REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
October 15, 2020
FROM: KERRI L. DONIS, Fire Chief
Fire Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Securities (CARES) Act funding for purchase and installation of extractors:
1. Approve the Fire Chief or her designee to accept Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Securities (CARES) Act funding for $608,800 for the purchase of and installation of eleven (11) extractors at fire stations that are currently without extractors.
2. ***RESOLUTION - Adopting the 31st amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2020-159 appropriating $608,800 in CARES Act funding for the purchase and installation of extractors (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended Council authorize acceptance of Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Securities (CARES) Act funding in the amount of $608,800 for the purchase and installation of eleven (11) extractors at fire stations that are currently without extractors, authorize the Fire Chief or her designee to execute all required documents, and adopt the 31st amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2020-159 appropriating $608,800 in CARES Act funding for the purchase and installation of extractors.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Funding from The Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Securities Act is available to the City of Fresno for qualifying purposes covered under the act. One key objective of the act was aimed at mitigating the spread of COVID-19. A key area identified by the Fire Department towards mitigation is related to cleanliness and disinfection of firefighter turnouts. Turnouts are worn by firefighters to a number of calls each day, many of which are for medical aid. Turnouts attract and house a number of particulates from call to call, including COVID-19 spreading particulates if exposed. The more frequent washes and disinfection to turnouts would be a significant deterrent to the spread of the COVID-19 and enhance the safety to firefighters and patients.
BACKGROUND
One of the major goals of the CARES Act funding is to mitigate the spread of the corona virus. Firefighters are first responders and tend to sick patients every day. Though many precautions are observed, there is often unavoidable physical contact with patients and entry into potentially infectious surroundings. Accordingly, firefighter turnouts are exposed to potentially dangerous particulates with virtually every call. Such particulates can then be carried from call to call.
Half of the City’s twenty fire stations are currently without extractors to clean turnouts. This forces many members to send their turnouts to other stations that have extractors for washing and disinfection. This extra waiting period forces firefighters to attend significantly more calls in turnouts that have not been cleaned or disinfected. Acceptance of this grant will allow for every station to physically have an extractor and will significantly reduce the turnaround time for cleaned turnouts. This will be an enormous safety advantage for firefighters and the public which they serve. The Fire Department and Administration, working together, concluded the purchase and installation of extractors meets a key objective towards mitigating the spread of COVID-19 not only in the immediate period but years to come.
The City’s Facilities Division provided an estimate of the extractors and work to be performed to complete the installations. This includes the required concrete & foundation work as well as plumbing and electrical. The estimate cost for the entire program is $608,800. To expedite, the City’s will utilize the Cooperative Job Order Contracting Program with Puma Construction to perform the necessary facility upgrades and installations.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a “project” for the purposes of CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because the city utilized its membership in the Job Order Cooperative (JOC) Program for contractor selection.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost of this program is 100% reimbursed through the CARES Act Grant.
Attachment:
Resolution - 31st Amendment to AAR No 2020-159