PURPOSE:

To request City Council authorization for the City Manager to accept $92,500 in Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Grant funds for the Police Department and amend the Fiscal Year (FY) 2007-2008 budget by appropriating funds.

BACKGROUND:

The Federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the Office of Grants and Training (G&T), is providing financial assistance to selected urban areas in the United States through the FY 2006 UASI Grant Program.  The UASI program is designed 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 to states with the requirement that the state sub grant no less than eighty percent of its total grant award to the selected urban areas.  The cities of Los Angeles and Long Beach, along with its surrounding communities, were identified as a combined Tier 1 urban area and have been awarded grant funding in the amount of $64,448,000 to be administered through the State of California and the City of Los Angeles.

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 assess the needs of the region, identify key projects and allocate grant funds accordingly.  As a result of this, the City of Burbank was identified to receive grant funding in three categories including $35,000 for personal protection equipment (PPE), $50,000 for tactical equipment, and $7,500 for training.  The sum total being $92,500.

With a great deal of prior grant funding going towards securing high dollar items such as vehicles for area Police and Fire Departments, the LAUA working group determined a need for a greater emphasis in the area of training and tactical equipment for FY 2006.  Applicable equipment expenses include the replacement of personal protection equipment (PPE), which are protective suits that can be worn by police personnel at the scene of a potential Haz Mat scene.  Other items approved include the purchase of portable search cameras, ballistic vests, and additional equipment related to terrorism prevention and response.

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.ND000.48010.1085 (UASI - Urban Area Security � Federal) to the following: $85,000 to Police Department account number 001.PD01A.70011.0000.17799, $7,500 to Police Department account number 001.PD01A.60007.0000.17799, 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 Departments� existing budget.  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. 

RECOMMENDATION: 

Staff recommends the City Council adopt the resolution accepting the grant and amending the FY 2007-2008 budget by appropriating the funds in the amount of $92,500.

THOMAS HOEFEL

Chief of Police

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