REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MINDY CASTO, Interim Chief of Police
Police Department
BY: BURKE FARRAH, Deputy Chief
Administrative Services Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the 2023 State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP)
1. Authorize the Chief of Police to accept $124,218 in grant funding for the 2023 State Homeland Security Grant awarded to the Fresno Police Department by the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) through the County of Fresno Department of Behavioral Health.
2. Authorize the Chief of Police or her designee to execute the agreement and all related documentation applicable to the 2023 SHSGP grant.
3. ***RESOLUTION - Adopt the 1st Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2024-122 appropriating $124,200 for the Police Department’s 2023 State Homeland Security Grant Program (Requires 5 Affirmative Votes) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the City Council authorize the Chief of Police to accept the 2023 State Homeland Security Grant of $124,218 from the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) through Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health; authorize the Chief of Police or her designee to execute the agreement and all related documents; and adopt the 1st Amendment to AAR No. 2024-122 to appropriate $124,200 in funding to the FY 25 budget for the Police Department’s 2023 State Homeland Security Grant Program.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CalOES awarded funds under the 2023 State Homeland Security Grant Program to the County of Fresno, which includes an allocation sub-granted to the City of Fresno Police Department in the amount of $124,218. This approved grant project will fund the purchase of equipment to support first responders and terrorism prevention efforts. The grant will fund safety equipment for the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, the Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD) team, the Crisis Negotiation (CNT) team, and the Mobile Field Force (MFF) team. Safety equipment for these special teams will enhance current capabilities to respond to resource intensive and critical incidents of terrorism or disaster. Required SWAT Basic Course training will also be funded with the grant funds. It is recommended the Council accept this grant funding. The equipment will be purchased in FY 25 and the training completed also in FY 25. There is no match requirement.
BACKGROUND
Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, the federal government established the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to manage the preparedness and prevention efforts of Federal, State and Local agencies. DHS, through CalOES, provides grant funding to state and local agencies to support prevention, preparedness, and response efforts focused on large scale natural disasters or acts of terrorism.
Under the State Homeland Security Grant Program, only Operational Areas (OAs) are eligible to apply for funding. Fresno defined its operational area as the County of Fresno and all of the jurisdictions it encompasses. In developing the grant application, OAs must consider the needs of local units of government and applicable volunteer organizations. The OAs must coordinate with cities and special districts to utilize these funds in a manner that will benefit the OA as a whole. Beginning with the 2003 grant cycle, OAs had to appoint an Anti-Terrorism Approval Body (Approval Authority). This Approval Authority has the final determination on OA allocation of grant funds. The Approval Authority in Fresno County consists of the following individuals:
• County Public Health Officer or designee responsible for Emergency Medical Services
• County Fire Chief or Chief of Fire Authority
• Municipal Fire Chief (selected by the Operational Area Fire Chiefs)
• County Sheriff
• Chief of Police (selected by the Operational Area Police Chiefs)
• Others can participate, but they cannot be voting members of this body.
Based on these rules, the Operational Area Police Chiefs elected Fresno Police Deputy Chief Burke Farrah to be their representative to the Approval Authority. Allocations for grant spending are submitted by each agency to the discipline lead who then presents the request to the Approval Authority for approval or denial of grant funds.
Prior to the submission of the Initial Spending Implementation Plan (ISIP) to the State, the Approval Authority as a whole votes on the items to be included by each discipline. After local approval the ISIP is then submitted to the State for review and final approval.
After discussion by the Approval Authority of the prioritized needs of the OA, the Approval Authority voted to allocate $124,218 in funding to the City of Fresno. This grant funding will be used to enhance preparation, response, and mitigation of resource intensive critical incidents of terrorism or disaster, with the purchase of security equipment and interoperable communications equipment. In addition, all grant recipients must meet at least one area of the five National Priorities established by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a “project” for the purposes of CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local Preference was not considered because accepting the funding award does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this program will have no impact on the City of Fresno’s General Fund. This is reimbursement-based grant and all expenditures will be reimbursed on a quarterly basis. There are no future obligations once the performance period has expired and all funds are expended.
Attachments:
Award Letter
1st Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2024-122