Title
Request to Apply for and Accept 2023 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant (Ordinance S-50819)
Description
Request to retroactively authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for, and accept, if awarded, up to $9,016,008 from the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2023 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program funds. 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 declined.
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 $9,016,008 for the hiring of 24 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. The grant application period opened on March 11, 2024, and closed on April 12, 2024.
If awarded, the Fire Department requests to create 24 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 2025, with a program end date on or around February 2028.
Financial Impact
If awarded, the City of Phoenix Fire Department will receive up to $9,016,008 in grant funding for 24 firefighter positions. No match will be required from the City.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is recommended by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Fire Department.