REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: GEORGEANNE A. WHITE, City Manager
Office of the Mayor & City Manager
BY: SANTINO DANISI, City Controller/Finance Director
Finance Department
COURTNEY ESPINOZA, Business Manager
Finance Department, Grants Management Unit
SUBJECT
Title
Adoption of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) standard resolutions designating authorized agents for the City of Fresno for future Public Assistance Grants
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the corresponding California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) Resolution designating Georgeanne A. White (City Manager), Santino Danisi (City Controller), and Kaleb Neufeld (Assistant Controller) as authorized agents to execute agreements on behalf of the City of Fresno for the purpose of obtaining disaster public assistance grants from CalOES and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Under the California Disaster Assistance Act, certain financial assistance can be obtained under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988, which amended the Disaster Relief Act of 1974. A new designation will be required if the previously submitted resolution is older than three (3) years from the last date of approval or if changes are required to the name and/or title of authorized agents. The attached resolution designates Georgeanne A. White (City Manager), Santino Danisi (City Controller), and Kaleb Neufeld (Assistant Controller) as authorized agents for the City of Fresno.
BACKGROUND
Under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988 and California Disaster Relief Act, governments are able to obtain certain financial assistance. All governmental or public entities requesting FEMA Public Assistance are required to have a Designation of Applicant Agents (CalOES Form 130) Resolution on file to be eligible for reimbursement of any public assistance grants for declared disasters. This resolution comes as a mandate directly from FEMA to the qualifying recipient CalOES and applies as a condition to qualifying for public assistance under CalOES.
The City Council must designate authorized agents to provide required assurances and execute agreements with FEMA and CalOES on behalf of the City and approve corresponding Cal OES Form 130. Staff recommends the form designate Georgeanne A. White (City Manager), Santino Danisi (City Controller), and Kaleb Neufeld (Assistant Controller) as authorized agents and be effective for up to three (3) years following the approval to address future disasters declared by the state and federal government. A new designation will be required once the submitted resolution is older than three (3) years from the date of approval or if changes are required to the name and/or title of authorized agents.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, this item does not qualify as a “project” and is therefore exempt from the CEQA requirements. Projects that may be funded under FEMA or Cal OES will be subject to project-specific review.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not a factor due to the fact that there is no bid involved, nor is State or federal money involved with this item. Activities in which local preference is a factor may be funded under FEMA or Cal OES but will be subject to independent review.
FISCAL IMPACT
If a current Cal OES Form 130 is not on file with Cal OES, the City will be ineligible to apply for reimbursement under any public assistance grants made available for declared disasters. Adoption of this resolution will make the City eligible for FEMA Public Assistance and Cal OES Assistance including but not limited to COVID-19 related expenses.
Attachment:
Designation of Applicant’s Agent Resolution for Non-State Agencies