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C.5

To:	Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Board of Directors
From:	Lewis T. Broschard III, Chief, Contra Costa Fire Protection District
Date:	February 7, 2023

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

FY 2022 Assistance to Firefighters Grant - Regional Portable Radios

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 02/07/2023

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, Director
Candace Andersen, Director
Diane Burgis, Director
Ken Carlson, Director
Federal D. Glover, Director

Contact:

Deputy Chief Brian Helmick, (925) 941-3300

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: February 7, 2023
,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Fire Chief, or designee, to apply for and accept grant funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program in an amount not to exceed $6,000,000 for the replacement of portable radios for Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and its regional partners.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This grant application is for an amount up to $6,000,000 with a 15% local agency cost sharing requirement. The federal share of the grant, if awarded at the maximum $6,000,000, would be $5,100,000, and the District’s share (along with its regional partners) would be $900,000. The grant award may be lower than the amount requested.

FISCAL IMPACT: (CONT'D)

In general, the maximum award for the regional population this application falls under is $3.2 million. However, in extraordinary circumstances, an award amount of up to $6,000,000 may be issued. If $3.2 million is awarded, the federal share of the grant would be $2,720,000, and the District's share (along with its regional partners) would be $480,000.

The performance period would be twenty-four (24) months from the effective date of the award.

BACKGROUND:

The FY 2022 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program objectives are to provide critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel, enhance efficiencies and support community resilience.

Currently, Fire District personnel, vehicles, and stations are outfitted with radios that are more than ten years old. In 2012, Model 1 of the Motorola portable radios were purchased. These radios are now on Model 3, yet the Fire District continues to utilize its original radios. There have been instances of radio delays and outages which are becoming increasingly frequent. This puts our emergency personnel and the community at risk.

The Fire District and its regional partners combined provide emergency services to approximately 1.2 million Californians. Additionally, thousands of people drive to and through the County every day for work and various other reasons. Contra Costa County Fire Protection District serves as the dispatch center for all area emergency response. The Model 1 radios are used to support that regional system which means that the entire region is at risk of countywide radio failure. For these reasons, the Fire District, along with its regional partners, is requesting funds to replace these radios that literally serve as a lifeline throughout our community.

This action is to authorize the grant application and the acceptance of the grant funding, if awarded.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If this action is not approved, the fire departments and fire protection districts of the county would not be able to apply for this regional grant funding opportunity.