DEPARTMENT: SAFD
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Charles N. Hood
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Regional Mutual Aid Agreement with the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) for coordination of emergency response services within the AACOG region during a disaster.
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the City to execute a Mutual Aid Agreement with AACOG. This agreement allows for suitable arrangements for furnishing mutual aid during a disaster and/or civil emergency. AACOG jurisdictions are authorized to enter into such an agreement pursuant to various state statues including Chapter 791, Texas Government Code (Interlocal Cooperation Act), Chapter 418, Texas Government Code (Texas Disaster Act of 1975), Chapter 421, Texas Government Code (Homeland Security), Chapter 362, Texas Government Code and Executive Order No. RP-12 signed by the Governor of the State of Texas on Aril 3, 2002. This agreement replaces the previous agreement approved by City Council on March 11, 2004 (Ordinance 98950).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
AACOG provides and facilitates intergovernmental cooperation through planning and coordination of activities that include technical assistance, dissemination of information and administration of area-wide programs among its membership, which consists of the 13 counties of Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, McMullen, Medina, Wilson, and 57 cities and 1 town within said counties “the Region.” Regional Mutual Aid Agreements are an acceptable practice for allowing governing officials representing various political sub-divisions to provide for the safety and protection of their residents by establishing procedures for requesting mutual aid during a disaster. This aid can be in the form of equipment, supplies, and personnel during the disaster and/or civil disturbance and during recovery.
It has been more than 10 years since the previous agreement was approved by City Council. There have been numerous changes to state and federal laws, policies, and procedures that promulgated the necessity to rewrite this agreement. This version of the AACOG Regional Mutual Aid Agreement is updated from the 2003 version and contains two major changes: 1) Change of notification requirement of responding agency to report expenditures from 2 days to 180 days; and 2) Allowing 12 hours of operational mutual aid at no cost. The 2003 AACOG Mutual Aid Agreement was approved by City Council on March 11, 2004, Ordinance #98950.
Having a mutual aid agreement with neighboring jurisdictions is a sound emergency management practice that provides clarity and direction during short and long term recovery. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also requires jurisdictions to operate under a signed mutual aid agreement to be eligible for financial recovery assistance from the federal government after a federally declared disaster.
In addition, AACOG’s Regional Emergency Preparedness Advisory Committee (REPAC) recently mandated that only mutual aid participants are eligible to receive 2017 State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) grant funds. In 2016, the City is expected to be awarded $1.4 million in SHSP grant funds.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved this agreement. Twenty-six jurisdictions have signed this agreement. This agreement is in accordance with federal and state grant guidelines.
ISSUE:
This action will allow the City’s first responders to assist neighboring jurisdictions in responding and/or recovering from a disaster and/or civil emergency. In addition, the City will continue to have a mechanism for requesting mutual aid for similar events affecting our community. This agreement provides defined financial recovery process that should expedite future financial reimbursements. The City also will be eligible to apply for, and receive future SHSP grant funds.
ALTERNATIVES:
The alternative is to allow the current agreement to expire and not to participate in the regional Mutual Aid Agreement and to utilize guidelines established by state statue 418 to request mutual aid in the future. This action could delay future deployment efforts and financial reimbursements for when assets and/or personnel are deployed. The City would not be eligible to apply for future SHSP grant funds.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The impact to the City’s General Fund is the potential loss of SHSP grant funds. If approved, this agreement will improve recovering expenses incurred for responding to a mutual aid request longer than 12 hours.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance and execution of the Mutual Aid Agreement with the AACOG.