DEPARTMENT: Intergovernmental Relations - Office of Military Affairs
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Robert Murdock
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
A grant application to the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment to fund the Office of Military Affairs.
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the submission of a grant application of $317,663 to the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment, and acceptance of funds upon award. The grant would support the Office of Military Affairs to continue work on the following initiatives:
· Community - Military Partnerships to identify and execute service agreements with Joint Base San Antonio
· Monitoring, coordination and implementation for both Camp Bullis and Lackland Joint Land Use Studies, and once completed by Bexar County, the Randolph AFB JLUS
· Support the Military Transformation Task Force (MTTF) to prepare for any potential BRAC activity
This grant requires a city match of $105,920, of which $77,000 is a cash match and $28,920 in the form of in-kind services.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Office of Military Affairs has been funded by the DoD Office of Economic Adjustment since 2006 and has received federal grants totaling over $4.5 million which have enhanced the military missions, provided significant economic benefit to San Antonio, and strengthened the overall relationship between the City of San Antonio and military community. The Office of Military Affairs, as the nexus of the City's relationship and communication with the military community, uses federal grants to aid in the sustainment and growth of the national defense missions which are vital to the local community as shown by their $27.7 million economic impact on the San Antonio area.
The Office of Military Affairs (OMA) through the Community-Military Partnership Project and through various planning sessions with Joint Base San Antonio will continue to identify and execute joint shared service agreements. The Office of Economic Adjustment funded the Community-Military Partnership Project with the goal to reduce cost to the military for operations, maintenance and repair, base facilities, infrastructure, utilities, and other support functions with the potential to increase revenue to the City or to reduce operational costs.
OMA will continue to monitor, coordinate and implement the compatibility and sustainability recommendations from the Camp Bullis and Lackland AFB JLUSes and the Randolph AFB JLUS once it is completed. The results from these JLUSes will be integrated into an Integrated Regional JLUS implementation strategy to be used by various communities and units of local government to ensure the future sustainability of the area's military installations and missions. As part of the Regional JLUS implementation strategy OMA will pursue through contractual services the creation of an interactive GIS site to be used by all partners to share vital information relative to compatible land uses and sustainability efforts surrounding the area's military installations.
OMA will continue to support the Military Transformation Task Force as it serves as the City point of contact for all military related issues. In addition to the MTTF's participation and review of compatibility recommendations identified in the various Joint Land Use Studies, and review of community-military partnership opportunities, the MTTF will participate in any potential BRAC activity.
ISSUE:
The granter, the DoD Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), will not accept grant requests for FY 2015 until July 1, 2014, and the approval process may take several months. Therefore it is necessary to make this request as soon as possible to allow timely submission for review at OEA. This FY 2015 grant request is a follow on project to implement a Regional Joint Land Use Strategy that is still under development and funded by the on-going FY 2014 grant. As soon as the results of the current "Strategy" study are known, OMA will refine a Statement of Work specific to the implementation of the Strategy and submit the grant application for OEA approval. This grant application also serves as the basis for the department's City budget submittal and is critical to the budget process. For these two reasons, authorization to submit for the grant and to be able to accept when awarded is critical to the mission of the Office of Military Affairs and the City in its relationship with the military community.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Should the City Council not authorize the grant application the City will forgo the opportunity to continue to receive the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment Grant that currently supports 75% of the Office of Military Affairs Operations in the amount of $317,663.
2. If authorization is not approved for this grant application the Office of Military Affairs would require General Fund monies for its annual operations.
3. If neither of the above two options is acceptable the Office of Military Affairs would be closed and/or responsibilities assumed by another City department
FISCAL IMPACT:
This action authorizes a budget in the amount of $423,583. If awarded, the grant will provide $317,663 or 75% of OMA's budget, and the City will contribute $105,920. Of the City's contribution, $28,920 will be in-kind services consisting of Office Lease space. The City's cash contribution of $77,000 would be funded for the FY2015 General Fund Budget contingent upon City Council approval of the FY 2015 Budget. This council action also authorizes a personnel complement of 3 Positions to include a full-time Director, a full-time Special Projects Manager, and a part-time Senior Management Analyst.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that Council approve the submission of this grant application and the acceptance of funds upon award.