DEPARTMENT: SAFD
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Charles N. Hood
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Interlocal agreement with VIA Metropolitan Transit to provide Emergency Transportation Services
SUMMARY:
An Ordinance authorizing the acceptance of an Interlocal Agreement with VIA Metropolitan Transit to provide Emergency Transportation Services for the City of San Antonio Office of Emergency Management during a State activation. This is a five year contract to be effective January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021 and will renew automatically every year until 2021.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The San Antonio Office of Emergency Management (SAOEM) provides coordination and support in response to statewide manmade or natural disasters such as fires, building collapse, tornados or hurricane shelter support. As a result the SAOEM, as part of its responsibility, must arrange emergency transportation from various locations to shelter sites or from shelter sites to various support centers such as pharmacies, shopping centers, medical support or physician locations. Due to the nature of emergency operations exact locations to transport from or to cannot be determined until an event that requires transportation occurs. Although activation of transportation through this Interlocal Agreement may be in response to a statewide emergency event any support under this Agreement will be limited to transportation within the limits of Bexar County. Through this Interlocal Agreement the City will pay VIA for services rendered during a statewide emergency event. However, the City will be reimbursed by the State for these costs.
ISSUE:
This Interlocal Agreement will provide the City of San Antonio Office of Emergency Management with Emergency Transportation Services to be utilized in the event of a State activation. Because of Federal Guidelines, VIA Metropolitan Transit could not compete with the public sector. The Office of Emergency Management received a SBEDA waiver because VIA was the only company large enough to meet our needs in the event of a State Activation. Currently the City has no such contract in place to meet our needs.
ALTERNATIVES:
If this Interlocal Agreement is not approved, the City of San Antonio will be in direct violation of the Texas Department of Emergency Management’s reimbursement guidelines that require this contract to be in place prior to a State Activation. As such, any expenses occurred during a State activation without this contract in place, may not be allowed for reimbursement
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes an Interlocal Agreement for Emergency Transportation between VIA and the City. Any payment made to VIA during a declared state of emergency will be reimbursed by the Texas Department of Emergency Management when the City of San Antonio Office of Emergency Management has an official State activation. In the event of an activation, the City’s payment to VIA to provide emergency transportation is estimated at $300,000.00.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance to authorize the acceptance of an Interlocal Agreement with VIA Metropolitan Transit to provide Emergency Transportation Services for the City of San Antonio Office of Emergency Management during a State activation.