MEMORANDUM

TO: Gary Superman, Assembly President

Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly

THRU: Dale Bagley, Borough Mayor

Scott Holt, Finance Director

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

FROM: Bonnie L. Golden, Grants Manager

DATE: November 4, 2004

SUBJECT: Ordinance 2004-19-27: Accepting and Appropriating a Grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the Amount of $68,617 for Bear Creek Fire Service Area

Bear Creek Fire Service Area ("BCFSA") would like to upgrade the equipment on their new rescue pumper and promote the safety and protection of their firefighters. BCFSA recently applied for and was awarded a grant in the amount of $68,617 that will allow the upgrade. The purpose of the grant is to purchase basic firefighter/rescue equipment and personnel protective equipment ("PPE").

The firefighter/rescue equipment will be used to outfit a new rescue pumper. Once the equipment is installed, the vehicle will be fully operational and in compliance with mandatory OSHA Safety Standards and the voluntary equipment standards of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). In addition, the funds will be used to purchase fire and rescue equipment, such as hand tools, accident scene lighting, thermal imager, hoses and nozzles, ventilation fan, and a rescue saw, which will be placed on board the new pumper truck.

The PPEs will bring all of their firefighters into compliance with OSHA regulations and NFPA standards. Equipment to be purchased includes Scott Airpacs with personnel alert safety systems devices, redundant alarms, heads up displays and universal rescue connections. The new SCBAs will replace non-standard, non-regulation compliance equipment that has reached the end of its service life.

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 FY05 operating budget under firefighting/rescue 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 will meet on November 9, 2004. Acceptance of the grant and expenditure of the matching funds will be on its meeting agenda for consideration. The results of the Board's action will be provided to the assembly prior to the public hearing for the ordinance.

BCFSA has submitted a request to have the ordinance set for a shortened hearing date. (See attached copy.) Board members have contacted suppliers of the equipment to be purchased with the grant funds, and they have been informed that the cost of the equipment is expected to increase by as much as 8 percent in early 2005. Therefore, the board would like to have the grant approved in time to purchase the equipment prior to the end of 2004. Your consideration of this request is appreciated.

/bg

Attachments: Ordinance, Notice of Award, Request for expedited approval