City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JANUARY 7, 2025 FROM: FIRE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A GRANT APPLICATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE 2024 URBAN AREA SECURITY INITIATIVE GRANT AWARD FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,894,900—SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUES:
Consider adopting a Resolution authorizing a grant application and acceptance of the 2024 Urban Area Security Initiative Grant award from the Department of Homeland Security in the amount of $2,894,900.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Adopt a resolution authorizing a grant application for the Department of Homeland Security’s 2024 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant in the amount of $2,894,900; Authorize the acceptance of the UASI funding from the Department of Homeland Security in the amount of $2,894,900; With at least five affirmative votes, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenue in the amount of $2,894,900, or the actual amount awarded, and appropriate expenditures in the same amount in the UASI Fund, UASI 2024 program revenue and expenditure accounts; and 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 the 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 $2,894,900 for the 2024 grant cycle. Staff are requesting that City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the grant application and authorize the acceptance of the 2024 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 continues to establish 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.
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 is an increase of revenue and expenditures of $2,894,900. Upon Council approval, an increase in revenue and expenditure accounts will be made in UASI Find, UASI 2024 program revenue and expenditure accounts as listed in the table below.
Fund
Program
Account
Amount
UASI
Revenue
UASI-Riverside
9182410-331100
$2,272,716
UASI-San Bernardino
9182420-331100
$375,208
UASI-Ontario
9182430-331100
$246,976
Total Revenue
$2,894,900
Expenditures
UASI-Riverside
9182410-411100
$1,486,070
9182410-440450
$135,015
9182410-440451
$130,000
9182410-440452
$21,000
9182410-440453
$199,104
9182410-440454
$220,000
9182410-440455
$34,027
9182410-440456
$47,500
UASI-San Bernardino
9182420-440450
$126,818
9182420-440453
$248,390
UASI-Ontario
9182430-440453
$246,976
Total Expenditures
$2,894,900
Prepared by: Mark Annas, Emergency Services Administrator Approved by: Steven 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
Attachments:
Award Letter
Resolution
Signature Authority
Assurances
Grant Award Face Sheet
Authorized Agent Sheet
FFATA Certification
Lobbying Certification
Subrecipient Grant Management Assessment Form
Federal FY2024 HSGP UASI ● Page 3