TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract and all necessary amendments, including term extensions, with the City of Los Angeles, to receive and expend Department of Homeland Security grant funding for the 2020 Urban Area Security Initiative Grant, in an amount not to exceed $5,923,124, for the period of September 1, 2020 through May 31, 2023; and
Increase appropriations in the General Grants Fund Group in the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications Department by $325,000, in the General Grants Fund Group in the Fire Department by $3,120,000, in the General Grants Fund Group in the Health and Human Services Department by $372,668, in the General Grants Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department by $105,456, and in the General Grants Fund Group in the Police Department by $2,000,000, offset by grant revenue. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The City of Long Beach (City) has received grant funding from the Department of Homeland Security under the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) program since 2003. Until 2006, the City was the lead city for the Long Beach UASI, a regional partnership of eight cities and the County of Los Angeles. As the lead city, Long Beach was the recipient of the grant funds and administered the funds on behalf of the other cities in the Long Beach UASI. Beginning in 2006, the Department of Homeland Security combined the Long Beach UASI and the Los Angeles UASI to form the Los Angeles-Long Beach UASI. As the largest city in the region, the City of Los Angeles was named the grant awardee, with the responsibility for administration of the funds.
To distribute the City’s share of UASI funds, the City of Los Angeles requires a formal funding agreement between the two cities. This agreement will be in effect from September 1, 2020 to May 31, 2023. Long Beach will receive $5,923,124 to use for homeland security purposes, which includes $90,000 to administer the Long Beach portion of the grant.
The funding has been used to enhance the response capabilities of the City by providing funding for training, exercises, and equipment. The UASI 2020 grant will be used to support regional training activities, incident planning and response capabilities, and to fund equipment acquisition needed to support the coordination and delivery of regional Homeland Security programs.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Sarah E. Green on April 12, 2021 and by Budget Management Officer Rhutu Amin Gharib on April 19, 2021.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on May 4, 2021, to ensure the City can promptly begin to expend these grant funds.
FISCAL IMPACT
As these grant funds are not budgeted, an appropriation increase in the amount of $5,923,124 is included in the recommendation as follows:
Department Fund Group Total
Disaster Preparedness General Grants $325,000
Fire General Grants $3,120,000
Health and Human Services General Grants $372,668
Parks, Recreation and Marine General Grants $105,456
Police General Grants $2,000,000
Total $5,923,124
All grant expenses will be fully offset by grant reimbursement revenue and there are no matching funds required. Future maintenance costs for vehicles and equipment acquired under this grant will be included as maintenance and sustainment project proposals in future UASI grants. If maintenance costs are not covered in future grants, a funding source for these costs will need to be identified by the acquiring departments. Future replacement of the equipment may become necessary. At that time, if it is determined prudent to replace the equipment, the City will seek grant funds for that purpose. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
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Respectfully Submitted,
REGINALD I. HARRISON
DIRECTOR, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
XAVIER D. ESPINO
FIRE CHIEF
KELLY COLOPY
DIRECTOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
ROBERT G. LUNA
CHIEF OF POLICE
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER