MEMORANDUM

TO: Pete Sprague, Assembly President

Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly

THRU: Dale Bagley, Borough Mayor

Craig Chapman, Acting Finance Director

COPY: Mark Beals, Fire Chief for Bear Creek Fire Service Area

FROM: Bonnie L. Golden, Grants Manager

DATE: October 2, 2003

SUBJECT: Ordinance 2003-19-22: Accepting and Appropriating a Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the Amount of $58,277 for Bear Creek Fire Service Area

Bear Creek Fire Service Area ("BCFSA") would like to promote the safety and protection of their firefighters to the best of their ability. One way of accomplishing this goal is to purchase personal protective equipment and to provide training. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a grant program that provides funding to local fire departments. BCFSA submitted an application under the 2003 program. It was recently notified of a grant award in the amount of $58,277 for purchasing personal protection equipment and training.

Specifically, BCFSA would like to purchase twelve self-contained breathing apparatus, with integrated personal accountability safety system devices and twenty-four spare cylinders. Training would be for Firefighter I certification for firefighters in the department and surrounding areas. BCFSA plans to initiate a long-term formal on-site training program that will eventually lead to volunteer firefighters receiving Firefighter I certification. Under the program, three of their senior members, and other members from surrounding areas, would be certified as Fire Service Instructors 1. These persons would then deliver training to the other department firefighters. The course will be instructed according to Alaska State Fire Service Training Standards, NFPA 1001 Standards for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, and relevant OSHA standards.

Pursuant to the grant requirements, BCFSA must contribute a cash match in the amount of 10 percent of the total project cost. Funds are available in BCFSA's FY04 operating budget under training and firefighting equipment to meet the match requirement. The following table indicates the distribution of the grant funds and matching funds for both projects:

The BCFSA Board met on September 9, 2003, and approved the acceptance of the FEMA grant funds.

The attached ordinance accepts and appropriates the grant funds. If enacted, BCFSA would be able to address its goal of providing for the protection and safety of its firefighters.

/bg

Attachments: Ordinance, Notice of Award