Authorization to Submit Federal Emergency Management Agency Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Application Copyrighted
June 1, 2026
City of Dubuque ACTION ITEMS # 7.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: Authorization to Submit Federal Emergency Management
Agency Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response
Grant Application
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending authorization for the Dubuque
Fire Department to submit an application to the Federal
Emergency Management Agency under the Staffing for
Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Program for
the hiring of nine additional firefighter/paramedic positions.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. MVM Memo Authorization to Submit FEMA SAFER Grant Application- Nine
Firefighter
2. Staff Memo Authorization to Submit FEMA SAFER Grant Application
3. 25_11_26 Fire Department FTE Increase and Fire Cost Recovery Fee
Page 975 of 1000
Dubuque
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Authorization to Submit FEMA SAFER Grant Application- Nine Firefighter
Positions
DATE: May 28, 2026
Fire Chief Amy Scheller is recommending City Council authorization for the Dubuque
Fire Department to submit an application to the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) under the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response
(SAFER) Grant Program for the hiring of nine additional firefighter/paramedic positions.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Amy Scheller, Fire Chief
Josh Knepper, Division Chief
Sam Janecke, Bureau Chief of EMS
Will Sullivan, President of Local 25
Jenny Larson, Chief Financial Officer
Laura BendorF, Budget Manager
Nathan Kelleher, Budget Analyst - Grants
Anderson Sainci, Director of Strategic Partnerships
Teri Goodman, Consultant
Page 976 of 1000
Dubuque
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TO: Mike Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Amy Scheller, Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Authorization to Submit FEMA SAFER Grant Application- Nine Firefighter
Positions
DATE: May 19, 2026 (updated to include projections graph May 21, 2026)
INTRODUCTION:
The purpose of this memorandum is to request authorization for the Dubuque Fire
Department to submit an application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) under the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant
Program for the hiring of nine additional firefighter/paramedic positions.
DISCUSSION:
The SAFER Grant Program is administered through the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security and FEMA and is intended to assist fire departments in increasing frontline
staffing to improve emergency response capabilities, enhance firefighter safety, and
support compliance with nationally recognized deployment and staffing standards. The
program specifically supports communities in increasing the number of trained
firefighters assembled at incident scenes, improving deployment capabilities, attaining
24-hour staffing, and fulfilling the traditional mission of fire departments in providing fire
suppression, emergency medical services, rescue operations, and all-hazards
emergency response.
The Fiscal Year 2025 SAFER Grant application period officially opened on May 19,
2026, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time and closes on June 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Time. FEMA has announced approximately $324 million in available funding nationally
and anticipates awarding approximately 190 grants under the FY2025 program cycle.
Funding selections are expected no later than September 30, 2026.
The Dubuque Fire Department intends to apply under the Hiring Activity component of
the SAFER program for nine firefighter/paramedic positions. The Hiring Activity provides
grant funding to support the hiring of new firefighters or the conversion of part-time
firefighters to full-time status. The grant period for Hiring Activity awards is 36 months.
Page 977 of 1000
Under the SAFER Hiring Activity, FEMA reimburses eligible salary and benefit costs
associated with each awarded position based upon the department's first-year firefighter
compensation package at the time of application. FEMA limits reimbursement to
allowable salary and standard benefit costs only, including base salary, retirement
contributions, health insurance, life insurance, and other standard fringe benefits.
Overtime costs outside Fair Labor Standards Act requirements are not eligible
expenses under the program.
The Dubuque Fire Department's current estimated first-year firefighter compensation
package eligible under the SAFER program is as follows:
• Estimated Base Salary: $70,442
• MFPRSI Retirement Contribution: $17,190
• Health Insurance: $13,423
• Life Insurance: $46
Total Eligible Salary and Benefits: $101,101 per firefighter ($107,571 actual predicted
costs with cert pay, edu bonus, uniform, and holiday prem pay), total grant costs for
both FEMA and Dubuque are $909,909 each year. $2,729,727 three Year total.
Consistent with FEMA program requirements, the federal government may reimburse
up to 75% of eligible costs in Years 1 and 2 and up to 35% of eligible costs in Year 3.
The City is responsible for the required local cost share of 25% in Years 1 and 2 and
65% in Year 3.
Based upon the current estimated eligible compensation package of $101,101 per
firefighter, the estimated City cost share obligation for nine firefighter positions is
summarized below:
Grant Year FEMA Share % City Match % Estimated City Match
Year 1 75% 25% Approx. $227,477
Year 2 75% 25% Approx. $227,477
Year 3 35% 65% Approx. $591,441
Total City $1,046,365
Grant Year Estimated FEMA Share
Year 1 $682,431
Year 2 $682,431
Year 3 $318,468
Total FEMA $1,683,330
2
Page 978 of 1000
8%empl oy2e i ncrease used after F12028
"*EMS611ing
Rate SM�RGrant revenue Cummulative
FscalYear *5FPMmst "9FPMcost PdjustmeMs **FreCostRecoveryCorrtractsavings beyondDec1,2026 Netannualcitycost netdtycost
3moin26 2.5% 2.5%
F12026 $ 134,463.00 $ - $ 495.000.00 $ - $ 77�854.00 $ - $ (438�391.00) $ (438�391.00)
F12027 $ 537,855.00 $ 484.OG9.00 $ 990.000.00 $ 60.000.00 $ 77,854.00 $ 341.216.00 $ (447,146.00) $ (885,537.00)6monthgrantimpact(December1S31-June30)
F12028(8%) $ 580,883.40 $ 968,139.00 $ 1,014,750.00 $ 123,000.00 $ 77,854.00 $ 682,431.00 $ (349,012.60) $(1,234,549.60)12monthgrantimpact(,Aaly1-J.ine30)
F12029(8%) $ 627.354.07 $1,045.590.12 $ 1,QA0.11875 $ 126.075.00 $ 77,854.00 $ 682.431.00 $ (253,534.5G) $(1,488,084.16)12monthgrantimpact(,LIy1-June30)
F12030(8%) $ 677,542.40 $1,129,237.33 $ 1,066,121.72 $ 129,226.88 $ 77,854.00 $ 341,216.00 $ 192,361.13 $(1,295,723.02)6moMhgrantimpac[(dilyl-December1931)
F12031(8%) $ 731.74579 $1,219.576.32 $ 1,092.77476 $ 132.457.55 $ 77,854.00 $ - $ 648,235.80 $ (647,48723)
F12032(8%) $ 790,285.45 $1,317,142.42 $ 1,120,094.13 $ 135,768.99 $ 77,854.00 $ - $ 773,710J6 $ 126,223.53 Estimatedimpacty2ar�%
F12033(8%) $ 853.50829 $1,422.513.81 $ 1,148,096.48 $ 139.16321 $ 77,854.00 $ - $ 910,908.41 $ 910,908.41
Pssumptions-trant award and period of performance begi ns December'1�31,2026 for y�er 1 grant i mpact-=6 month i mpacl on Dubuque�dget F1'Z027
Ful I benefit cost for FPM=$107,571
FBvWFppro�d funding for FPM=$101,101(onlyallowablecosts per FH�M)
These estimates are based upon current first-year firefighter compensation figures and
are subject to adjustment based upon actual eligible salary and benefit costs during the
grant period.
If awarded, the additional staffing positions would support the department's ongoing
efforts to improve emergency response capability, increase minimum staffing, improve
operational resiliency, strengthen firefighter safety, and continue progress toward
nationally recognized deployment and staffing objectives associated with NFPA 1710
response performance recommendations. The positions would also support the
department's long-range strategic staffing initiatives identified through the department's
strategic planning and deployment analysis efforts.
RECOMMENDATION:
We respectfully request the City Manager authorize the Dubuque Fire Department to
submit a FEMA SAFER Grant application for nine firefighter/paramedic positions and
authorize the Fire Chief to serve as the designated grant contact and authorized
representative, with Division Chief Knepper and Bureau Chief Janecke as the
secondary grant contacts for purposes of submitting and administering the application.
CC
Josh Knepper
Sam Janecke
Will Sullivan
Cori Burbach
Jenny Larson
Laura Bendorf
Nathan Kelleher
Anderson Sainci
Teri Goodman
Crenna Brumwell
3
Page 979 of 1000
Dubuque
THE CITY OF �
All-A�aia Cih
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Maste iece on the Mississi 1 zoo�•zoiz•zois
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Fire Department FTE Increase and Fire Cost Recovery Fee
DATE: November 26, 2025
I have approved adjustments in the Dubuque Fire Department's Emergency Medical
Services billing for Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support effective January 1,
2026, based on recommendations from Fire Chief Amy Scheller. Current rates have not
been adjusted in more than 10 years and no longer reflect the true cost of service.
Fire Chief Amy Scheller is further recommending implementation of a Fire Cost
Recovery Fee and a budget amendment to create 5 additional Firefighter positions.
Updating these fees, and implementing a fire cost recovery mechanism, will help
support the request for 5 firefighter/paramedic positions in FY2026 and 9 firefighter
paramedic positions through the FY2027 budget process to improve minimum staffing.
I concur with the recommendations to create a Fire Cost Recovery Fee and to create 5
firefighter positions and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Amy Scheller, Fire Chief
Jenny Larson, Chief Financial Officer
Shelley Stickfort, Chief Human Resources Officer
Laura BendorF, Budget Manager
Page 980 of 1000