REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 15, 2022
FROM
DAN MUNSEY, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
SUBJECT
Title
Purchase of Unbudgeted Fixed Assets
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District:
1. Approve the purchase of five multi-gas chemical detection devices as unbudgeted fixed assets in a total amount not to exceed $50,000 in support of the Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Team operations.
2. Approve the increased cost of $77,693, from $169,006 to $246,699, for the purchase of an emergency response vehicle in support of the Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Team operations.
3. Authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post the budget adjustments to the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District’s 2022-23 budget, as detailed in the Financial Impact Section, for the purchases identified in Recommendation Nos. 1 and 2 (Four votes required).
(Presenter: Dan Munsey, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, 387-5779)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
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 total cost of $127,693 will be funded by the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (SBCFPD) through use of available reserves.
The necessary budget adjustments are as follows:
|
Fund Center |
Commitment Item/GL Account |
Description |
Amount |
Increase/Decrease |
|
1071552421 |
54404040 |
Equipment |
$50,000 |
Increase |
|
1071552421 |
54504050 |
Vehicles |
$77,693 |
Increase |
|
1070002421 |
37008880 |
Fund Balance - Available Reserves |
$127,693 |
Decrease |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
SBCFPD’s Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT) is tasked with enforcing hazardous materials and hazardous waste laws and regulations throughout San Bernardino County (County), as well as responding to hazardous materials (hazmat) emergencies to ensure air monitoring, decontamination, and other hazmat response assignments during these emergencies.
There are over 8,000 facilities in the County that store a variety of toxic and/or flammable chemicals. The County is the recognized Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) since December 31, 1996. The County’s CUPA program is implemented by SBCFPD, Office of the Fire Marshal, Hazardous Materials Section. SBCFPD Hazardous Materials Section inspects and permits facilities that contain chemicals or families of chemicals that contain chlorine, ammonia, sulfur dioxide or carbon dioxide. Multi-gas chemical detection devices are used by the HMRT for plume modeling, evacuation or shelter in place orders and are invaluable lifesaving tools for first responders and surrounding communities. SBCFPD is requesting approval to purchase five multi-gas chemical detection devices needed to outfit existing HMRT emergency response vehicles that do not currently have the devices installed.
The 2022-23 Adopted Budget included the purchase of an emergency response vehicle for the HMRT in the amount of $169,006. Due to unexpected delays in shipments and increased costs for parts, the vehicle’s cost has increased by $77,693.
Approval of the Recommendations will enable SBCFPD to proceed with the purchase of the emergency response vehicle and five multi-gas chemical detection devices. These purchases will ensure HMRT responders are equipped with the appropriate safety equipment and resources while responding to a variety of hazmat emergencies.
PROCUREMENT
The purchase of the multi-gas chemical detection devices will be done in accordance with Policy 11-04 Procurement of Goods, Supplies, Equipment and Services.
It is anticipated that the purchase of the emergency response vehicle will be pursuant to a contract approved by the Purchasing Department (Purchasing) with Ward Apparatus, LLC, based on a competitive procurement and contract issued by Houston-Galveston Area Council (Contract No. FS12-19).
If these purchases exceed the Purchasing Director’s authority, SBCFPD will return to the Board of Supervisors to request approval at a later date.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (Vanessa Doyle, Deputy Chief Controller, 382-3193) on October 19, 2022; County Counsel (Scott Runyan, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 19, 2022; Purchasing (Cody Leslie, Lead Buyer, 387-2065) on October 20, 2022; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on October 25, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Diana Atkeson, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on October 25, 2022.