January 27, 2026
Agenda Item No. 4
TO:
HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
David Miner, Chief of Police - 949-644-3701, [email protected] PREPARED BY:
Katie Eing, Emergency Services Coordinator - 949-644-3670, [email protected] TITLE:
Resolution No. 2026-03: Approval of the 2024 Urban Areas Security Initiative Grant Program Transfer Agreement ABSTRACT:
The Federal Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Grant Program provides funding to select high-threat, high-density urban areas in order to address needs related to preventing, protecting against, responding to, and recovering from threats or acts of terrorism. The grant is managed through the City of Santa Ana and the City of Newport Beach is a sub-recipient. For the City Council’s consideration is a resolution and grant to provide first responders with equipment and training to better prepare for a terrorist attack or natural disaster.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; Adopt Resolution No. 2026-03, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Newport Beach, California, Approving the Agreement for Transfer or Purchase of Equipment/Services or for Reimbursement of Training Costs for Fiscal Year 2024 Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) between the City of Newport Beach and the City of Anaheim; and Authorize the City Manager to sign the attached agreement.
DISCUSSION:
The UASI Grant Program was authorized by Congress in 2003 and then implemented by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help strengthen the nation against risks associated with potential terrorist attacks. The program dedicates funding support to select high-threat, high-density urban areas to address their unique multi-discipline planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from threats or acts of terrorism.
In Fiscal Year 2024, 33 high-threat, high-density urban areas were eligible for funding under the UASI Grant Program, including the Orange County Metropolitan Area. The grant timeline was delayed due to the Federal government shutdown and subsequent budget delays. The City of Anaheim received a $4,712,190 grant under the program from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for use in the County of Orange to provide for terrorism prevention and enhancement of emergency preparedness. The City of Santa Ana is responsible for the management and administration of the UASI Grant Program which is overseen by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).
The urban areas are chosen by DHS based on a formula that considers factors such as critical infrastructure, population density, and credible threat information. Among other densely populated areas, the City of Santa Ana was selected as the “core city” for the Orange County Metropolitan Area and is responsible for the management and administration of the UASI Grant Program.
The program’s FY 2024 priorities for Orange County include:
Strengthen chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive materials (CBRNE) detection, response and decontamination capability Enhance information collection, analysis and dissemination Improve and expand critical infrastructure protection
Citizen preparedness and participation
Homeland security training program
The City of Newport Beach is considered an urban area sub-recipient under this grant program. Once the transfer agreement is approved, the City will be eligible to receive equipment and training.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Adopting the attached resolution is the first step required to apply for funding under the Anaheim UASI grant. If the City of Newport Beach is awarded a portion of the Santa Ana UASI grant, staff will return to the City Council when budget appropriations are necessary.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment A – Resolution No. 2026-03 with Agreement
Resolution No. 2026-03: Approval of the 2024 Urban Areas Security Initiative Grant Program Transfer Agreement January 27, 2026
CITY OF CITY OF
CITY OF
CITY OF
City Council Staff Report COUNCIL STAFF REPORT City Council Staff Report COUNCIL STAFF REPORT NEWPORT BEACH NEWPORT BEACH City Council Staff Report COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
City Council Staff Report COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
NEWPORT BEACH
NEWPORT BEACH