REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
DATE: 12/06/2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Fire Department
SUBJECT:
Title
ACCEPTANCE AND APPROPRIATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2022 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM
End
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks Council to accept and appropriate a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Grant Program award of $150,000. The grant provides funding to assist states and local governments in enhancing and sustaining emergency management capabilities in preparing for all hazards that a community might face. The grant will be used to create a SWAT and Haz Mat Team Incident Response Integration Standard Operating Procedure to address interoperability and continuity of special operations throughout Riverside County.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
That the City Council:
a. Authorize the submittal for and acceptance of the Fiscal Year 2022 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Grant Program in the amount of $150,000.
b. Authorize an appropriation and estimated revenue increase in the amount of $150,000 in the General Fund 110 for the Fire Department to support the Corona Fire and Police Departments and regional Hazardous Material Response and Special Weapons and Tactics Teams.
Body
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Grant Program provides funding to assist states and local governments in enhancing and sustaining emergency management capabilities in preparing for all hazards that a community might face. The sub-grant to local jurisdictions is administered through the California Office of Emergency Services in cooperation with the Riverside Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI). The Riverside UASI plays a role in bolstering homeland security capabilities in Riverside County through critical investment in initiatives, programs, equipment, and training.
In Riverside County, numerous fire department Hazardous Materials (Haz Mat) Response Teams work collaboratively to ensure the effective handling of hazardous situations. These teams are part of the Countywide Haz Mat Operations Group (CHOG), enhancing their collective response capabilities to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats. The CHOG in Riverside County focuses on strengthening response capabilities to hazardous materials incidents and emergencies.
Additionally, multiple law enforcement agencies have Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and specialized response teams in Riverside County. These teams are integral to law enforcement operations and play a crucial role in maintaining public safety and responding to high-risk situations. These teams are equipped with advanced training, specialized equipment, and tactics to handle high-risk situations that are beyond the scope of regular police duties. They are often deployed in scenarios such as hostage rescues, active shooter incidents, terrorist threats, and complex criminal apprehensions. These teams are not only a tactical resource but also serve as a deterrent to crime, showcasing a preparedness to respond to any critical incident effectively.
ANALYSIS:
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security allocates grant funding to local governments to assist in preventing, protecting against, mitigating, responding to, and recovering from potential terrorist attacks and other hazards. This grant-funded project in Riverside County is set to engage a consultant to develop a best practices approach for regional special operations response. This initiative will comprehensively evaluate the varying equipment, resources, and capabilities of hazardous material response teams and special weapons and tactics teams across the county. The objective is to identify and integrate the most effective methods and strategies, ensuring that each team operates optimally and effectively. This approach will enhance the coordination among different teams and bolster the overall readiness and response quality to a variety of situations within Riverside County.
Ultimately, the project will result in the creation of a SWAT and Haz Mat Team Incident Response Integration Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). This SOP will address interoperability and continuity of special operations throughout Riverside County. The City of Corona will be the subrecipient of the UASI Grant, and be the project manager/facilitator for this planning document.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Approval of the recommended actions will result in an appropriation and estimated revenue increase in the amount of $150,000 from the General Fund 110 to the Fire Department’s operating budget for the Fiscal Year 2022 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Grant Program award.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is except from CEQA if the activity is covered by the commonsense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This action authorizes the submittal for and acceptance of grant funding, and there is no possibility this will have a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: LEE SHIN, EMERGENCY SERVICES MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: ROBERT NEWMAN, POLICE CHIEF
REVIEWED BY: BRIAN YOUNG, FIRE CHIEF
Attachments:
1. Exhibit 1: Fiscal Year 2022 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Grant Program Award Letter - $150,000
2. Exhibit 2: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) the City of Riverside and the City of Corona