Title
SAFER GRANT TO FUND ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS AND ADDRESS EMERGENCY MEDICAL NEEDS.
COUNCIL STRATEGIC INITIATIVE ADDRESSED:
Council Initiative: Enhance public safety and emergency response
CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW: N/A
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
In continuing to improve ambulance transport availability and decrease incidences of Level “0”, LFD staff have prepared options to address these concerns and challenges. At the same time, FEMA announced the FY 2017 SAFER grant period, which ends on April 27, 2018. Due to the circumstances of the grant period, staff will present and discuss EMS planning.
Longview previously accepted a SAFER grant in 2011, which helped to provide the City with the financial resources to add four firefighter/paramedics. The program continues to be a success and Longview Fire Department now has an ambulance when staffing allows.
Application to the SAFER program requires that the governing entity provide a letter of support at the time of application.
In addition to the SAFER request, staff will also present options for improving our local EMS capability.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Motion to support application to SAFER grant.
STAFF CONTACT: Phil Jurmu