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Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 3.I
Meeting Date: January 10, 2024
From: John Corella, Director of Engineering/Public Works Title: Ratify Amendments made to Resolution 2023-41 Approving the Designation of Applicant’s Agent Resolution for Non -State Agencies authorizing the City Manager, Financial Services Director and Director of Public Works to execute and provide all forms, agreements, and other assurances as required for federal financial assistance under Public Law 93 -288 as amended by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act of 1988.
City Council
RECOMMENDATION:
To ratify the amendments made to Resolution 2023-41 approving the Designation of Applicant’s Agent Resolution for Non-State Agencies authorizing the City Manager, Financial Services Director and Director of Public Works to execute and provide all forms, agreements, and other assurances as required for federal financial assistance under Public Law 93-288 as amended by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988.
BACKGROUND:
Congress, through Public Law 93 -288 as amended by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relieve and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988 (Stafford Act) has established programs and procedures to provide an orderly and continuing means of assistance to State and Local governments during major disasters.
Assistance under the Stafford Act is managed through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and distributed throughout California by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).
In order to receive funding, the City, as Applicant, must identify certain Staff to act as Agents authorized to execute and provide all Cal OES forms, agreements, and other assurances as may be required to receive funding.
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Cal OES has created a standard form resolution (Cal OES 130) for the designation of Agents. The Designation of Applicant’s Agent Resolution for Non -State Agencies is required for all Applicants to be eligible to receive funding.
Due to the type of assistance normally provided under the Stafford Act pertaining to disasters, Staff recommends the City authorize the City Manager , Financial Services Director, and the Director of Public Works to manage the information between the City and Cal OES.
The immediate need for filing this Resolution is due to Staff coordination with FEMA and Cal OES in order to receive federal assistance related to the March 13, 2020, Presidential Disaster Declaration due to the on-going Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid- 19) pandemic and the November 22, 2023 Presidential Disaster Declaration due to the emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Tropical Storm Hilary (August 19-21).
By completing this form, this is a universal resolution and is effective for all open and future disasters up to three (3) years following the date of this approval.
On December 13, 2023, the City Council approved the form as Resolution 2023 -41 that was proposed by staff. This resolution authorizes the Director of Financial Services, the Director of Public Works and the City Manager to execute documents on behalf of the city for the purpose of obtaining federal financial assistance for any existing or future grant program. The approved Resolution only listed one Governing Body Representative, which was Mayor Mark Carnevale.
DISCUSSION
Upon submission to the State, they noted that three Governing Body Representatives should be included in the Resolution. As time was of the essence, Staff updated the Resolution to include Mayor Pro Tem Nancy Ross and Councilmember Raymond Gregory as the two additional Governing Body Representatives, as required, and re - submitted the form to the State. Staff is requesting the ratification of this amendment to the Resolution at this time, there were no other amendments made to the Resolution.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with this action. The Authorized Agents will be provided the authority to submit forms, assurances, and execute agreements with Cal OES pertaining to receiving federal assistance during a disaster declaration.
Purchases related to responding to these disasters will still follow normal City protocols.
ATTACHMENTS:
Designation of Applicants Agent Resolution Non-State Agencies