REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 10, 2024
FROM
DAN MUNSEY, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Subaward Acceptance of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Earthquake Early Warning Implementation Program for Fire Stations
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District:
1. Accept the grant award for the Earthquake Early Warning Implementation Program for Fire Stations (No. EW23-01-1616), in the amount of $166,000, from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, to equip selected fire stations within the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District’s jurisdiction with Earthquake Early Warning technology, with a grant performance period of June 1, 2024, through December 31, 2025.
2. Authorize the Fire Chief/Fire Warden or the Deputy Fire Chief to proceed with the following actions, on behalf of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, regarding Grant Award No. EW23-01-1616:
a. To electronically sign and submit grant reimbursement claims, performance reports, and other documents required to administer the grant.
b. Execute any non-substantive project modifications and grant amendments, including any that extend the performance period of the grant, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the officials listed in Recommendation No. 2 to transmit any non-substantive grant amendments to the Secretary of the Board of Directors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Dan Munsey, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, 387-5779)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of the recommended actions will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The grant award of $166,000 will be used to purchase equipment for five San Bernardino County Fire Protection District’s (SBCFPD) fire stations. The equipment will automatically open the fire station apparatus bay doors when seismic activity is detected.
No matching funds are required with this grant. Any budget adjustments pertaining to the grant will be submitted to the Board of Directors (Board) for approval in a future item, if necessary.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On June 25, 2024 (Item No. 131), the Board approved the submission of a legally binding grant subaward application in the amount of $166,000 to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CALOES) for the Earthquake Early Warning Implementation Program for Fire Stations (CEEWS). On July 1, 2024, SBCFPD received notice that the application was accepted and that SBCFPD had been awarded the $166,000 requested for the Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) Implementation Program for Fire Stations to install seismic detection receivers equipped with EEW technology at up to five fire stations within the SBCFPD jurisdiction in areas prone to the most damage due to catastrophic disasters such as a large earthquake. The Grand Terrace fire station will be the initial fire station to receive and pilot the EEW technology. Once the pilot is complete, SBCFPD will determine which additional fire stations will be equipped with the new technology.
The grant will provide the designated fire stations with equipment to automatically open the fire station apparatus bay doors when seismic activity is detected. SBCFPD’s policy requires apparatus bay doors to be opened and equipment such as fire engines and ambulances to be moved out of the fire station when there is an earthquake in case of building collapse or damage to the building that would potentially prevent the emergency equipment from exiting the fire station. The early detection of seismic activity can occur approximately two minutes before an actual earthquake is felt. The EEW Implementation Program will provide firefighters approximately two minutes to move the equipment outside the building before an earthquake is felt and any possible damage to the building occurs.
The performance period for this grant is from June 1, 2024, through December 31, 2025. SBCFPD is requesting a delegation of authority for the officials listed in Recommendation No. 2 to execute documents related to acceptance of the grant award, submittal of the periodic reports, and, if necessary, any non-substantive project modifications and grant amendments, including any that extend the performance period of the grant. This delegation of authority will allow SBCFPD to administer the grant in a cost-effective manner and allow SBCFPD to expedite any approvals of non-substantive grant amendments to the grant award. Grant amendments are subject to County Counsel review.
PROCUREMENT
Purchases will be made following Policy 11-04 Procurement of Goods, Supplies, Equipment and Services.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Rick Luczak, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 19, 2024; Finance (Ivan Ramirez, Administrative Analyst, 387-4020) on August 20, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Valerie Clay, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on August 20, 2024.