DATE: January 9, 2017
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Pomaville, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Retroactive Application for Assistance Revenue Agreement with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive Application for Assistance Revenue Agreement for submission to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for the Fiscal Year 2017 Homeland Security Grant Program, September 1, 2017 through May 31, 2020 ($1,070,199).
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the attached letter assuring the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services the County will provide and appropriate all matching funds, including any cash match, required for the Homeland Security Grant Program.
3. Approve and authorize the Vice-Chairman to execute the Governing Body Resolution and Chairman to execute Grant Assurances.
4. Approve and authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector to continue issuing payments based on written order of the Homeland Security Grant Program Approval Authority in accordance with California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Guidelines for this grant.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will allow for the submission and execution of the non-competitive Application for Assistance Revenue Agreement with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) for the Fiscal Year 2017 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP). Additionally, the letter fulfills the written requirement of the grant application and the Vice-Chairman’s signature will ensure the Chairman does not self-certify as a signatory on the Governing Body Resolution. The recommended agreement provides pass-through Federal grant funds to enhance terrorism and disaster response capabilities for the Fresno County Operational Area. The HSGP Approval Authority have the flexibility to allocate funding to participating agencies on a reimbursement basis, with no increase in Net County Cost. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(s):
Should your Board not approve the recommended actions, the Department would not be able to pass-through funding to local agencies for terrorism preparedness and response.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended agreement is retroactive to September 1, 2017 and was received from Cal OES on October 9, 2017. The agreement did not come to your Board sooner as it required internal review and preparation.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The recommended revenue agreement ($1,070,199) represents a less than 1% ($3,361) increase over 2016 grant award. The grant allocation is non-competitive and does not require matching funds. The Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector will continue to issue payments based on a written order of the HSGP Approval Authority in accordance with Cal OES Guidelines. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenue ($275,000) from the FY 2016-17 HSGP are included in the Department’s Org 5620 FY 2017-18 Adopted Budget. The remaining balance $795,199 will be included in the Department’s FY 2018-19 budget request.
The recommended revenue agreement includes funding for partial recovery of grant administrative direct costs at 4.95% ($52,975) and associated indirect costs at 10% of those same costs ($5,298). The Department’s current indirect cost recovery rate is 26.19% ($13,874); the remaining indirect costs of ($8,576) will be covered by Health Realignment.
DISCUSSION:
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law No. 114-113, December 18, 2015); and authorized by Section 2002 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended (Public Law No. 107-296); DHS’s FY 2017 HSGP provides funding for terrorism prevention to states, territories, urban areas, and other local and tribal governments. The funding is used to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from potential terrorism and other catastrophic events. DHS continues to encourage local jurisdictions to utilize HSGP funding to build, maintain, and enhance local capabilities, such as:
• Cybersecurity;
• Infrastructure Systems;
• Access Control and Identity Verification;
• Economic Recovery; and,
• Long-term Vulnerability Reduction.
The recommended revenue agreement will be utilized for equipment, training, and planning.
HSGP funds are allocated to multiple jurisdictions within the Fresno County Operational Area by a mandated HSGP Approval Authority. The Approval Authority is comprised of stakeholders, whom represent their respective disciplines:
• EMS Director - Fresno County Emergency Medical Services (EMS);
• County Fire Chief - Fresno County Fire Protection District;
• Municipal Fire Chief - City of Clovis Fire Department;
• Sheriff - Fresno County Sheriff’s Office; and
• Municipal Chief of Police - City of Fresno Police Department.
The County’s Office of Emergency Services (County OES) administers the HSGP wherein Federal funds pass-through the County to multiple jurisdictions on a reimbursement basis. Per section 2006. Terrorism Prevention. of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended (6 U.S.C., section 607), DHS/Federal Emergency Management Agency is required to ensure that at least 25% ($267,550) of grant funding appropriated for HSGP is used for law enforcement terrorism prevention activities.
County OES received notification of the County’s allocation on August 30, 2017 and was required to submit a proposed spending plan to Cal OES by May 11, 2017, contingent upon your Board’s approval. The recommended revenue agreement was finalized by the Cal OES on October 9, 2017.
With your Board’s approval, the recommended agreement becomes a binding agreement and is effective September 1, 2017 through May 31, 2020. The recommended revenue agreement may be suspended or terminated by Cal OES if the County fails to comply with the terms of the agreement; however, the agreement does not allow for the County to terminate without cause. The terms also state the County shall be responsible for any liability arising out of the performance of this agreement.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #34, December 13, 2016
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Cal OES for Homeland Security Grant Program
On file with Clerk - Written Authorization
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa