EAST PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
DATE: July 19, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Patrick Heisinger, Interim City Manager
BY: Tomohito Oku, Finance Director
Greg Henry, Senior Management Analyst
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Approving California Office of Emergency Services Form 130 Designation of Agent
Recommendation
Adopt a resolution approving the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) Form 130, Designating Agents Necessary to Provide for All Matters Pertaining to State and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Reimbursements.
Alignment with City Council Strategic Plan
This recommendation is primarily aligned with:
Priority No. 1: Enhance Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Priority No. 2: Enhance Economic Vitality
Priority No. 6: Create a Healthy and Safe Community
Background
On March 4, 2020, the Governor of California proclaimed a state of emergency exists in California related to the spread of COVID-19.
On March 13, 2020, the President declared the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 COVID-19) pandemic of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant an emergency declaration for all states, tribes, territories, and the District of Columbia pursuant to section 501 (b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207 (the “Stafford Act”). This national emergency declaration increases federal support for state and local responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On March 17, 2020, the Council proclaimed a local emergency for COVID-19 and further authorized the City Manager to make repairs, alterations, or improvements to the City’s public facilities, take any directly related and immediate actions required by said emergency, and procure the equipment, services, and supplies for those purposes.
The City has sought to fund much of it’s COVID-19 response with outside funds including grants from San Mateo County and from FEMA.
For the City to be eligible for FEMA eligible cost reimbursement as well as other future reimbursement from the federal or state government, the City Council must approve a CalOES Form 130--Designation of Applicant’s Agency Resolution for Non-State Agencies (Form 130). The Form 130 designates the positions the City Council authorizes to apply for public assistance and recovery funding on behalf of the City, for a three-year period. The proposed action would designate the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, and Finance Director as agents who can apply for possible reimbursement.
This item is an update to a staff report from April 21, 2020 and sets the three-year window for receipt of funds from July 19, 2022, that is to July 19, 2025.
Analysis
If the City Council approves the Form 130, Staff will submit all necessary documents to CalOES as required for future reimbursement requests. Staff have submitted $76,361.01 in cost to recover throughout the COVID-19 emergency, of which $72,724.77 have been obligated by FEMA and are pending payment upon the submittal of the documents to CalOES.
Fiscal Impact
There is no immediate financial impact associated with approving the Resolution. However, approval of the CalOES Form 130 is required for the City to obtain certain disaster cost reimbursements from FEMA and the State relating to the COVID -19 emergency as well as any future disasters over the next three years.
Environmental
The action being considered does not constitute a “Project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378 (b)(5), in that it is a government administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
Public Notice
The public was provided notice of this agenda item by posting the City Council agenda on the City’s official bulletin board outside City Hall and making the agenda and report available at the City’s website and at the San Mateo County Library located at 2415 University Avenue, East Palo Alto.
Attachments
1. resolution Designation Of Agent - Cal OES
2. Exhibit A to Resolution Cal OES Designation of Agent