DATE: March 1, 2016
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Pomaville, Director, Department of Public Health
Robert W. Bash, Director of Internal Services/Chief Information Officer
SUBJECT: Purchase of Specialized Emergency Vehicle
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Clerk to the Board to execute Budget Transfer No. 26 ($55,000) transferring appropriations within the Department of Public Health Org 5620.
2. Adopt resolution increasing FY 2015-16 appropriations and estimated revenues for the Internal Service Department - Fleet Services-Equipment Org 8911 in the amount of $55,000 (4/5 vote).
REPORT
The first recommended action, with your Board’s approval, will allow for the transfer of existing appropriations within the Department of Public Health Organization 5620 so that it can be subsequently transferred to the Internal Service Department - Fleet Services-Equipment Org 8911 ($55,000). The second recommended action will allow the Internal Service Department - Fleet Services to purchase a specialized emergency response vehicle for the County Office of Emergency Services (County OES). The vehicle will be funded with Federal Emergency Management Agency Homeland Security grant funds, with no net County cost.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(s):
Should your Board not approve the recommended actions, County OES staff would utilize existing Department vehicles assigned to other programs or private vehicles when reporting to incident sites of local emergencies and disasters. The Department would reallocate Homeland Security grant funds to other related duties or forfeit the monies back to the State.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in net County cost associated with the recommended actions. Recommended Budget Transfer No. 26 transfers existing FY 2015-16 appropriations within the Department of Public Health Org 5620 so that it can be transferred to the Fleet Services - Equipment Org 8911 to purchase a specialized emergency vehicle with modified shelving, configured windows and communications equipment at a cost of $55,000, funded by a Federal Emergency Management Agency Homeland Security grant. The recommended Budget Resolution will increase adopted appropriations and estimated revenues, as an Operating Transfer In from the Department of Public Health Org 5620, for the FY 2015-16 Internal Service Department - Fleet Services-Equipment Org 8911 in the amount of $55,000 to provide for the purchase of the specialized emergency vehicle.
DISCUSSION:
County OES coordinates planning and preparedness response and recovery efforts for disasters occurring within the unincorporated area of the County. In its role as the Operational Area lead agency, County OES maintains ongoing communication with local government agencies including County Departments, Incorporated Cities, Special Districts, and Public School Districts, as well as many state and federal agencies and non-profit organizations to sustain and enhance the capability to respond to and recover from disasters. During disasters, activities include ongoing communication and coordination with local, state and federal partners to identify and activate response resources, develop situation reports, damage assessments, proclamations of emergency and mutual aid requests and to initiate disaster cost reimbursement application procedures and coordination.
During the recent Rough Wildfire in the Sierra and Sequoia National Forests, emergency management staff responded, almost daily including off-hours and weekends, to the incident site to attend briefings and planning meetings. County OES staff typically uses their personal vehicles when required to respond during on-call duty. With your Board’s approval of the recommended actions, the Department will be able to acquire a dedicated vehicle that will allow County OES to have the necessary equipment already in the vehicle and efficiently respond to emergency events. In addition, a suitable and specialized vehicle will allow for the transport of County OES and Department personnel and supplies (i.e. sandbags, equipment, or food) to disaster locations when necessary. The dedicated vehicle will give County OES the capability and versatility to deploy the appropriate response to the variety of events that impact the County. County OES staff also attend regional trainings and exercises, both within and outside of the County.
The procurement process generally takes between three to five months. The Department will work with the County’s Internal Service Department - Fleet Services to purchase the vehicle. The estimated cost of the vehicle, a large van outfitted with configured shelving and communications equipment, provided by Fleet Services will be approximately $55,000. The vehicle will be used both within and outside the County.
Attachments Included and/or on file:
On file with Clerk - Budget Transfer
On file with Clerk - Resolution (Org 8911)
CAO Analyst:
Sonia De La Rosa