DEPARTMENT: SAFD
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Charles N. Hood
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
2017 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Grant Program
SUMMARY:
This ordinance ratifies the City of San Antonio Office of Emergency Management (SAOEM) actions to apply for, accept, and appropriate, upon award, up to $1,000,000.00 from the 2017 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Grant Program. This grant program is designed to enhance the region’s ability to prevent, respond to, and recover from acts of international terrorism impacting the San Antonio Urban Area (SAUA). The SAUA encompasses the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, the surrounding 12 counties and suburban cities within these counties. This ordinance approves a total personnel complement of 3 positions. These positions are essential for complying with the federal and state grant management requirements and for increasing regional response capabilities against a terrorist attack. These positions will be funded upon receipt of the 2017 UASI award.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In 2003, the Federal Government established a suite of Homeland Security grants that are now administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Office of the Governor administers this grant program on the behalf of FEMA. The City has received more than $30 million in UASI grant funding since 2004. FY2011 was the first year since the City’s initial award of $3,605,062 in 2004 that the City did not receive UASI funding. The received $1.2M in 2012 and $1M in 2014. The City did not receive any UASI funding for the past two fiscal years. On June 2, 2017, the City was notified that the region would receive $1M in UASI funding. The State required SAOEM to submit an application within 4 business days in order to accept this award. These funds will fund the San Antonio Police Department Fusion Center, Bomb Squad, and SWAT teams; the San Antonio Fire Department Hazmat and Technical Rescue teams; and the SAOEM planning activities.
ISSUE:
The Office of Emergency Management was required to submit an application to the State of Texas by June 8, 2017 to be eligible for these grant funds. These funds will sustain current homeland security operational capabilities. Staffing and equipment are necessary to support public safety and compliance with federal and state regulations.
ALTERNATIVES:
Non-acceptance of 2017 UASI grant funds would limit SAOEM from performing critical staffing, planning, training, exercises, and purchase of equipment to address intelligence and warning, protecting critical infrastructure and emergency preparedness. Alternatives to not funding the personnel complement would make us not in compliance with grant mandates and eligibility requirements and unable to accept any future UASI grant funding.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the San Antonio Office of Emergency Management (SAOEM) to apply for, accept, and appropriate, upon award, funds up to $1,000,000 from the 2017 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant program. This ordinance also approves a total personnel complement of 3 positions. The 3 positions will only be funding if awarded sufficient grant funds to sustain employment for an additional year.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance to ratify SAOEM’s actions to apply for and accept grant funds from the 2017 UASI grant programs, appropriate funds upon award, and authorizing the Director of Emergency Management, Mayor, or designee, or the City Emergency Manager to execute any and all necessary documents to effectuate 2017 UASI grants. Staff also recommends approval of the personnel complement of 3 positions.