Title
Request to Apply for and Accept 2024 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant (Ordinance S-52164) - Citywide
Description
Request to retroactively authorize the City Manager, or the City Manager's designee, to apply for, and accept, if awarded, up to $12,095,017 from the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2024 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program. If awarded, request to create new firefighter positions. Further request authorization for the City Treasurer to accept and for the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. If not approved, the Grant, if awarded, would be turned down.
Report
Summary
SAFER Grants are designed to bolster fire safety by ensuring that fire departments maintain staffing levels that meet or exceed industry standards, crucial for continuous, 24/7 operational readiness. This application requests $12,095,017 for the hiring of 32 firefighters to address attrition from retirements and resignations. The expansion in personnel is projected to significantly extend our service area and sharpen our emergency response capabilities. The Grant covers salaries and benefits for these positions over three years. If awarded, the Fire Department requests to create 32 new firefighter 56-hour (Job code 61010) positions.
Contract Term
The Grant Period of Performance is three years and is estimated to begin on or around March 2026. The program end date is on or around February 2029.
Financial Impact
If awarded, the City of Phoenix Fire Department will receive up to $7,458,594 in grant funding for 32 firefighter positions. The first and second years of the grant require a 25 percent cost share from the Fire Department's funds, while the third year requires a 65 percent cost share. The total projected impact on the Fire Department's budget over the three-year Grant Performance Period is approximately $5,635,253. This estimate does not include potential increases for specialized firefighter certifications that may be obtained in the three-year grant period.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The grant application period opened on May 23, 2025, and closes on July 3, 2025.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Fire Department.