City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: AUGUST 25, 2026 FROM: FIRE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: ACCEPTANCE OF THE 2026 INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION (IATA) DANGEROUS GOODS TRAINING GRANT ISSUE:
Approval of this item will allow the Riverside Fire Department to accept $9,330 in grant funding from California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to provide federally required Dangerous Goods training for California Task Force 6 (CA-TF6) logistics personnel, ensuring operational readiness and compliance with FEMA Urban Search and Rescue requirements.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Accept a grant awarded from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) for the 2026 International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Training in the amount of $9,330; With 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 the grant award, and appropriate expenditures in the same amount in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, OES Dangerous Goods Training Program revenue and expenditure accounts; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute related funding documents from Cal OES, 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. CA-TF6 has 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, Hawaii Wildfire, Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton, and most recently Kerr County Texas Floods.
DISCUSSION:
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services or “Cal OES” administers grant funding in support of the State’s Urban Search and Rescue program. This funding supports training, exercises, backfill, overtime, and travel costs necessary for personnel to meet required USAR training standards.
For Fiscal Year 2026, the IATA Dangerous Goods Training grant award is $9,330.00, with a period of performance from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The training covers regulatory requirements including Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations, and Military Airlift Manual (AFMAN 24-604). Maintaining current Dangerous Goods certification is a mandatory requirement for FEMA Urban Search and Rescue logistics personnel responsible for transporting hazardous materials, batteries, compressed gases, and specialized rescue equipment by commercial and military aircraft.
Without this training, qualified personnel could be limited in supporting federal deployments, reducing the operational readiness of California Task Force 6. This training ensures CA-TF6 personnel remain qualified to safely transport hazardous materials while maintaining compliance with FEMA and Cal OES.
All expenditures and reimbursements will be processed in accordance with established City financial controls, including invoice reconciliation, receipt application, and quarterly grant compliance review procedures.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is an increase in revenue and expenditures of $9,330. Upon Council approval an increase in revenue and a supplemental appropriation, in the amount of the award, will be recorded in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, OES Dangerous Goods Training Program revenue account 9354300-334100 and expenditure account 9354300-440210. No matching City funds are required.
Prepared by: Pat Hopkins, Division Chief
Approved by: Steve McKinster, Fire Chief
Certified as to
availability of funds: Julie Nemis, Finance Director
Approved by: Edward Enriquez, Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer Approved as to form: James Johnson, City Attorney
FY 2024 Urban Search & Rescue ● Page 3