COUNCIL ACTIONS

• City Council approved local amendments to the 2018 International Fire Code. The adoption of the amendments brings the department in compliance with the 2018 International Fire Code and provides for the continuance of well-planned communities and ensures responsive, accountable and effective public services for the citizens of Buckeye.

• City Council ratified the submission of a grant application to FEMA for the acceptance of grant funds for the purchase of 50 P-25 compliant multi-band radios to replace outdated radios. Replacement of these outdated radios with P-25 compliant dual-band 800MHz radios will enhance the health and safety of the public and fire personnel.

• City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the department and Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management for its Securing the Cities (STC) Program. The department will benefit from the MOU allowing our members to participate in exercises and training that enhances radiological and nuclear detection and interdiction capabilities in the city and surrounding communities.

• City Council ratified the submission of a grant application to FEMA for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program for the staffing of future Fire Station 707 in Blue Horizons.

• City Council approved a resolution authorizing the department to participate with other West Valley Regional Partners for the purpose of training officers up to the NFPA 1021, Fire Officer 1 Level. West

Valley Regional Partners include Arizona Fire and Medical Authority; Buckeye Valley Fire District; Daisy Mountain Fire District; and Sun City Fire District.

• City Council approved a resolution to adopt the 2021 Maricopa County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The department is part of the MultiJurisdictional Planning Team. The team updated and completed the 2021 Maricopa County MultiJurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan in order to remain compliant with federal regulations and to obtain Arizona State and FEMA approval of the Plan.

• City Council approved the acceptance of grant funds, not-to-exceed $204,450, from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the Securing the Cities (STC) Program. This allows for the reimbursement of certain personnel costs relating to exercise, training to enhance fire personnel’s radiological and nuclear detection, interdiction capabilities in the city of Buckeye and surrounding communities in Maricopa County and for the use of certain equipment purchased by Maricopa County with STC grant funds.

• City Council approved the Automatic Aid Agreement between the department and Luke Air Force Base relating to fire protection and emergency responses.

• City Council approved the IGA with the City of Phoenix and other jurisdictions for the Regional Metropolitan Phoenix Fire Service Automatic Aid for the purpose of providing assistance for fires and other emergency services.

• City Council approved the IGA with the City of Surprise for sharing fire-medical record software.

• Honored Fire Chief Bob Costello, one year after his passing, with a City Proclamation renaming the Sundance Crossing Courtyard as the Bob Costello Public Safety Courtyard, and announcing the Courtyard as the future home of the Buckeye Public Safety Memorial to include the names of Chief Costello and Police Officer Rolando Tirado who also lost his life in the line of duty.

• Cory Wenzl helped roll out the Fire Safety Sleeve Program. The fire hose safety sleeve can be use on certain doors that would provide access to students and faculty members in the event of a lockdown due to an active shooter situation. We have started delivering fire hose safety sleeves to over 20 Buckeye schools so far.

• Two Labor Management Retreats were held with department RBO members and representatives of United Buckeye Firefighters Local 4311, to discuss and revisit internal processes and how to improve those processes.

• The department participated in the Arizona Burn Foundation fundraiser “Cook like a Firefighter” competition. In all, the department raised a total of $4,683 in donations.

• The department held a Community Stakeholder Input Session with the assistance of Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) in the next steps of the accreditation process for the department.