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<br />Attachment 5 <br /> <br />8A <br />Page 38 <br /> <br />FIRE DEPARTMENT <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />DATE: September 14, 2009 <br /> <br />TO: City Manager <br />FROM: Fire Chief <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Cost associated with Community Emergency Response Team <br />(CERT) <br /> <br />The Fire Department's operating budget does not currently include dedicated funding <br />for the CERT or l~re You Ready?" programs from the general fund. Each 20 Hour <br />CERT class has an approximate cost of $7,250 per session. We are currently <br />conducting two CERT classes per year ($14,500). In addition to the CERT classes we <br />are conducting four "Are You Ready?" sessions per year. The estimated cost is $500 <br />per session, comprised predominantly of staff time and some handout materials. The <br />total annual cost for "Are You Ready?1J is $2,000. We do not charge for either program <br />and most of the costs have been borne by the donations from the San Mateo County <br />OES. The instructor costs have been paid out of the Fire Department budget. It is not <br />likely that the San Mateo County OES will continue to be able to provide us with these <br />donations into the future. <br /> <br />The breakdown of average costs per 6-session CERT class is as follows: <br /> <br />Supplies backpack, $25/student: <br />Binder and training materials, $20/student: <br />Fire Extinguishers: <br />Supplies for CERT drill: <br />Department Instructor Costs: <br />Total anticipated average cost, without <br />donations: <br /> <br />$1,250 <br />$1,000 <br />$500 <br />$1,000 <br />$3,500 <br /> <br />$7,250 <br /> <br />The total cost for both CERT at twice a year and "Are you Ready?" at four times <br />per year is $16,500 per year. <br /> <br />The Fire Department has been reluctant in charging for either of these classes because <br />the cost may prevent some from participating because of financial restraints. In spite of <br />this staff believes that a fee should be imposed for supplies and equipment used for the <br />CERT training. The cost of this equipment and material is $50.00 per participant per <br />class. This would reduce the cost to the department by approximately $2,500 per class <br />of 50 students. The adj usted total would be $11,500 if this fee is imposed. <br /> <br />The personnel costs outlined above are for off duty participation at the overtime rate, <br />actual costs have been lower because the department has tried to provide the training <br /> <br />7 <br />