Label
Council Members Hobbs, Gadus and McPherson
Title
Supporting the passage of the bipartisan bill, “FIRE STATION Act”, introduced by Ohio U.S. Senator, Sherrod Brown, “to provide grants for fire station construction through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and for other purposes”; and declaring an emergency.
Summary
WHEREAS, the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department continues to feel the effects of deferred maintenance on existing fire department buildings, the increase in run volume due to the opioid epidemic and the Covid 19 pandemic, and a rise of cancer diagnosis among its ranks due to the increase of carcinogens on the job; and
WHEREAS, the City of Toledo has a limited amount of funds to make much needed repairs and upgrades to fire stations and apparatus used around the clock to protect and serve the residents of Toledo; and
WHEREAS, without assistance from state and federal sources the City of Toledo will fall farther behind in providing appropriate, safe, and upgraded facilities for firefighters to do the tasks oriented with the job; and
WHEREAS, on March 27, 2023, Ohio U.S. Senator, Sherrod Brown, along with a group of bipartisan colleagues, introduced a bill known as the “FIRE STATION Act”; and
WHEREAS, the “FIRE STATION Act” will provide grants for the fire station construction through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and for other purposes; and
WHEREAS, the most recent national report on local fire departments, distributed December, 2021, by the National Fire Protection Association stated, “…across the U.S., 44 percent of fire stations are more than 40 years old and in need of significant repairs. Additionally, 56 percent of stations lack exhaust emission control and are not properly equipped with cancer-preventing systems.”; and
WHEREAS, a grant program created by the “FIRE STATION Act” will be in the sum of $750 million and will be managed by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA); and
WHEREAS, grant eligible applicants will include: career, volunteer, and combination fire departments; fire training facilities; and nonaffiliated EMS organizations, combination and volunteer emergency medical stations (except that for-profit EMS organizations are not eligible for a grant under this section); and
WHEREAS, the grant program will financially support entities to build, rebuild, or renovate fire and EMS department facilities; upgrade existing facilities to install exhaust emission control systems; install backup power systems; upgrade or replace environmental control systems, such as HVAC systems; remove or remediate mold; construct or modify living quarters for use by personnel; and upgrade fire and EMS stations or build new stations to meet modern building codes and standards as set by the national fire protection association and international code council; NOW, THEREFORE,
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That we support the passage of the bipartisan bill known as the “FIRE STATION Act”.
SECTION 2. That recognition of the alignment with current Toledo Fire and Rescue Department needs and the passage of Ordinances 577-22 and 578-22 passed by the Council authorizing the expenditures for:
a. $3,200,000 for the Fire Department to purchase Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBAs) and related equipment.
b. $1,300,000 for Fire Station improvements.
SECTION 3. That the Clerk of Council is directed to transmit copies of this Resolution to all sponsors of this bill including U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), ChrisVanHollen (D-MD), J.D. Vance (R-OH), and President Pro Tempore Patty Murray (D-WA).
SECTION 4. That this Resolution, being an emergency measure, shall take effect and be in force from and after its adoption. The reason for the emergency lies in the fact that the Resolution is necessary to ensure the timely replacement or purchase of Toledo Fire and Rescue Department equipment and improvements as needed to better serve the community.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas _____, nays _____.
Adopted: _________________, as an emergency measure: yeas _____, nays _____.
Attest: ________________________ __________________________________
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: _____________________ __________________________________
Mayor
I hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of a Resolution adopted by Council ________________________.
Attest: ________________________
Clerk of Council