For City Council Meeting [January 26, 2021]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Sean Grayson, Acting City Manager
FROM: Brian Park, Interim Fire Chief
Title
Request City Council to Authorize the Submission of a Grant Application in an Amount Not-To-Exceed $1 Million to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program FY2020 Cycle.
(ACTION)
Body
BACKGROUND
The Fire Department uses two different radio systems both of which are nearing end of useful lives. The Fire Department seeks to replace the current radios with one radio platform capable of operating on both systems. On January 4, 2021 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Fiscal Year 2020 Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) program. The due date for submission is February 12, 2021. The grant submission will be for more than $15,000 and includes a required local match, as such City Council authorization is sought to submit an application for the AFG Program. The required match would be addressed in the next fiscal year budget and, if awarded, the City Council would have to approve acceptance of the grant. As such, the grant submission does not obligate the City to expend the matching funds.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
The objectives of the AFG program are to provide critically needed resources that equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards, enhance operational efficiencies, foster interoperability, and support community resilience. The City’s Fire Department is a qualified applicant.
The Fire Department intends to submit an application for interoperable emergency radios. Specifically, this would include mobile and portable radios, batteries and related equipment to place the radios in service. These are specialized radios that are compatible with the State and FEMA conventional interoperability plan on the 700/800 mHz, VHF and UHF bandwidths. The radio upgrade and transition will enable Rialto Firefighters to meet the mission of the state plan to “Provide strategic direction for interoperable communications and a unified public safety response communications plan that promotes national standards and addresses the unique requirements of emergency responders and designated public service organizations serving the people of California.” These radios will allow full interoperability with adjoining fire and law enforcement resources in San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles Counties for routine activities and are interoperable with the State of California Master Mutual Aid communications infrastructure as well as the FEMA disaster communication infrastructure.
The AFG program requires a ten percent local match for communities such as Rialto with a population of more than 20,000 but less than one million. The local match amount would be a maximum of $100,000. This amount would be designated as an expenditure in the fiscal year 2021/2022 Fire Department budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This report is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. According to Section 15378(b), a Project does not include: (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business. This action is also consistent with the following policy:
5-3.1: Provide for fire personnel, equipment and fire stations to have adequate and appropriate resources to meet the needs and serve all areas of Rialto.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed and supports this staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
This action has no impact on the City’s operating budget.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
This action has no impact on the current capital improvement budget. If the grant is awarded, the Fire Department will identify funds for the local match in the City’s 2021/2022 fiscal year budget.
Licensing
No licensing fees are required as part of this action.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council Authorize the submission of a grant application in an amount not to exceed $1 Million to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program FY 2020 Cycle.