City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: FEBRUARY 13, 2024 FROM: FIRE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL SUBJECT: RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING AUTHORIZED AGENTS FOR FILING APPLICATIONS AND REQUESTING RELEASE OF FUNDS FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FROM FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND STATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER CALIFORNIA DISASTER ASSISTANCE ACT FOR THREE YEARS - SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUE:
Adopt a Resolution establishing the authorized agents of the City of Riverside for filing applications and requesting release of funds for federal assistance from Federal Emergency Management Agency, the California Office of Emergency Services, and State Financial Assistance under the California Disaster Assistance Act for three (3) years for the purpose of obtaining certain federal and state financial assistance for disaster recovery and authorize designated agents to apply for Disaster Recovery Public Assistance.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the Assistant City Manager, the Fire Chief, and the Emergency Services Administrator to file applications and request the release of funds for federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the California Office of Emergency Services, and State Financial Assistance under the California Disaster Assistance Act on behalf of the City of Riverside for three (3) years for the purpose of obtaining certain federal and state financial assistance for disaster recovery; Authorize submittal of applications by the designated authorized agents to the California Office of Emergency Services for all matters pertaining to such state and federal disaster assistance, and the assurances and agreements required for Disaster Recovery Public Assistance; and With five affirmative votes, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record, upon receipt of Disaster Recovery Public Assistance funds, an increase in estimated revenues in the amount of the assistance and appropriate expenditures in the same amount in a project account to be established by the Finance Department for each qualified disaster recovery activity.
BACKGROUND:
In order to proceed with recently declared disaster DR-4750 Tropical Storm Hilary, ongoing, and future requests for cost recovery from California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the City must re-designate the titles of the City’s Authorized Agents. California requires the City to re-designate every three (3) years. The Authorized Agents serve to execute, for and on behalf of the City, applications to obtain certain federal assistance under P.L. 93-288 as amended by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988, and state financial assistance under the California Disaster Act.
DISCUSSION:
The attached Resolution would serve as a recorded file designating the “authorized agent” to execute the applications for the cost recovery agreements between the City and CalOES or FEMA. This recorded file is required to receive cost recovery for current and future disasters.
CalOES allows for a universal designation for any disaster during the time period, which allows the City to move forward with the application and cost recovery process in a timelier manner. This application and Resolution would empower the Assistant City Manager, the Fire Chief, and the Emergency Services Administrator to execute applications and agreements between the City and CalOES and FEMA when funding is awarded for cost recovery related to these expenses.
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.
Community Trust – Being ready to recover after a disaster supports the trust the community has put in our City to not only prepare for and respond to disaster but to effectively recover from a disaster.
Equity – Responding to and efficiently seeking cost recovery benefits the entire community; limits impacts to neighborhoods; recovers revenue to provide citywide benefit.
Fiscal Responsibility – The use of federal or state disaster assistance funding allows for cost recovery for disaster response and recovery actions that would otherwise have a greater impact to the general fund.
Innovation – Utilizing partnerships with FEMA and CalOES we can work to minimize the fiscal impact of the disaster on the community.
Sustainability & Resiliency – Federal or state disaster assistance provides crucial support to rebuild infrastructure damaged during disaster and offers opportunities to mitigate risk of future damages increasing the City’s preparedness for the future.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the designation of authorized agents on behalf of the City. During declared disasters, the City may receive partial cost recovery for City damages and expenses associated with each declared disaster.
Prepared by: Mark Annas, Emergency Services Administrator Approved by: Michael 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 A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Resolution
OES Form 130 Designation of Applicant’s Agent Resolution for non-State Agencies OES Form 126 Project Application form for CA Disaster Assistance Act Program OES Form 89 Project Assurances form for Federal Assistance Resolution Establishing Authorized Agents to Apply for Disaster Recovery Funds ● Page 2