PURPOSE:

To request City Council authorization for the City Manager to accept $814,164 in Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Grant funds for the Fire Department, and amend the Fiscal Year (FY) 2004-05 Budget by appropriating funds.

BACKGROUND:

The federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP), is providing financial assistance to thirty selected urban areas through the FY 2004 Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Grant Program to address the unique equipment, training, planning, exercise, and operational needs of large urban areas, and to assist them in building an enhanced and sustainable capacity to prevent, respond to, and recover from threats or acts of terrorism.  The funds are being granted directly to states with the requirement that the state subgrant no less than eighty percent of its total grant award to the selected urban areas.  The City of Los Angeles and its surrounding communities, was identified as one of these urban areas and has been awarded grant funding in the amount of $28,101,720 to be administered through the State of California. 

DISCUSSION:

In partnership with a multitude of area cities and public agencies, the City of Los Angeles formed a Los Angeles Urban Area (LAUA) working group, to asses the needs of the region, identify key projects and allocate the grant funds accordingly.  As a result of this, the City of Burbank was identified to receive grant funding in several categories including Emergency Management, Hazardous Materials (Haz Mat) , Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) and Training, for a total of $814,164.

The most significant piece of equipment approved through this grant is a fully equipped Hazardous Materials vehicle for $440,000, which can be used to respond to any chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive (CBRNE) incident.  The Burbank Fire Department was also awarded additional funds totaling $363,164 to purchase a variety of tools and equipment for use in Haz Mat and USAR incidents, as well as several enhancements to the City�s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), including an automated notification and recall software system.  A small amount of funding ($11,000) was also approved to pay for additional USAR training for Fire Department safety staff members, including any overtime and backfill costs associated with the training.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This is a reimbursement grant.  At this time, Staff is requesting that City Council accept the grant and appropriate from revenue account 001.FD000.48010.1085 (UASI - Urban Area Security � Federal) to the following: $440,000 to account number 001.FD02A.70010.0000.15585, $363,164 to Fire Department account number 001.FD02A.70011.0000.15585, $11,000 to Fire Department Account number 001.FD02A.60007.0000.15585 to facilitate grant expenditures.  This grant will not require matching funds.

Recurring costs for the approved equipment items will be minimal and can be absorbed within the Department�s existing budget.  The hazardous materials vehicle will collect depreciation through the Vehicle Equipment and Replacement Fund 532.  However, since this new vehicle will be replacing the existing Haz Mat van, there will be no net impact to the rental rates. 

It will take approximately thirty days for the State to reimburse the City of Los Angeles.  It will then take approximately thirty days for the City of Los Angeles to reimburse the City of Burbank.  We will maximize the grant funds to ensure that the Fire Department is better prepared to respond to a terrorism event.

RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the resolution accepting the grant and amending the FY 2004-2005 Budget by appropriating the funds in the amount of $814,164.

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