*Accept and appropriate grant for $250,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to enhance fire prevention programs
The City of Portland ordains:
Section 1. The Council finds:
- The Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant Program is designed to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire-related hazards by assisting fire prevention programs and supporting firefighter health and safety research and development.
- The Department of Homeland Security, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, notified the City on August 9, 2024 that it will award a grant for the FP&S Program to the City in the amount of $426,190.47 to fund Wildfire Urban Interface (WUI) Education and Awareness and debris removal and disposal from WUI-adjacent properties (attached as Exhibit A);
- The grant period is August 6, 2024 through August 05, 2026;
- There is a 5% match requirement ($21,309.53) that will be covered by PF&R’s GF budget, for a total project budget of $447,500; and
- The window of time in which this grant may be accepted is shorter than the process required of a non-emergency ordinance, necessitating an emergency ordinance.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:
The FY 2024-2025 budget is hereby amended as follows:
GRANTS FUND
Fund - 217
Business Area - FR
Bureau Program Expenses - $250,000- The Office of Management & Finance Grants Management Division is authorized to perform all administrative matters in relation to the grant application, grant agreement or amendments, requests for reimbursement from the grantor, and to submit required online grant documents on the Mayor’s behalf.
Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists because a delay would jeopardize the awarding of funds from FEMA; therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.
Official Record (Efiles)
An ordinance when passed by the Council shall be signed by the Auditor. It shall be carefully filed and preserved in the custody of the Auditor (City Charter Chapter 2 Article 1 Section 2-122)
Passed by Council
Auditor of the City of Portland
Simone Rede
Impact Statement
Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information
This ordinance allows Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) to accept and appropriate the FY23 FP&S Grant Program award from the Department of Homeland Security to enhance the Bureau’s fire prevention through Wildfire Urban Interface (WUI) Education and Awareness and debris removal and disposal from WUI-adjacent properties.
PF&R manages a local Firewise Communities/USA Program. The Firewise Program is tailored for wildfire vulnerable neighborhoods located within the WUI, which is also referred to as wildfire hazard zones (WHZ) and is committed to ensure its citizens maximum protection from wildland fire. PF&R collaborates with community members and neighbors to assess properties containing wildfire related characteristics. PF&R also coordinates formal Firewise/WUI Assessments upon the homeowner requests. The Assessments focus attention on the home ignition zone and provide recommendations on ways to eliminate a wildfire’s potential relationship with the house by hardening the home against wildfire embers and creating defensible space. PF&R works with other city bureaus, non-profit organizations, and Firewise community members to reduce the risk of wildfires through fuel mitigation in the wildfire hazard zones.
PF&R and Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) have an active partnership with the non-profits Forest Park Conservancy (FPC) and West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District and conduct homeowner outreach and education in Firewise Communities to provide information on local wildfire risk and guidance for creating defensible space on private property. The partners also conduct outreach with other communities within the WUI that haven’t joined the Firewise Program. Currently, PF&R and FPC have provided outreach in the Linnton neighborhood to educate residents about home hardening and creating defensible space, and participate in the home assessment program provided by PF&R. This is in partnership with PP&R that is overseeing the work conducted by State-licensed contractors to control ladder fuels within a 500-acre area surrounding the Linnton community that is within the city owned 5200-acre Forest Park.
The grant will fund an annual survey in years 1 and 2 to assess public awareness on WUI-related developments and mitigation ($2,500 per year) and debris removal and disposal from partnering properties (budgeted at $221,500 per year).
Financial and Budgetary Impacts
This action will increase Portland Fire & Rescue’s Grant Fund appropriation by $250,000 for FY 2024-25. The grant requires a 5% match ($21,309.53) over the two-year period of performance. The grant number is FR000048.
Community Impacts and Community Involvement
With this funding, PF&R will collaborate with more than 489 residential wildfire assessed Firewise Community members to encourage them to sign up for free contracted fuel mitigation. PF&R will conduct additional outreach to encourage more residents within the Firewise Communities to sign up for a WUI assessment and qualify for free fuel mitigation on their property. Mitigation tasks include the removal and chipping of fuels, focusing on areas of properties that contain invasive species (ivy, clematis, non-native blackberry, laurel, scotch broom and holly), dead shrubs, fallen branches, and areas with thick accumulations of ladder fuels, which create pathways that allow ground fires to climb into trees that become canopy fires.
PF&R will also work with Firewise residents on continuing education and agreements that will include a maintenance schedule to keep up on vegetative regrowth and encourage the re-planting of fire-resistive native species to improve wildfire resilience, reduce erosion, and enhance ecosystem health.
The project will minimize wildfire damage and disruption to residential properties, public resources, critical transportation arterials, and Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI). It will also restore and protect the long-term health of forested areas within the WUI, enhancing fire-resiliency, improving natural ecological functions, and benefiting wildlife, all while creating a more resilient community.
100% Renewable Goal
Not Applicable.
Budgetary Impact Worksheet
| Fund | Fund Center | Commitment Item | Functional Area | Funded Program | Grant | Sponsored Program | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 217001 | FRPR000013 | 441100 | PSESES00000000GS | Non-program | FR000048 | FR00480001 | 250,000 |
| 217001 | FRPR000013 | 521000 | PSESES00000000GS | Non-program | FR000048 | FR00480001 | 250,000 |
Financial and Budget Analysis
The bureau received a grant of $426,190.47 to fund Wildlife Urban Interface Education which requires a 5% match for two years. The 5% match in FY 2024-25 is $21,309.53 and will be covered out of the bureau's budget.The bureau is allocating $250,000 in FY 2024-25.
Document History
Item 789 Consent Agenda in September 11, 2024 Council Agenda
City Council
Passed
- Aye (5):
- Rene Gonzalez
- Mingus Mapps
- Carmen Rubio
- Dan Ryan
- Ted Wheeler