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Home My WebLink AboutFIN-2021-16 - Grant Application Fire Safety GrantStaff Report Infrastructure Services Denartr7ent REPORT TO: Committee of the Whole DATE OF MEETING: March 22, 2021 www. kitchener ca SUBMITTED BY: Bob Gilmore, Acting Fire Chief, 519-741-2200 ext. 5501 PREPARED BY: Sheri Brisbane, Supervisor Financial Reporting, 519-741-2200 ext. 7349 WARD(S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: March 16, 2021 REPORT NO.: FIN -2021-16 SUBJECT: Grant Application Fire Safety Grant RECOMMENDATION: That the City's grant submission to the Ontario Fire Marshal dated March 16, 2021 be approved. REPORT HIGHLIGHTS: • The purpose of this report is to outline the requirements related to the funding announcement and obtain the required Council approval of the City's application. • Staff proposed that the funds be allocated to various training initiatives as documented in attached application. • The financial implications include a potential grant of up to $62,100. • Community engagement included informing the community by posting the report and agenda prior to the meeting. • This report supports the delivery of core services. BACKGROUND: On March 11, 2021 the Ontario Government announced $5 million in funding to help municipal fire services address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will enhance fire safety training across the province and support safety inspection programs to ensure compliance with the Ontario Fire Code. This program is funded by the Ontario Government and administered by the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM). *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. COVID-19 created risks and unprecedented challenges for fire departments to conduct training and fire safety inspections. This one-time funding will enhance in-person and online educational instruction needs by increasing access to additional training. It will also support updates to specialized critical equipment, such as high-speed internet, to enhance virtual training and enable remote options to support fire safety and compliance with Ontario's Fire Code while minimizing exposure to the virus. The City of Kitchener is eligible to receive up to $62,100 as part of this grant program. REPORT: The grant is intended to provide fire departments with the flexibility to support two priority areas. First, this grant may be put towards ongoing training needs including registration, administrative programming, technology upgrades and associated costs for attending as well as for providing services. In addition, if code compliance and inspections continue to be challenging, addressing opportunities for an inspection program may include technology, capital costs and training to ensure that fire services are able to meet the demand of this need at the local level. Due to a very tight turnaround time, the program has allowed the fire chief to accept the grant in principle on behalf of the municipality, pending formal approval from council. The fire department has submitted an application proposing the funding is used for a variety of training initiatives that meet the eligibility requirements of the grant. Please see attached application that was submitted to the Office of the Fire Marshal on March 16, 2021. Staff are confident that these training initiatives are all eligible in accordance with the funding requirements. STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT: This report supports the delivery of core services. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Capital Budget — The recommendation has no impact on the Capital Budget. Operating Budget — The recommendation has no impact on the Operating Budget. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: INFORM — This report has been posted to the City's website with the agenda in advance of the council / committee meeting. PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES: There are no previous reports/authorities related to this matter APPROVED BY: Michael May, General Manager, Community Services Department ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A — Kitchener Fire Safety Grant Application X"!t Instructions: Office of the Fire Marshal 2020/2021 Fire Safety Grant Application Form 1. Please ensure that all fields are completed as part of this grant application form. 2. If you require more space, please adjust the text boxes as needed. 3. If you wish to split the grant between supporting training and supporting a virtual inspection program to enhance your existing in-person inspection program, please complete both sections below. 4. Please email completed application to ofm@ontario.ca 5. Applications must be received no later than 1700hrs on March 19, 2021. 6. If you have any questions, please contact your Fire Protection Adviser. Name of Municipality City of Kitchener Name of Fire Department City of Kitchener Fire Department Municipal Mailing Address P.O. Box 1118, 200 King St. W. Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7 Name of Fire Chief Robert Gilmore Email Address for Fire Chief bob.gilmore@kitchener.ca Fire Safety Grant Allocation Amount $62,100.00 For those departments who wish to use the grant to support training, please provide a brief description of how the grant will be allocated, including the dollar amount. Please provide a brief overview of the training being provided, mode of delivery (online, Regional Training Centre, Learning Contract, other) and estimated timelines for completion. Please refer to the Fire Marshal Memo issued on March 11tH 2021 for additional information regarding eligible expenses. Please add extra lines to expand the text box below, if needed. 1. Purchase of a Residential Prop Mock -Up complete with windows, doors, and peaked roof - enables our firefighters to attend out -door training at Kitchener Fire Department stations, removing need to attend Regional training facility, reducing interagency interactions during COVID-19- $15,000 for design, construction, and delivery- Completed and operating May 2021 2. NFPA 472 Hazardous Materials Training & Certification for Recruit Firefighters-; IAFF Proctoring of Certification Test: $2000- Completed August 2021 3. Software for Incident Command simulations (Officer Development)- SimsUshare- $300 - Immediate 4. Publisher online LMS (Jones & Bartlett) access & hard copy book for Fire Officer 1& II training - priced at $160 each x 33 participants- $5280- Summer 2021 ,X"'itt Office of the Fire Marshal �• 2020/2021 Fire Safety Grant Application Form 5. Red Cross certification for shift training instructors- Certification and training materials- $2600 - July 2021 6. Red Cross re -certification for Suppression Division- Certification and training materials - $5100 - August 2021 7. New Family Laerdal Mannequin sets to accommodate virtual training, and isolate sets for disinfecting (per station)- 7 sets required- $8700- Immediate 8. Water rescue boat that will provide a motorized platform for boat -based rescues involving moving current in Kitchener response area -continuation of Technical Rescue training- $23,000- June/July 2021 Total Expenditures= $61,980 Name of Application Submitter Bob Gilmore Title Acting Fire Chief Signature Date