements to be funded by the grant include seismic upgrades and improvements, remodeling the living quarters including adding an ADA bathroom and gender separation in the dormitory. The project will increase the energy efficiency at the station by using energy efficient appliances. The seismic improvements were identified as necessary in the City's Critical Facilities assessment accepted by the City Council in 2005. It should be noted that the ultimate solution detailed in the Critical Facilities report includes a 3,900 square foot addition to this fire station to best meet the City's facilities needs, totaling approximately $4 million. However, this full project is not "shovel ready" therefore the grant application will be for a scaled down project which includes renovation only, totaling approximately $1 - $1.5 million. Cost estimates are underway at this time. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no City financial match required for this grant program, and staff is not seeking any new appropriations to prepare the grant application. Funds from current year appropriations will be needed, in an amount not to exceed $10,000, to complete grant details such as energy efficiency explanations and cost details. The grant application will include a funding request for the estimated cost of completing the drawings and specifications for the bid package, firefighter relocation during construction and the hard construction costs. ACTION REQUIRED: Adopt resolution. RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR THE ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS FIRE STATION CONSTRUCTION GRANT PROGRAM UNDER THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009 FOR FIRE STATION #4 UPGRADE WHEREAS, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ("ARRA") of 2009 funds for stimulating the economy, creating jobs, and providing infrastructure for essential services to the community; and WHEREAS, the Department of Homeland Security is administering a grant program, under the ARRA, the Assistance to Firefighters Fire Station Construction Grant ("AFG"), to provide critically needed funds for fire station upgrades and new fire stations; and WHEREAS, the priorities for the AFG grants are projects to enhance response capacity or firefighter safety and projects where the applicant owns the land and construction can begin shortly after the grant award; and WHEREAS, Fire Station # 4 in the Canal Neighborhood is staffed 24 hours per day for fire suppression and EMS services and is in need of significant upgrades to continue to provide essential public safety and fire services; WHEREAS, Station # 4 is located in and serves the Canal neighborhood, home to 15,000 people and numerous businesses. The Canal neighborhood is surrounded on two sides by water and would be vulnerable to liquefaction during a seismic event; and WHEREAS, Station # 4 is in need of significant upgrades to enhance firefighter safety and is critical to the provision of essential fire safety services in San Rafael and to fulfill the City's mutual aid obligations; WHEREAS, Station #4 is critical to protecting the local residents and employees since the neighborhood would be difficult to serve from another City Fire Station during an emergency because it is surrounded by water on two sides and the one access bridge would be vulnerable during a seismic event; WHEREAS, Station #4 upgrades were included in the City of San Rafael Critical Facilities Study accepted by the City Council in 2005. The City has had significant deficits in the General Fund and has been unable to fund the recommendations of the Critical Facilities Study. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of San Rafael hereby approves the filing of an application for grant funds from the AFG and appoints the City Manager as agent to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents including, but not limited to applications, agreements, payment requests and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the grant and the Fire Station #4 upgrade project. I, Esther C. Beirne Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of said City held on Monday, the 6th day of July, by the following vote to wit: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS ESTHER C. BEIRNE, City Clerk