TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute all necessary documents and all necessary amendments, including term extensions, with the United States Department of Homeland Security to receive and expend grant funding for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Port Security Grant Program; and increase appropriations in the General Grants Fund (SR 120) in the Fire Department (FD) by $100,000. (Districts 1,2)
DISCUSSION
The Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) has recently been awarded grant funding in the amount of $100,000 by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Port Security Grant Program (ARRA PSGP).
As the fire department providing emergency response services to the Port of Long Beach (POLB), the LBFD was eligible to apply for funding under the ARRA PSGP for projects that would enhance the department's search and rescue capabilities. Accordingly, the LBFD applied for and received grant funds in the amount of $100,000 to purchase a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) to be deployed by the LBFD's fireboats.
The ROV will increase the department's underwater search and rescue capabilities throughout the city's 22 square miles of ocean. Equipped with a video camera and mechanical grabber arm, the ROV is unaffected by depth or contaminated water, and will reduce the hazards faced by our public safety divers. The ROV will function as the third tool in our underwater search and rescue program, augmenting the diver and sonar-based systems presently used by the Fire Department.
This item was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Gary Anderson, and Budget and Performance Management Bureau Manager David Wodynski, on December 16, 2009.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on January 12, 2010. As these are ARRA stimulus dollars, rapid implementation is required to maximize the impact locally.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will receive grant revenues of $100,000 to off...
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