DATE: October 7, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Fire Department
2026-075
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBJECT:
FY 2025 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANT AWARD
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the City Council to approve the acceptance and appropriation of the Emergency Management Performance Grant award to support the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs within the Emergency Management Division.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council:
a. Authorize the acceptance of the Fiscal Year 2025 Emergency Management Performance Grant award in the amount of $15,856.
b. Authorize an appropriation and estimated revenue increase in the amount of $15,856 to the Fire Department’s grant budget within the Grant General Fund (FD_1111).
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
The Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) provides funding to assist state and local governments in enhancing and sustaining emergency management capabilities, and preparing for all hazards that may impact a community. Funding for local jurisdictions is administered through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) in coordination with the Riverside County Emergency Management Department. The City has historically received EMPG funding on an annual basis.
Although future funding is not guaranteed, the City anticipates receiving future allocations, as funding becomes available.
ANALYSIS:
Funding from the 2025 EMPG grant will be utilized by the Fire Department’s Emergency Management Division to support preparedness activities, training, and community outreach. Specifically, the funds will enhance the City’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) teen program and the Spanish program. The City’s Teen CERT program is a partnership with the Corona-Norco Unified School District (CNUSD) which provides students with free CERT preparedness classes. The Spanish CERT program expands preparedness education accessibility to additional members of the community.
These CERT program extensions have been offered in the City for several years.
Continued funding for these programs support citywide emergency management readiness and response capabilities.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Approval of the recommended actions will result in an appropriation and estimated revenue increase in the amount of $15,856 from the Grant General Fund (FD_1111) to the Fire Department’s grant budget.
The EMPG grant allocation is provided on a reimbursable 50 percent cost-share basis.
The in-kind match will be met utilizing the Fire Department’s current Emergency Management Division approved operating budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the common sense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. There is no possibility that approving this acceptance of the EMPG grant will have a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: JENNIFER WU, EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR REVIEWED BY: BRIAN YOUNG, FIRE CHIEF
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Exhibit 1 – Fiscal Year 2025 EMPG Grant Program Award Letter - $15,856