City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: SEPTEMBER 5, 2023 FROM: FIRE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF A PLANNING GRANT APPLICATION TO THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE CENTERS (CRC) PROGRAM ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA STRATEGIC GROWTH COUNCIL AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BY THE CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE – SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUES:
Adoption of a Resolution (Exhibit A) that will allow the Fire Department to apply for approximately $500,000 in Community Resilience Centers (CRC) Planning Grant Program funding administered by the State of California Strategic Growth Council; appropriation into project accounts upon grant award; and authorization for the City Manager or designee to sign documents related to this grant application and award.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Adopt a Resolution authorizing a planning grant application for the Community Resilience Centers (CRC) Program Planning Grant in the amount of approximately $500,000; If awarded, authorize the acceptance of the CRC funding from the California Strategic Growth Council in the amount of $500,000, or the actual amount awarded; With five affirmative votes, and upon grant award, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenues in the amount of $500,000, or the actual award, and appropriate expenditures in the same amount to Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Community Resilience SGC 2023 Program; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute any-and-all necessary documents, including but not limited to applications, payment requests, agreements, and amendments necessary to secure funds and implement the approved grant projects, making minor and non-substantive changes as necessary.
BACKGROUND:
The State of California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) offers the CRC program that funds new construction and upgrades of neighborhood-level resilience centers across the state that will support communities during climate and other disasters, as well as build long-term resilience, preparedness, and recovery operations for local communities. SGC will provide funding that supports the ability of community-serving institutions to serve as comprehensive emergency response centers, as well as offering year-round services and programming. The CRC program will provide funding for both planning and implementation grants. In the 2021–2022 State budget, California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) was allocated $175 million to implement the CRC Program.
The City of Riverside Office of Emergency Management (OEM) plans and prepares for emergencies, incidents and events that will have an impact on the City of Riverside. OEM maintains a robust preparedness effort through the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training and resident and City employee public education events. Working with partner organizations and community members, OEM works to identify and mitigate issues prior to an incident. OES also coordinates the response and recovery efforts through the activation of Emergency Operations Centers. CRC grant will support the City’s emergency preparedness efforts to better plan for a changing climate and its effects to include increased heat emergencies.
DISCUSSION:
The Fire Department is applying for approximately $500,000 for the 2023 CRC planning grant cycle. Staff is requesting that City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the grant application and authorize the acceptance of the 2023 CRC funding from the California SGC should it ultimately be awarded. There is no match funding required for this application.
If approved, the City of Riverside Fire Department Office of Emergency Management will use funding to develop and update existing plans that correspond with the establishment of CRC’s with the goal of applying for a CRC Implementation Grant of approximately $10 million in 2024. Plans to be developed and or updated with CRC Planning Grant funding include a Mass Care, Shelter and Climate Resilience Center Plan, Emergency Evacuation & Transportation Plan and an update to the City of Riverside Local Hazard Mitigation annex. All planning efforts will support activities to prepare the City to implement Community Resilience Centers (CRC) or seek similar funds that align with the CRC program objectives including building community support through broad stakeholder/community engagement.
This funding application is being completed by a grant writer from the City’s approved panel and is receiving assistance from the supplemental assistance fund in the amount of approximately $7,500.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority No. 2 Community Well-Being and Goal No. 2.6 – Strengthen community preparedness for emergencies to ensure effective response and recovery.
This item aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) Community Resilience Centers (CRC) Program expands community resilience through an engagement process that builds social cohesion, trust, and networks.
Equity – Funding provided by the Strategic Growth Council will help the Fire Department integrate access and functional needs planning into each plan while promoting healthy, thriving, resilient communities.
Fiscal Responsibility – The use of the Strategic Growth Council grant funding increases the Fire Department’s capability and capacity to develop and update plans in an expeditious manner while creating the building blocks for additional grant funds in future rounds to implement Community Resilience Centers.
Innovation – The community engagement aspect of the planning efforts will help the City ensure that plans meet the community’s changing needs.
Sustainability & Resiliency – Community engagement in the planning process develops disaster resilient individuals and increases our community resilience through education. The planning effort places the City in position for round two resilience programs, CRC implementation and development funding for more resilient community facilities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is $500,000, if awarded. Upon Council approval and grant award, an increase in revenues in the amount of the grant award and an equal amount appropriated in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Community Resilience SGC 2023 Program, revenue account number 9349800-334100 and expenditure account number 9349800-440210. .
Prepared by: Michael D. Moore, Fire Chief
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Mike Futrell, City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
A - Resolution
California Strategic Growth Council CRC 2023 Grant Award ● Page 3