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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #05 Approval of Ocoee Fire Department's Fully Involved Program Meeting Date: March 17, 2009 Item # Ei Reviewed By: Department Director: Richard Firstner City Manager: ROb~ Subject: Ocoee Fire Department's Fully Involved Program Contact Name: Contact Number: Richard Firstner 407 -905-3126 Background Summary: . The Fully Involved Program was created in January 2004, providing home repair, handicapped access, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers to the residents of our community. Issue: The program has been restricted to the named projects by virtue of the establishing language of the original staff report (Item VII F, Agenda 01/20/2004). The program has expanded in it's scope since 2004, creating an opportunity to return the donated funds of the program back to the community in different ways. The program could be funding fire prevention programs, such as supporting poster contests, etc. by purchasing materials and awards. Operation Santa, a popular community program could also be funded by the program. Recommendations Staff recommends the Commission approve that the expenditure of the Fully Involved funds be at the discretion of the Fire Chief, to be used toward community service projects. The CACOFD will still review the projects submitted by the public and determine if it is appropriate for the Fire Chief to commit funds toward the project. Attachments: Item VII F, Agenda 01/20/2004 Financial Impact: None Type of Item: (please mark with an "x') Public Hearing Ordinance First Reading Ordinance Second Reading Resolution _ Commission Approval Discussion & Direction For Clerk's DeDt Use: Consent Agenda _ Public Hearing _ Regular Agenda Original Document/Contract Attached for Execution by City Clerk Original Document/Contract Held by Department for Execution Reviewed by City Attorney N/A Reviewed by Finance Dept. Reviewed by 0 eJ/~1I N/A N/A 2 Citv Manager Robert Frank Commissioners Gary Hood. District 1 Scott Anderson. District 2 Rusty Johnson. District 3 Joel Keller, District 4 Mayor S. Scott Vandergrift STAFF REPORT TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners FROM: Richard Firstner, Fire Chief DATE: March 17,2009 RE: Fully Involved Program ISSUE The Fully Involved Program was created in January 2004, providing home repair, handicapped access, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers to the residents of our community. BACKGROUNDfDISCUSSION The program has been restricted to the named projects by virtue of the establishing language of the original staff report (Item VII F, Agenda 01/20/2004). The program has expanded in its scope since 2004, creating an opportunity to return the donated funds of the program back to the community in different ways. The program could be funding fire prevention programs, such as supporting poster contests, etc. by purchasing materials and awards. Operation Santa, a popular community program could also be funded by the program. As the Staff Report is written now, we are not able to utilize the program funds for such purposes, due to the restrictive language. RECOMMENDA TION Staff recommends the Commission approve that the expenditure of the Fully Involved funds be at the discretion of the Fire Chief, to be used toward community service projects. The CACOFD will still review the projects submitted by the public and determine if it is appropriate for the Fire Chief to commit funds toward the project. \- I Mayor S. Scott Vandergrift CdlteI of GOOd LI .. ~ '1,,- aOG Agenda 0 1/20/2004 . Item VII F CommIssIOners Danny I-Towell, District I Scott Anderson, Dist.rict. 2 Rusty Johnson. Dist.rict. 3 Nancy J. Pnrkor, District. 4 City Mana~er ,Jim Gleason STAFF REPORT To: The Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners From: Richard Firstner, Assistant Fire Chief Date: January 12, 2004 Re: Ocoee Fire Department's "FULL Y INVOLVED" Program Back2round: The Ocoee Fire Department is in the process of developing a service program entitled "Fully Involved" that will install smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in residential properties within the City of Ocoee. The program will also provide residents basic home repairs to avoid future problems. The name "Fully Involved" is a term used in Fire Services to describe how advanced a fire is within a structure, and the "all hands" involvement that is required by the emergency responders to control the situation. The name was selected for the program to indicate that the department intends to become "fully involved" with the community, reaching beyond normal service delivery, and elevate personal voluntary service for the betterment ofthe community. The program was discussed with Lowe's Home Improvement who has expressed an interest in partnering with the department, and has provided an initial grant to get the program started. Lowe's currently has a program entitled "Lowe's Hero's Program" similar to the department's Fully Involved program. They are interested in participating in the Fully Involved program by providing volunteers and support. Lowe's has donated over $1,000.00 of smoke detectors, extinguishers and tools. Lowe's has also offered to provide a 6' X 12' trailer at cost to the department. The program concept has been proposed to the Citizens Advisory Council for the Ocoee Fire Department (CACOFD) and the Firefighters Union IAFF Local 3623, and has received their endorsement. Both organizations have expressed an interest in becoming an active partner in the program. The CACOFD has accepted the responsibility to oversee and administer the program. This will include; accepting donations, screening requests, approving repair work, purchasing required materials and supplies, and keeping the necessary records. Scooe: The program will consist of a trailer, staffed by a combination of on-duty fIre department personnel and volunteers. The trailer will carry smoke detectors, fIre extinguishers, tools and equipment for installation and repair, and public education materials. The trailer will be maintained by the fIre department and will be available for routine as well as emergency use. The department currently provides smoke detectors to the residents ofOcoee upon request. The detectors have been provided in the past either by grant funding, operational funding, or a combination of both. The department personnel would visit the residents in the fIre engine assigned to that district and install the detector according to accepted practices. The Fully Involved program will continue to provide smoke detectors, and expand to tire extinguishers, where necessary. The program would also provide small repair projects to the residents of the City ofOcoee, when the need is determined. The repair and construction projects would include building wheelchair ramps, repairing stairs, railings, doors and doorways, and other tasks that would normally pose a problem to the residents, or create an unsafe or unhealthy condition. The project would be designed to assist those citizens that are economically deprived, in poor health, handicapped, or any other condition that would prevent them from performing the work. V olunteers in an off-duty status would accomplish projects that would require construction or repair. The requests would be reviewed by the CACOFD and receive their approval. Recommendation: In order for the Fully Involved program to be successful and function properly, the following action will be required. 1. A trailer needs to be procured to carry the necessary tools and equipment. Recommendation: Approve the utilization of the funds that have been given to the City from the Local Mitigation Strategy ($2,800.00). These funds are the City's share for participating in the program and are to be used to further hazard mitigation. The funds would be used to procure the trailer outside the current capital equipment budget and have graphics applied to advertise the program and it's sponsors/partners. 2. Approve the creation of an account that would be used to purchase supplies and materials for the program. The account would be administered by the CACOFD so that donations, grants and other funds could be deposited and used for approved purposes. All transactions would be conducted according to standard procurement practices. Recommendation: Approve the creation of a separate account for the purpose of administering the program. Approve the deposit of the $1,000.00 grant from Sam's Club, and the $1,000.00 grant from Wal-Mart.