DEPARTMENT: SAFD
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Charles N. Hood
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
2018 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Grant Program
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the City of San Antonio Office of Emergency Management (SAOEM) actions to apply for, accept, and appropriate, upon award, up to $1,500,000.00 from the 2018 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Grant Program.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
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 2 positions which are essential for complying with the federal and state grant management requirements. These positions will be funded upon receipt of the 2018 UASI award.
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 Homeland Security Grants Division (HSGP) of the Office of the Governor (OOG) administers this grant program on 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. In FY12, the City was awarded $1,065,250; in FY14 the City was awarded $800,000; and in FY17 the City was awarded $750,000 (Ordinance No. 2017-08-17-0569).
The City did not receive any UASI funding for the past two fiscal years. On May 21, 2018, the City was notified that the region would receive $1.5M of which the City was awarded $1,055,285 in UASI funding. SAOEM, in coordination with the Government and Public Affairs, has been working with the Department of Homeland Security to modify their risk assessment process to better reflect new and emerging terrorist threats that are targeting soft target and outdoor open events. During the 2018 SA-DC trip, staff met with FEMA leadership to request changes to the 2018 risk assessment process and for UASI funding. FEMA leadership were very clear that they were considering modifications to the risk assessment process. Congressman Hurd invited Bridget Bean, FEMA Deputy Assistant Grants Administrator, to tour the City’s homeland security operations during the2018 Fiesta events. The City received very positive feedback from FEMA leadership from their visit and previous discussion with City leadership that resulted in an additional $500,000 in regional UASI funding for FY18.
The City $1,055,285 award will sustain and enhance the following homeland security projects:
1) Regional Planning and Analysis CI/KR team (Grant ID 3434502) -$80,000. Project will sustain FTE for FY20 (October 1, 2019-September 30, 2020). This position maintains and updates required critical infrastructure and key resources (CI/KR) data.
2) Regional Homeland Security Strategic Planning (Grant ID 3692501) - $123,299. Project will fund various homeland security planning, exercises, and community outreach and preparedness.
3) SAPD Southwest Texas Regional Fusion Center (Grant ID 2963704) - $180,000. Project will sustain critical intelligence software and information gathering tools for collecting law enforcement intelligence.
4) SAPD Regional Response Teams (Grant ID 3434902) - $207,785. Project will purchase explosive X-ray machines for bomb squad, training for Tactical Medical program, and upgrades for the Command Bus.
5) SAFD Regional Response Teams (Grant ID 34350002) - $315,000. Project will purchase a prime mover and specialized Zumro tents for the Technical Response Team and special training Hazmat teams.
6) ITSD - Cyber Security Center of Excellence (Grant ID 3697501) - $100,000. This project will continue to expand a recent FEMA pilot project to implement a secured PKI access control and cyber security prevention system for city facilities.
7) Management and Administration Cost (5%) (Grant ID 3434402) - $49,201. This project funds 1 FTE for FYI 19 (October 1, 2018-September 30, 2019). This position provides financial support and grant management.
Note: Staff is requesting the authority to accept up to $1,500,000 which will allow the City to quickly accept any unspent grants funds from other jurisdictions in the region receiving an 2018 UASI award.
ISSUE:
The Office of Emergency Management must submit a 2018 UASI grant application to be eligible for 2018 grant funding and to 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 2018 UASI grant funds would prevent the Office of Emergency Management 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:
Award of this grant would require neither a cash matching or in-kind contribution. This ordinance also approves a total personnel complement of 2 positions. In the event of loss or misuse of the UASI funds, the City assures that the funds will be returned to the grantor (Homeland Security Grant Division under the Office of the Governor) in full.
The 2 positions will only be funded if awarded sufficient grant funds to sustain employment for an additional year.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance to apply for and accept grant funds from the 2018 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 2018 UASI grants. Staff also recommends approval of the personnel complement of 2 positions.