1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: April 25, 2023
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Eric Garcia, Fire Chief
BY: Sana Arakelian, Fire Administrator
Courtney Padgett, Police Administrator
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of the 202 2 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Grant, and Any Future Amendments, Accepting $332,356 in Grant Funds, and Amending the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Budget by Appropriating Funds
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE THE 20 22 URBAN AREA
SECURITY INITIATIVE (UASI) SUBAWARD AGREEMENT AND ANY FUTURE AMENDMENTS, ACCEPTING $ 332,356 IN 20 22 UASI GRANT FUNDS, AND AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2022-23 BUDGET BY APPROPRIATING FUNDS.
BACKGROUND
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Grants Program Directorate (DHS), is providing financial assistance to selected urban areas in the United States through the 202 2 UASI Grant Program. The UASI Grant Program is designed to address the unique equipment, training, planning, exercise, and operational needs of large urban areas, and to assist them in building an enhanced and sustainable plan to prevent, respond to, and recover from threats or acts of terrorism.
Funds are gra nted to states with the requirement that the state sub -grant no less than eighty percent of its total grant award to the selected urban areas. The Cities of Los Angeles and Long Beach, along with its surrounding communities, were identified as a combined Tier 1 urban area and have been awarded grant funding in the amount of $54,753,330 to be administered through the State of California and the C ity of Los Angeles.
FIRE
DEPARTMENT
2 DISCUSSION
In partnership with the Los Angeles County Police Chiefs Association (LACPCA), the Burbank Police Department (BPD) will focus on cybersecurity enhancements, equipment, software, and training to enhance its prevention and response capabilities to critical incidents. BPD will receive a total of $232,356 in grant funds. Seventy -seven thousand nine-hundred and ninety-two dollars ($77,992) will be used to enhance the Department’s cybersecurity intrusion detection and prevention capabilities, $40,972 will continue support of software that enhances data sharing and analytics for investigative purposes, and $32,600 will support counter terrorism training to further develop officer skillsets in the detection and prevention of potential terrorist activity.
Two projects proposed under this grant are classified as military equipment in accordance with state Assembly Bill (AB) 481: $51,287 to implement a portable mini-robotic platform and to upgrade BPD’s existing remotely -piloted ground vehicle, and $29,505 for implementation of two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, commonly referred to as drones). This grant application was submitted in 2021 prior to the enactment of AB 481.
The proposed projects will enhance BPD’s capacity to manage barricade, hostage, active shooter, and mass casualty situations. As per the requirements of AB 481, prior to purchasing equipment for these projects, BPD will return to City Council at a future meeting to provide detailed information on the proposed equipment, intended use, training, and associated costs for City Council’s review and consideration for approval.
To address its goal of regional compatibility, the Los Angeles Area Fire Chiefs Association (LAAFCA) decided to continue to select projects that will improve the ability of multiple fire departments to work together on large incidents. As such, the Burbank Fire Department (BFD) will receive funds to address training needs to enhance BFD’s capability as a local and regional first responder. BFD will receive a total of $100,000 in grant funds: $75,000 for Hazardous Materials Technician and Specialist; and $25,000 for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive training.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This grant will provide training and equipment and has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and as such, is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
This is a reimbursement grant and will not require any matching funds from the City. The City’s cost in accepting the grant will be for replacement batteries for the robotic systems and UAVs as needed. Sta ff is requesting Council authority to amend the FY 2022-23 Budget by accepting $332,356 in 2022 UASI Grant Program funds and amending the FY 2022-23 budget to appropriate the funds as follows:
3 BPD’s budget will be amended to appropriate $232,356 from revenue account number 001.PD000.48010.1085.24801.00000 (General Fund, Police Department, Other Governmental Revenue, UASI Urban Area Security Federal, 2022 UASI) to the following expenditure account:
• $232,356 to 001.PD01A.62300.0000.24801.00000 (General Fund, Patrol Division, Special Department Supplies, 2022 UASI).
BFD’s budget will be amended to appropriate $10 0,000 from revenue account number 001.FD000.48010.1085.24791.00000 (General Fund, Fire Department General, Other Intergovernmental Revenue, UASI Urban Area Security Federal, UASI 2022 ) to the following expenditure account:
• $100,000 to 001.FD02A.62300.0000.24791 .00000 (General Fund, Fire Suppression, Special Departmental Supplies, UASI 2022).
Funds will initially be drawn from 001.ND000.30010.0000.00000 (General Fund, Non- Departmental Unassigned Fund Balance) until reimbursed.
With City Council approval, the City Manager or his designee will have the authority to accept supplemental contingency funding that may be allocated by the City of Los Angeles to the City of Burbank, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the UASI grant agreement. Any supplemental contingency funding allocated would further support equipment and/or training needs within the Hazardous Materials program, as well as the Urban Search and Rescue and Active Shooter Hostile Event programs, and further support equipment and/or training needs to enhance police response capabilities .
Supplemental contingency funding becomes available when there are any unspent funds amongst all the participating jurisdictions within the 2022 UASI grant year.
CONCLUSION
Approving the 2022 UASI grant agreement will continue to address the goal of regional compatibility and training thereby enhancing BPD’s response and interdiction capabilities to emerging threats and critical incidents. Grant funds will also increase BFD’s ability to work with multiple fire departments on larger incidents and strengthen response capabilities.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Resolution
Attachment 2 – Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Subaward Agreement Grant Year 2022 between the City of Los Angeles and the City of Burbank