REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
March 4, 2021
FROM: KERRI L. DONIS, Fire Chief
Fire Department
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the Fire Chief to apply for the 2020 SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) Grant.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended Council authorize the Fire Chief to apply for the 2020 SAFER grant pursuant to the resolution passed by council on September 4, 2020.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On September 4, 2020, the City Council adopted a resolution directing the City Manager to submit applications for all future SAFER grants each fiscal year, unless directed otherwise by the Council.
The 2020 SAFER grant opened on February 8, 2021 and will close on March 12, 2021. Prior to submission of the application, this item is being brought before the council to ensure it remains the will of the Council to apply. With this SAFER application, the Fire Department seeks to hire forty-two (42) firefighter recruits under the grant. The grant pays for all salaries and benefits for all recruits for a period of 36 months. Note: There is no grant requirement to retain the firefighters following the 36-month performance period.
BACKGROUND
The Fresno Fire Department currently has 287 filled sworn safety positions serving a population of 537,000 residents. This firefighter per capita rate of 0.53 members per 1,000 residents is one of the lowest in the State and country for comparable cities. The increasing population and demand for services requires the Department to expand its capacity to preserve and improve service levels. With the approval of this application, the Department would increase the number of members' on-duty each day from 81 to 95. This will increase the number of filled sworn safety positions to 329, improving the number of firefighters per 1,000 population to .61 and significantly improving the Department's ability to meet the challenges of responding to 43,000 calls for service each year with our growing population.
Under the...
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