City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: FEBRUARY 27, 2024 FROM: FIRE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A GRANT APPLICATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE 2023 URBAN AREA SECURITY INITIATIVE GRANT AWARD AND CONSIDER THE ADDITION OF UP TO SIX STAFF TO SUPPORT THE SAFETY AND TRIBAL REGIONAL ANALYSIS CENTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,178,500—SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUES:
Consider adopting a Resolution authorizing a grant application and acceptance of the 2023 Urban Area Security Initiative Grant award and consider the addition of up to six staff to support the Safety and Tribal Regional Analysis Center from the Department of Homeland in the amount of $3,178,500.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Adopt a resolution authorizing a grant application for the Department of Homeland Security’s 2023 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant in the amount of $3,178,500; Authorize the acceptance of the UASI funding from the Department of Homeland Security in the amount of $3,178,500; With five affirmative votes, and upon grant award, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenue in the amount of the grant award, and an equal amount appropriated in the UASI Fund, UASI Program accounts; and With five affirmative votes, and upon grant award, authorize an increase of 6.0 Full Time Equivalent (FTEs) in the UASI Fund, Fire Department UASI Program, to continue until grant funds are expended; Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary documents, including but not limited to applications, payment requests, agreements, and amendments necessary to secure funds and implement the approved grant projects, and making minor and non-substantive changes.
BACKGROUND:
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) offers the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) program to enhance regional preparedness in high-threat, high-density areas and provides funding opportunities every fiscal year (FY) to address the unique multi-discipline planning, operations, equipment, and training needs to these areas as it relates to terrorism prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery.
In 2008, DHS identified the Riverside Region as a UASI-qualified area, allowing the eligibility to apply for grant funding. Due to large-scale regional threats, the cities of Ontario and San Bernardino, and the counties of Riverside and San Bernardino were identified as sub-recipients of the grant funding, with the City of Riverside appointed as the Single Point of Contact (SPC)/agency lead. Since 2008, Riverside has led various UASI projects in the region to support the protection of communities from acts of terrorism and has successfully received over $40 million in grant funding that has been shared among the Riverside UASI agencies.
The Riverside UASI is governed by the Riverside Urban Area Steering Group (UASG), and the Authorized Body of 5 also known as the Urban Area Approval Authority. The UASG is comprised of the Police and Fire Chiefs and Deputy/Assistant Chiefs of the Cities of Ontario, Riverside, and San Bernardino, the County Fire Chief and Undersheriff for the County of San Bernardino, and the Emergency Management Director and Assistant Sheriff for the County of Riverside. The UASG sets the priorities and selects the regional projects which will be funded by the UASI grant. The Authorized Body of 5 is comprised of the City Managers from the Cities of Ontario, Riverside, and San Bernardino, the County Executive Officer for Riverside County, and the Chief Executive Officer for San Bernardino County. The Authorized Body of 5 has the final decision-making authority for Riverside UASI’s funding allocations.
DISCUSSION:
The Department of Homeland Security UASI grant has provided an application and preliminary award letter to the City of Riverside Fire Department in the approximate amount of $3,178,500 for the 2023 grant cycle. Staff are requesting that City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the grant application and authorize the acceptance of the 2023 UASI funding from the Department of Homeland Security.
If approved, the Riverside UASI and grant sub-recipients will use funding to purchase equipment for Homeland Security enhancement projects throughout the Riverside UASI region. The grant funding may also be used for regional planning, training and exercise activities, regional critical infrastructure assessments, staff salaries, and materials to enhance community resilience.
The Riverside UASI is establishing the Safety and Tribal Regional Analysis Center (STRAC) that will provide local collaboration and coordination through collection, analysis and dissemination of actionable all hazards information between public safety, tribal nations and private sector partners. The grant funding will pay for up to six (6) FTE Intelligence Analysts positions through May 2026. The staffing levels include a Supervising Intelligence Analyst and Intelligence Analyst positions that are comparable to a Supervising Crime Analyst and Crime Analyst as follows:
Supervising Intelligence Analyst: 1.0 FTE - Total Cost Estimate - $117,186 Maintains a current and thorough understanding of assigned subject matter, to include awareness of other stakeholder activities related to assigned subject matter portfolio. Review reported tips and leads for threat information and situational awareness, including determining location, activity, and reporting trends; and anticipates customer/stakeholder intelligence needs through the identification of intelligence gaps associated with terrorism threats. Shares information to stakeholders about all-hazards threats.
Intelligence Analyst: 5.0 FTE - Total Cost Estimate - $466,805 ($93,361 x 5.0 FTE) Focuses on analytic and liaison/outreach activities. Performs a wide range of analytical functions including research, analysis and reporting on criminal, terrorism and all-hazard related vulnerabilities, risks, and threats within the Inland Empire.
The analysts will maintain a process, drawing together and analyzing information to create and disseminate alert notifications and analytic products to raise awareness of all-hazards and encourage timely reporting in our Major Urban Area.
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 Department of Homeland Security’s Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant has increased the capabilities and capacities of our first responder departments and emergency management agencies for over a decade increasing community trust in our emergency response efforts.
Equity – Funding provided by the Department of Homeland Security help the region plan and equip departments to respond to our diverse community including those with access and functional needs.
Fiscal Responsibility – The use of the Department of Homeland Security grant funding increases the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario Metropolitan Area’s capability and capacity to plan for, train for, exercise and respond to emergencies within the region and beyond through classes and costs associated with training staff, UASI program administration, and equipment acquisition and organization of planning, training, and exercising.
Innovation – The Riverside Fire Department- Office of Emergency Management’s manages the Riverside Urban Area Security Initiative by bringing regional partners on board to build innovative capabilities throughout the two-county region.
Sustainability & Resiliency – Educating responders, individuals and community organizations thru the UASI program develops disaster resilient organizations through critical infrastructure assessments and disaster training that increases our overall community resilience.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is $3,178,500. Upon Council approval and grant award, an increase in 6.0 FTEs will be recorded in the UASI Fund, Fire Department, UASI Program. An increase in revenue in the amount of the grant award and an equal amount in appropriations will be recorded in the UASI Fund, UASI Program revenue and expenditure accounts as indicated in the table below.
Fund
Program
Account
Amount
Revenue
UASI
UASI-Riverside 2023
9180810-331100
$3,178,500
Expenditures
UASI
UASI-Riverside 2023
9180810-Salaries & Benefits
$3,023,264
UASI-San Bernardino 2023
9180820-440451
$155,236
Total Expenditures
$3,178,500
Prepared by: Mark Annas, Emergency Services Administrator Approved 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 A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Award Letter
Resolution
Signature Authority
Assurances
Grant Award Face Sheet
Authorized Agent Sheet
FFATA Certification
Lobbying Certification
Subrecipient Grant Management Assessment Form
Federal FY2023 HSGP UASI ● Page 3