SUBJECT
Title
SAN DIEGO COUNTY FIRE - ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITIES FOR EXPENDITURE CONTRACTS, REVENUE AGREEMENTS, GRANTS, AND TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION REIMBURSEMENT (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
Since 2008, the Board has taken significant steps to improve fire protection and emergency medical services in the unincorporated areas of the county. In 2021, the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) office joined San Diego County Fire (County Fire) to further consolidate and strengthen emergency response in the region. This is a request to authorize several administrative actions that will facilitate additional progress towards improving fire protection and emergency medical services within the San Diego County Fire Protection District (SDCFPD), its partner agencies and the region’s prehospital system.
Today’s actions will authorize administrative authorities for expenditure contracts and revenue agreements with other agencies to improve fire prevention, fire protection, emergency medical services and operating supplies and equipment. Today’s actions will also authorize County Fire to apply for grant funds to improve fire prevention, fire protection, and emergency medical services in the SDCFPD, the region’s prehospital system of care, and to reimburse other agencies for all training and certification requirements to provide fire protection and emergency medical services.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. In accordance with Board Policy A-87, Competitive Procurement, approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Purchasing and Contracting to enter into negotiations with Fire Protection Districts, Water Districts, Cities, Joint Powers Agencies/Authorities, recognized Tribal Governments, Hospitals, and other agencies and, subject to successful negotiations and a determination of a fair and reasonable price, award a contract(s) for fire protection, emergency medical services, the prehospital system and operating supplies and equipment through June 30, 2033, and to amend the contract or contracts as needed to reflect changes to requirements and funding.
2. Authorize the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to execute revenue agreements with Fire Protection Districts, Water Districts, Cities, Joint Powers Agencies/Authorities, recognized Tribal Governments, Hospitals, and other agencies for County-provided fire protection, emergency medical services and operating supplies and equipment.
3. Authorize the Director, or designee, of San Diego County Fire to enter into Memorandum of Agreements, Memorandum of Understanding, and other agreements with Fire Protection Districts, Water Districts, Cities, Joint Powers Agencies/Authorities, recognized Tribal Governments, Hospitals and other agencies for County-provided fire and emergency medical services.
4. Waive Board Policy B-29, Fees, Grants, Revenue Contracts - Department Responsibility for Cost Recovery, which requires prior approval of grant applications and full cost recovery for grants.
5. Authorize San Diego County Fire, through June 30, 2033, to continue to apply for grant funds and execute all required grant documents, including any annual extensions, amendments and/or revisions thereto that do not materially impact or alter the services or funding level.
6. Waive Board Policy A-87 and authorize the Director, Department of Purchasing and Contracting, to approve contracts between County Fire and other government agencies for training and certification services through June 30, 2033, and to amend the contracts as needed to reflect changes to services and funding.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
More than 80 percent of the San Diego County Fire Protection District’s (SDCFPD) jurisdictional area qualifies as a disadvantaged unincorporated community, based on a San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission (report on the funding, administration, and performance of the former County Service Area No. 135 (now SDCFPD). Furthermore, with 79 percent of the San Diego region’s unincorporated area designated as High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, these contracts, revenue agreements, trainings and grants will directly benefit at-risk, low-income, and socially vulnerable homeowners by providing critical fire protection and emergency medical services that will decrease the likelihood of entrapment, loss of life, and loss of property. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Office, a Division of County Fire, is the Board-designated Local EMS Agency (LEMSA). The LEMSA has statutory responsibilities for the region’s EMS delivery system. Any contracts, revenue agreements, and grants received by the LEMSA will help to ensure that the entire San Diego region receives equitable emergency medical care.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed actions in today’s request support the County of San Diego’s commitment to resiliency and align with the Sustainability Initiative of the County of San Diego’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan by helping to ensure funding to maintain the level of fire protection and emergency medical services and to have the capability to respond to immediate needs for individuals, families, and the region.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with today’s recommendations. San Diego County Fire will return to the Board as necessary to accept grant awards and establish appropriations. There will be no change in net General Fund costs and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
On May 15, 2023, with 4 of 5 advisory board members being present, the San Diego County Fire Protection District Fire Advisory Board voted unanimously in support of the administrative authorities for expenditure contracts, revenue agreements, and grants resolution.
BACKGROUND
Expenditure Contracts and Revenue Agreements
For the past decade, the Board has made investments to improve our region’s firefighting capabilities and response. On June 19, 2018 (7), the Board authorized the Director of Purchasing and Contracting to approve expenditure contracts and the Clerk of the Board to approve revenue agreements with fire agencies to improve fire protection and emergency medical services. This authority expired on June 30, 2023.
Grant Funding
Grant programs have been an important component of the County Fire budget. Grant funding has been used to acquire fire engines, water tenders, other critical firefighting needs and to implement the Community Risk Reduction fuel reduction and evacuation readiness program. Additionally, the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Office, a Division of San Diego County Fire, and EMS Bureau, within the San Diego County Fire Protection District, may seek grant opportunities to support community paramedicine initiatives, substance use overdose programs, and other emerging best practices If approved, this request will authorize County Fire to apply for grant funds from public and private agencies. If the grant applications are successful, staff will return to the Board to accept grant funds and establish appropriations, if necessary. This action requests for waiver of Board Policy B-29 Fees, Grants, Revenue Contracts - Department Responsibility for Cost Recovery, as not all grant opportunities will recover indirect costs. Any match requirement or unallowable costs would be covered by existing appropriations in the department’s General Fund budget.
Training and Certifications
County Fire has an on-going need to train and certify fire and emergency medical staff to ensure that State and national standards are met and that first responders can meet the needs of the community into the future. Public training partnerships may include, but are not limited to, Southwest College, Palomar College, Emergency Medical Services Testing Agency (EMSTA), Westcoast EMT, and the City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department’s Paramedic Program. If approved, this action will allow County Fire to reimburse other agencies for all training and certification requirements to provide fire protection and emergency medical services.
Today’s request will renew both the authorities of the Director, Department of Purchasing and Contracting to approve expenditure contracts and the Clerk of the Board to approve revenue agreements for fire protection and emergency medical services. In addition, this action will authorize the Director of San Diego Fire or designee, to apply for grant funds and execute all required grant documentation, including any annual extensions, amendments, and/or revisions thereto that do not materially impact or alter the services or funding level. Lastly, today’s action will authorize County Fire to reimburse other agencies for all training and certification requirements to provide fire protection and emergency medical services.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions support the Community and Equity Initiative of the County of San Diego’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan by taking steps to improve fire protection and emergency medical services in the unincorporated area of the County and supporting a prehospital system of care that is reducing health disparities in our region.
Respectfully submitted,
HELEN N. ROBBINS-MEYER
Interim Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
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