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<br />STAFF REPORT <br />DATE: July 9, 2024 <br /> <br /> <br />AGENDA ITEM: Fire Department Equipment and Project Fund Priorities TO: Mayor and Council <br />SUBMITTED BY: Dustin Kalis, Fire Chief REVIEWED BY: Nicole Miller, City Administrator Clarissa Hadler, Finance Director <br /> BACKGROUND: At the April 9, 2024 council workshop, the Public Safety Aid allocation of $553,787 was discussed. Council directed staff to prioritize equipment and projects that would utilize this allocation through a newly created Fire Department Equipment and Project Fund, if approved by <br />council resolution. ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: Should the city establish the Fire Department Equipment and Project Fund? <br />Is council supportive of the current equipment and project priority list as provided by staff? <br /> PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: Staff has prioritized a number of equipment purchases and projects that would be funded by the Fire Department Equipment and Project Fund. Many of these are fire department equipment or project needs that would normally be funded from the general budget or CIP. With council <br />direction, staff are able to appropriately plan for the use of this one-time allocation while establishing this new capital projects fund. The equipment and project list as recommended by staff total approximately $337,000, leaving <br />approximately $216,000 left unallocated. All purchases would be made in compliance with the <br />City’s Purchasing Policy. Purchases would be made based on department and community need. Many of these projects will make an immediate impact to the department’s operations and response. <br />FISCAL IMPACT: Lake Elmo received $553,787 in Public Safety Aid. Funds were distributed to the city on December 26, 2023. As noted above, equipment or projects that utilize funding from the Public Safety Aid would not need to requested in future budget requests as general fund or CIP expenditures. <br /> Initial funding would utilize the 2023 Public Safety Aid allocation. Future revenues will consist of budgeted transfers from the Fire Dept’s General Fund budget in an amount similar to a 5-year average of equipment purchases. It would function much like the current Vehicle Fund, except it would be specific to smaller Fire equipment purchases or maintenance. These equipment