City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: DECEMBER 10, 2024 FROM: FIRE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL SUBJECT: ACCEPTANCE OF THE 2023 URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE (USAR) RESPONSE SYSTEM COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $145,372 FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY – SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUE:
Approve the acceptance of the 2023 Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Response System Cooperative Agreement grant amendment in the amount of $145,372 from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to increase USAR 2023 from $1,438,456 to $1,583,828.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Accept supplemental grant funding in the amount of $145,372 from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the 2023 National Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Response System Readiness Cooperative Agreement; With at least five affirmative votes, and upon receipt of the grant award, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenue in the amount of $145,372, or the actual award amount, and appropriate an equal amount in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, 2023 Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) revenue and expenditure accounts; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to sign related Urban Search and Rescue Response System funding documents from the Department of Homeland Security – FEMA, USAR 2023, including making minor and non-substantive changes.
BACKGROUND:
Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) is a “multi-hazard” discipline trained to respond to a variety of natural, technological, and man-made emergencies or disasters. The City of Riverside Fire Department’s USAR team is the sponsoring agency for California Task Force 6 (CA-TF6) which is one of 28 National, and one of eight California USAR Task Force teams. These teams respond as either a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or California Mutual Aid resource during emergencies requiring highly skilled search and rescue personnel. Teams have previously been deployed to the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Hurricane Katrina, Super Storm Sandy, Hurricane Harvey, Irma, Maria, Florence, Michael, Lane, Hurricane Fiona, and most recently to Hawaii Wildfires.
DISCUSSION:
To accept supplemental grant funding in the amount of $145,372. The funding will be utilized for equipment acquisition. The total award acceptance will be $1,583,828 with a period of performance start date of 9/1/2023 through end date 8/31/2026. These funds will be utilized for training, administration, equipment acquisition and maintenance of existing equipment.
In addition, a portion of the grant can be used to fund 1.0 full-time Fire Captain, 1.0 full-time Battalion Chief, 1.0 full-time Inventory Control Specialist and 1.0 full-time Management Analyst. Due to overlapping cooperative agreement periods, the National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Readiness Cooperative Agreements can fund the salaries and benefits of the positions for the entire Fiscal Year of 2024/2025.
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 DHS/FEMA National USAR Program is an established gold standard for emergency preparedness which has helped produce over two decades worth of highly qualified technical rescue fire fighters within the City of Riverside Fire Department increasing community trust in emergency response efforts.
Equity – Task forces funded by the USAR Program bring a diverse group of professional services to all residents of Riverside and the surrounding communities including emergency room physicians, structural engineers, canine handlers, geospatial engineers, accounting techs, inventory control specialists and fire fighters.
Fiscal Responsibility – Through the use of the Department of Homeland Security – FEMA Urban Search and Rescue grant funding, the Fire Department subsidizes costs associated with staff training, department administration, and equipment acquisition.
Innovation – The City’s USAR Division Chief is the Western Division Representative for the USAR National Program. This unique position allows for enhanced leadership capability where the Division Chief puts a primary focus on the benefit of the city and its residents by engaging directly with DHS/FEMA USAR branch leadership early and often on local, state, and national program matters.
Sustainability & Resiliency – Equipment recapitalization, fully electronic administrative management/reporting capabilities, new/renewed or revised Memorandums of Understanding with participating agencies and telecommute/virtual trainings have enhanced the program with a wide range of capability, personnel, and equipment which in turn has lessened the overall impact of the Sponsoring Agency.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is an increase in revenue and expenditures of $145,372. No matching funds are required for the USAR grant. Upon Council approval, an increase in revenue will be recorded and an equal amount appropriated in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund USAR 2023 revenue account 9179100-331100 and expenditure account 9179100-440110.
Prepared by: Mike Staley, Fire USAR Division Chief
Approved by: Steve McKinster, 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: Jack Liu, Interim City Attorney
FY 2023 USAR Supp ● Page 3