DEPARTMENT: Fire Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Charles N. Hood
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
SUBJECT:
Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) Military Mutual Aid Agreement (MAA)
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the San Antonio Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) to execute a Mutual Aid Agreement to allow for better coordination during a civil emergency or disaster. This agreement provides written procedures to ensure that adequate equipment and manpower will be available and to ensure that mutual aid is accomplished in the minimum time possible potentially saving lives and property.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Joint Base San Antonio is a United States military facility located in/near San Antonio, Texas. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 502d Air Base Wing, Air Education and Training Command (AETC). The facility is an amalgamation of the United States Army Fort Sam Houston, the United States Air Force Randolph Air Force Base, Lackland Air Force Base, and Camp Bullis, which were merged on October 1, 2010.
The City of San Antonio has entered into emergency response and preparedness Mutual Aid Agreements (MAA) in the past. Currently the Office of Emergency Management coordinates other mutual aid agreements approved by City Council. The Alamo Area Council of Governments (ACCOG) Regional Mutual Aid Agreement signed on August 23, 2016, City Ordinance #2016-08-04-0552. More recently, due to devastation of Hurricane Harvey, the City entered into mutual aid agreements with the City of Houston, Harris County, Aransas Pass, and Aransas County. These agreements allowed the City to provide needed resources to assist our fellow Texans during a time of need. The City has already recovered $9.4 million in cost incurred for aid rendered under these agreements and a state contract for assistance. The City has entered into previous mutual aid agreements with local military installations before the creation of JBSA. In 1996, the City entered into agreements with Randolph AFG, Lackland AFB, Kelly AFG, and Ft. Sam Houston.
The Office of Emergency Management has developed a close partnership with the military over the past few years. This agreement will help solidify this relationship and strengthen the City’s ability to respond and recover from a catastrophic disaster or civil emergency.
ISSUE:
This action will allow City first responders to support local military bases in responding to civil emergencies or disasters, including incidents that impact the City (such as a military plane crash). The City will also be in compliance with federal and state grant guidelines that require assets purchased with federal funds to be available to state and/or federal agencies in response to an emergency, disaster, or training event. It will also provide defined financial reporting efforts that should expedite future financial reimbursements.
ALTERNATIVES:
The alternative is not to participate in the Mutual Aid Agreement with Joint Base San Antonio and continue to provide future mutual aid request under the guidelines established by state statue 418 and local military rules. This action could delay future deployment efforts and financial reimbursements for when assets and/or personnel are deployed.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes a Mutual Aid Agreement with Joint Base San Antonio to allow for better coordination during a civil emergency or disaster. No funds are directly encumbered by this action. In the event of a disaster, the party that receives aid from the City of San Antonio will reimburse the City for costs incurred.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinances and execution of the Mutual Aid Agreement with Joint Base San Antonio.