Title
Recommendation to Accept $121,000 Grant # 2023-0042; Cal OES ID #001-00000 from the California’s Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) 2023 Homeland Security Grant Program; and
Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute All Necessary Documents with Cal OES to Accept $121,000 in Grant Funds for a Floating Dock and Amending the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Fire Grants Fund (Fund 220) Operating Budget Increasing Both Revenues and Expenditures Appropriations by $121,000.
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this action is categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301, 15302, 15303, and 15311. (Fire 22032200)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Alameda’s (City) Fire Department was awarded a State of California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) 2023 Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) grant for a floating dock to support the berthing of the Fire Department's new fireboat. The grant is administered by the Alameda County Sherriff’s Office of Emergency Services (Sheriff OES) and must be accepted by May 31, 2024. Staff is requesting that City Council formally accept the grant and adopt the attached resolution. There is no local match for this grant and the total state/federal share awarded is $121,000.
BACKGROUND
In December of 2022, the Fire Department submitted a proposal to fund a floating dock in the amount of $125,000 to Cal OES. On March 13, 2023, the Fire Department received notification that the grant proposal was accepted and awarded in the amount of $121,000 and that it must be accepted by the City by May 31, 2024.
Sheriff OES acts as the lead operational agency responsible for assisting in the delivery of disaster assistance and the overall management of regional emergency response activities. The Sheriff’s OES serves as administrator for SHSGP for Alameda County. This is a Federal grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), passed through Cal OES and the Sheriff OES to public safety agencies within the County. In accordance with guidance provided by federal and state agencies that oversee SHSGP funds, the grant funds are to be used to build capabilities to protect against, prevent, respond to, and recover from terrorist acts and other types of emergencies or disasters; or provide funding to support the implementation of risk-driven, capabilities-based State Homeland Security Strategies to address capability targets; or provide assistance that is utilized to build on progress made toward enhancing the capabilities of law enforcement, emergency medical and management services, public works and public health and their abilities to respond to acts of terrorism involving chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons.
Historically, the Fire Department has been the recipient of SHSGP funds for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) dating back to 2009. The Fire Department has been awarded $12,000 annually on average by SHSGP to offset costs associated with the CERT Program. CERT provides training to Alameda residents and employees of Alameda businesses to help increase self-sufficiency in the event of a disaster. Participants learn skills that will enable them to provide emergency assistance to their families and neighbors. In addition to CERT, Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 SHSGP provided funding to purchase a supplied air system for the fire department Dive Team to improve the team's safety and operational functionality.
DISCUSSION
The Fire Department protects the waterways around the Oakland Airport, directly under the flight path for commercial, military, and private aircraft utilizing the North and South Field runways for arrivals and departures. Additional response areas include Base Alameda (USCG Island), where the Fire Department has initial mitigation responsibilities for four USCG cutters and the base. Additionally, the Fire Department Exclusive Operating Area (EOA) includes 12+ square miles of SF Bay waterways and channels that support the Port of Oakland, an international shipping port. The City also supports operations at three ferry terminals and the main maintenance/administration facility for the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA).
Berthing the Alameda Fire Boat on a floating dock will significantly aid in the rapid deployment of the boat while reducing maintenance requirements. The floating dock system is a submersible dock that allows the fireboat to be driven onto it, and then be raised out of the water with the use of air pumps. Keeping the boat stored out of the water reduces maintenance impacts on the boat.
The boat was designed to be an asset to the Alameda County Operational Area and San Francisco Bay waters in times of any human caused or natural disaster that would require marine assets to support response and recovery. There are several vulnerable targets within the response area of the Fire Department. These assets include the Oakland Airport, Port of Oakland, U.S. Coast Guard Island (Base Alameda), USS Hornet Museum, WETA Operations Facility, and the San Francisco Bay Ferry System. Additionally, utilizing maritime mutual aid agreements for the S.F. Bay Area, the fireboat can be called upon to support neighboring communities, the CA Office of Emergency Services, and the USCG.
The proposed docking system will ensure the readiness of the City fire boat to respond within the City and provide regional operational support as a mutual aid asset throughout San Francisco Bay for many years.
ALTERNATIVES
• Accept this grant in the amount of $121,000 to fund the purchase of a floating dock system.
• Consider allocating $121,000 from the General Fund or other City funding sources for the purchase of a floating dock system, in order to increase the lifespan of the boat and decrease annual maintenance needs.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
As there is no local match required for the SHSGP, there is de minimis financial impact to the General Fund in the form of staff time to administer the grant.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with Alameda Municipal Code Section 2-59 (Authorization of Contracts). This action supports the Strategic Priority, “Enhance Community Safety & Services,” in the City’s Strategic Plan.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
In accordance with CEQA, this action is categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities). As separate and independent bases, this action is also exempt from CEQA pursuant to Sections 15302 (Replacement or Reconstruction), 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures), and 15311 (Accessory Structures).
CLIMATE IMPACT
There are no identifiable climate impacts or climate action opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Accept $121,000 from the SHSGP and adopt a resolution amending the fiscal year 2023-24 Fire Grants Fund Revenue and Expenditures Budget by $121,000.
Respectfully submitted,
Nicholas Luby, Fire Chief
By,
Monique Raqueno, Fire Administrative Services Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret O’Brien, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. HSGP Notification of Award
2. HSGP Standard Assurances