Title
Extend the Cooperative Fire Rate Agreement with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (Ordinance S-51422) - Citywide
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to extend the agreement term with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (Arizona DFFM) that establishes reimbursement rates for Fire Department resources. Further request authorization for the City Treasurer to accept and the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item.
Report
Summary
The Arizona DFFM executes agreements with fire departments across Arizona to set reimbursement rates for usage of apparatus and firefighters. These rates are utilized if Arizona DFFM engages local fire department resources to respond to an incident. The agreements have reimbursed the City for incident responses, usually wildland fires. The agreement reimburses the City of Phoenix for payroll, overtime backfill, vehicle fuel, and maintenance costs associated with Fire Department deployment to emergency incidents.
The current Fire Rate Agreement, initially approved for a two-year term from April 1, 2024, to April 1, 2026, requires an extension. Arizona DFFM has transitioned to a five-year agreement process. To align with this change, we are requesting an extension of the existing agreement by three additional years, adjusting the expiration date to April 1, 2029.
Contract Term
The term of the agreement is April 1, 2024, through April 1, 2029.
Financial Impact
Due to the unpredictable nature of natural and human-caused disasters, it is not possible to estimate the financial impact of deploying resources in response to requests from the Arizona DFFM in advance. However, if resources are deployed, the Arizona DFFM will reimburse the City of Phoenix according to the terms outlined in the Fire Rate Agreement.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
Council approved the current Fire Rate Agreement (S-50389) on December 6, 2023.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Fire Department.