CITY OF SIMI VALLEY
MEMORANDUM
July 17, 2023
TO: Cit
y Council
FR
OM: Police Department
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO ACCEPT FUNDING FROM THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY’S EMERGENCY
M
ANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANT TO FUND SOFTWARE ,
I
NTERNET REDUNDANCY AND OFFSET EMER GENCY SERVICES
MANAGER’S SALARY, AND APPROVE A SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGET REQUEST FOR FUNDS 2 87 AND 100
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
It
is recommended that the City Council accept the Department of Homeland Security’s Emergency Management Performance Grant totaling $26,036 to fund the GIS Programming’s GTG SafeCity applications , Starlink internet redundancy for the Emergency Operations Center and Mass Casualty Unit Trailer, and offset the Emergency Services Manager’s salary, and approve a Supplemental Budget Request for Fund 287, Law Enforcement Grants Fund, in the amount of $26,036 and Fund 100, General Fund, in the amount of $10,243.
BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW
Th
e City has been awarded an Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) from the Department of Homeland Security totaling $ 26,036 to fund the GIS Programming’s GTG SafeCity applications, acquisition of Starlink internet for redundancy for the Emergency Operations Center and Mass Casualty Unit Trailer , and offset the E mergency Services M anager’s salary. The EMPG is initially allocated to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (State OES).
State OES then distributes the EMPG funds to counties according to a population formula. The Ventura County Office of Emergency Services (VCOES) receives and administers the allocation, sub-granting awards to the cities, also on a population formula.
St
aff has previously utilized the EMPG to increase the City’s capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. The EMPG is a full reimbursement grant and requires a 50% in- kind match. The City satisfies the in- kind match with salary expenditures for full-time emergency management staff.
AGENDA ITEM NO.
Consent (6)
2 The City Council adopted a resolution on March 21, 2022, naming the City Manager and Assistant City Manager as the authorized agents to execute agreements, assurances and reimbursement claims for State Office of Emergency Services sub- grants. The County grant administrator has been provided with the names of current title holders, as required.
S
taff utilized a long -term strategic approach in pursuit of these grant awards. Wi th this grant award, staff seeks to build upon the previous EMPG projects in which the City developed an emergency management mapping system built upon the City’s existing Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) Geographic Information System (GIS) software. The system improves EOC decision making, damage assessment data collection, and emergency public information dissemination. This round of grant funding seeks to use the funds for:
• C
ontinue a one- year mapping analysis and mobile field collection SafeCity enhancement contract with vendor Geographic Technologies Group for the ESRI GIS system;
• Acquire Starlink internet to provide redundancy for the Emergency Operations Center and service for the Mass Casualty Unit Trailer on incident locations; • Offset the Emergency Services Manager’s salary.
FINDINGS AND ALTERNATIVES
T
he City was awarded $26,036 from the DHS Emergency Management Performance Grant program (EMPG) (sub -granted through Ventura County OES). The proposed scope of work includes the continuing of the SafeCity enhancement contract, the addition of Starlink internet for EOC redundancy , and the MCU on locations and offsetting the Emergency Services Manager’s salary.
T
he GIS system is a map -based portal to a variety of data sources such as critical facilities, schools, care facilities, responder locations, weather, video feeds, hazards, damage assessment, shelters, and more. The system, integrated with existing WebEOC software, is the center of the EOC’s situational awareness and decision support processes. The system also facilitates field data collection, allowing responders to upload reports, photographs, and videos in real-time. The system also has a public information feature that publishes dynamic incident maps to the City’s website showing hazards, evacuation areas, shelters, and other relevant information to protect and inform the public.
T
o proceed, the City Council must accept the grant award and approve funding the proposed software licenses.
T
he following alternatives are available to the City Council:
1. A
ccept the $26,036 grant award from the Department of Homeland Security;
2. A
pprove the use of the funds, as described above;
3 3. Do not approve acceptance of the Department of Homeland Security Grant;
4. P
rovide staff with other direction.
S
taff recommends Alternative Nos. 1 and 2.
SUGGESTED CITY COUNCIL MOTION
I
move that the City Council accept the $ 26,036 EMPG award from the Department of Homeland Security , approve the use of the grant to continue the GTG SafeCity enhancements to the GIS emergency mapping system , add Starlink internet for redundancy and incident location access, and offset the Emergency Services Manager’s salary and approve a Supplemental Budget Request for Fund 287, Law Enforcement Grants Fund, in the amount of $26,036 and Fund 100, General Fund, in the amount of $10,243.
.
SUMMARY
T
he City was awarded $26,036 from the DHS Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) (Sub-granted through Ventura County OES) to continue the GTG SafeCity enhancements to the GIS emergency management mapping system, add Starlink internet for redundancy and incident location access and offset the Emergency Services Manager’s salary and approve a Supplemental Budget Request for Fund 287, Law Enforcement Grants Fund, in the amount of $26,036 and Fund 100, General Fund, in the amount of $10,243.
S
taff recommends that the City Council accept the $26,036 grant award from the Department of Homeland Security and approve the use of the funds to fund GIS enhancements and internet redundancy and incident location service and approve a Supplemental Budget Request in Funds 287 and 100.
___
_________________________________
Charles Steven Shorts
Chief of Police
P
repared by: Eileen Connors, Emergency Services Manager INDEX Page
Exhibit 1 Grant Award Letter – 2022-0005 ....................................... 4 EXHIBIT 1
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