TITLE
The Mayor and City Council shall discuss and possibly take action on approving the fire department apply for an Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) SAFER Grant requesting additional operational personnel. Discussion and Action.
AGENDA ITEM DESCRIPTION
The Maricopa Fire and Medical Department conducted a staffing analysis in 2017. The results of this internal analysis was that the department was 1.1 firefighters short per shift (3 shifts times 1.1 equals 3.3 total personnel short). This is further supported by the fire departments recent ISO survey analysis which resulted in receiving 9.44 out of a total of 15 possible points for department staffing. Both analysis results depict the department is short operational staffing. The department has decided that applying for two additional firefighters through the Federal AFG SAFER Grant is the perfect solution. This solution is perfect as it obtains the additional positions for the fire department and it also is a fiscally responsible method for funding these positions, as it gradually increase the city's portion of funding over a three year period, allowing for adequate financial planning time to make these positions permanent within the department. The objective in adding these new personnel is to reduce overtime, reduce the need for current firefighters to work extended or extra shifts (by adding to the staffing pool). Many studies have determined that working over scheduled time has resulted in increased sick time and injuries due to fatigue and being overworked.
The requested amount for this grant request is $616,668.50. This amount is the total amount of the grant over the three year grant period. The city portion for years one and two is 35% and 65% for the third year. Year 1 and 2, the city portion is $71,944.60. The third year the city portion is $133,611.40. The total grant request amount includes, salary and benefits, start-up PPE and uniforms, training, advertising for the two positions and some other...
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