R2006-109 07-10-06
RESOLUTION NO. R2006-109
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND,
TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO
APPLY FOR THE STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY
RESPONSE (SAFER) GRANT PROGRAM.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS:
Section 1. That the City Council hereby authorizes the City Manager or his
designee to apply for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER)
Grant Program.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this the 10th day of July, A.D., 2006.
c ~~~
TOM REID
MAYOR
ATTEST:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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DA RIN M. COKER
CITY ATTORNEY
CITY OF PEARLAND 2006 S.A.F.E.R. GRANT APPLICATION
PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND BUDGET
The Pearland Volunteer Fire Department (PVFD) was chartered in 1946 and has since maintained its status as
a professional volunteer organization, providing fire protection to the City of Pearland and surrounding
communities. The primary 911 area of service responsibility for the PVFD is the City of Pearland itself, with a
population of approximately 68,800 residents. This figure is based on the 2000 Census population, adjusted to
reflect new residential building permits and annexations that have occurred over the past six years. The number
is also consistent with the 2004 population estimate developed by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The total area of protection for the fire department encompasses the City and its extra-territorial jurisdiction,
resulting in an overall service area of over 75 square miles, with a population over 80,000 residents. Some of
these areas are considered a secondary respondent area for the department, provided by auto and mutual-aid
agreements along with other primary responders to provide backup assistance when requested.
The fire department currently consists of 57 trained firefighters. All are non-paid, including the department's
administration, and all are totally dedicated to protecting the citizens and property of Pearland and the
surrounding area. A brief look at recent call data shows the overall activity of the department. In 2003, the PVFD
responded to 876 calls, and 955 in 2004. In 2005, that number rose to 1026. With call volume increasing by 7-
10% each year, and the volunteer roster remaining static, both our residents and our firefighters are at an
increasingly greater risk. As the city and surrounding areas continue to build new homes and businesses, the
call numbers are expected to continue their dramatic rise, far outstretching the capabilities of our department
and its volunteers. The increase in call volume reflects both daytime and nighttime calls, though the availability
of volunteers is severely reduced during daytime hours. Because most of our volunteers work during the day, we
cannot always respond with an adequate number of firefighters to every daytime call.
Both the current call data and the forecasted future growth indicate a strong need for fixed-post daytime staffing,
which can only be achieved effectively by using paid personnel. Because the City's tax rate and operating
budget are structured to utilize a volunteer fire department, funding the needed personnel would place a
substantial burden on the city budget. It is not currently possible to provide effective fixed-post staffing using
paid personnel without either raising taxes or cutting other essential services. While the City of Pearland is
committed to a plan that will eventually fund paid personnel, the staffing need exists now, and the call data
shows that our risk will continue to increase well in advance of our ability to fund paid personnel.
The City proposes to hire twenty (20) full-time paid firefighters, to provide full staffing at each of our four (4)
stations during daytime hours. The paid personnel will provide a core group of firefighters to respond to calls
during day hours when most of our volunteers are working their regular jobs. Volunteers will continue to respond
to evening and weekend calls, as well as support the paid staff when able. The addition of fixed-post daytime
staffing using paid personnel will provide the needed level of protection to our residents, while still utilizing our
established and effective crew of volunteer firefighters.
Accordingly, the City intends to continue recruiting, training, and utilizing volunteer firefighters. In order to do so
effectively, we will need to provide incentives. In 2004, the PVFD established a "Recruitment and Retention"
committee made up of two senior members, two new members, and two ranking officers, to investigate
opportunities for recruiting and retaining firefighters. The committee's first task was to develop a strategy to
contact new homeowners, educate them about the department, and actively recruit new members. The second
task was to establish mechanisms to retain those members who have committed to the department years of
service and knowledge.
The City of Pearland takes responsibility for various activities for the volunteer firefighters. For example, the City
provides a base disability and medical insurance policy through the Texas Municipal League for all of the
volunteers. Additionally, the department has provided for two extended coverage policies to augment the state
workers compensation policy so that any firefighter injured or killed will receive the best in coverage. The peace
of mind realizing there are benefits, if needed, is definitely an incentive for volunteers.
The City also provides for premium payments into the Firefighters Relief and Retirement Pension System of
Texas. This program establishes a retirement plan along with a disability policy to cover family members in the
event of death or injury to a firefighter. The plan requires that a member participate in 25% of department calls
and 40% of drills in a given year and has vesting points of 5, 10, and 15 years. Once in the plan, the City pays
an annual premium per firefighter, which as a return at age 55. Presently, the city pays $50 per firefighter per
month with a return of $75, $150, and $300 per month based on 5, 10, or 15 years of service. Firefighters who
stay in after 15 years have their monthly benefit compounded annually at 7%. This program is advertised on our
website ~nd is explained during the application process and used as a recruiting tool. A recent study conducted
by the Texas Pension Commission, covering 180 individual firefighters on the plan, confirmed its effectiveness in
recruiting.
The PVFD presents Length of Service (LOS) and merit awards at the annual banquet. This banquet enables the
department to recognize those members who have provided for the growth of the department by being active
members and striving for the best. Some of the members currently have been with the department for up to 35
years.
Again, the City of Pearland does intend to transition to a combination paid/volunteer department in the future.
However, the rapid growth and our existing budgetary constraints make it impossible to do at this time. By
utilizing SAFER funds to start our paid staffing initiative, we can phase in the City's financial commitment so that
does not have a detrimental effect on the tax rate or on other essential services. The five-year performance
period of the SAFER will allow us to utilize new revenues and prudent planning so that, by the fifth year, the City
will fund the entire paid-staff operation.
The City of Pearland is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and will ensure to the extent possible to seek, recruit,
and hire members of racial and ethnic minority groups and women to increase their ranks within the department.
Additionally, the City of Pearland will ensure that firefighter positions filled under the SAFER grant are not
discriminated against for, or prohibited from, engaging in volunteer activities in another jurisdiction during off-
duty hours.
Budget
Budget Matrix
First Second Third Fourth Fifth
12-Month 12-Month 12-Month 12-Month 12-Month Total
Period Period Period Period Period
Personnel 781,240 808,583 836,884 866,175 896,491 4,189,373
Fringe Benefits 312,747 320,903 329,328 338,029 251,017 1,552,024
Travel 0 0 0 0 0 0
Equipment 0 0 0 0 0 0
Supplies 10,500 11,250 11,750 12,250 0 45,750
Contractual 0 0 0 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0 0 0 0
Indirect Charges 0 0 0 0 0 0
Federal Share 849,700 768,150 520,750 356,150 0 2,494,750
Applicant Share 254,787 372,586 657,212 860,304 1,147,508 3,292,397
Total: 1,104,487 1,140,736 1,177,962 1,216,454 1,147,508 5,787,147