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A resolution appropriating $4,745,500.00 in American Recovery Plan Act funds from Fund #30216 to the Nashville Fire Department to be used for light fleet vehicles and equipment.
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WHEREAS, on June 15, 2021, the Metropolitan Council passed Resolution RS2021-966, a resolution which accepted grant funds for local government support from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds established by the American Recovery Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 from the U.S. Department of the Treasury to The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson Count, which was subsequently signed into law by Mayor John Cooper on June 16, 2021; and,
WHEREAS, Resolution RS2021-966 established a COVID-19 Financial Oversight Committee ("the Committee") whose role is to collect, consider, and recommend appropriate uses of the ARP Funds as designated by the Metropolitan Council disbursement plan. The Committee will submit its reports and recommendations to the Mayor, the Director of Finance, and the Metropolitan Council not later than June 30, 2025; and,
WHEREAS, there are federal requirements for use of American Rescue Plan Act funds that require that these funds be expended or obligated on or before December 31, 2024; and,
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic and Nashville’s substantial population increase, as identified in the 2020 federal census data, have placed additional burdens on NFD to fulfill its mission to protect Nashville’s citizens; and,
WHEREAS, the Committee recognizes that the Nashville Fire Department (NFD) has an aging vehicle fleet and an increase in response requests and recommends these funds be used for light fleet vehicles and equipment; and,
WHEREAS, NFD has determined that use of these funds to build up its fleet as well as replace aged vehicles will improve response during the pandemic, as well as offer opportunities to reduce the number of personnel needed on a response, as further described in NFD’s request to the Committee (Exhibit A), resolves critical needs and is the best and most appropriate use of these funds; and,
WHEREAS, NFD has also determined that use of these funds to purchase medical equipment with advanced technology will aid in patient care and improve communication with medical personnel waiting to receive the patients, as further described in NFD’s request to the Committee (Exhibit A), resolves critical needs and is the best and most appropriate use of these funds; and,
WHEREAS, it is to the benefit of the citizens of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County that this resolution containing the recommendations of the Committee be approved.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. The Metropolitan Council accepts this resolution as a recommendation of the COVID-19 Financial Oversight Committee.
Section 2. That $4,745,500.00 from the Covid-19 American Rescue Plan Fund #30216 is hereby appropriated to the Nashville Fire Department to be used in described in Exhibit A.
Section 3. This resolution shall take effect from and after its final passage, the welfare of the public requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This resolution accepts the recommendation of the COVID-19 Financial Oversight Committee to appropriate $4,745,500 in American Recovery Plan Act (ARP) funds to the Nashville Fire Department (NFD) for light fleet vehicles and equipment. The NDF has determined that funds are needed to build up its fleet and replace aged vehicles in order to improve response times during the pandemic and reduce the number of personnel needed on a response. Funds would also be used to purchase medical equipment with advanced technology to aid in patient care and improve communication with medical personnel waiting to receive patients.
The equipment to be purchased with these funds include 25 SUV response vehicles, 30 SUV pick-up truck response vehicles, three logistics response vehicles, three facilities maintenance equipment vehicles, 50 cardiac monitors, and two shower/toilet trailers.
Fiscal Note: This appropriation, along with appropriation per Resolution No. RS2021-1152 would be the 3rd and 4th resolutions appropriating from the American Recovery Plan Act (ARP) Fund for a cumulative total of $13,807,096. The total grant award is $259,810,600 and the first half of this amount was received in July 2021.