City of Alexandria, Virginia
________________
MEMORANDUM
DATE: APRIL 16, 2014
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RASHAD M. YOUNG, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of Acceptance of a Funding Allocation From the National Capital Region (NCR), Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) in the Amount of $500,000 for City of Alexandria Police Department in Support of the NCR Law Enforcement Agencies.
BODY
_________________________________________________________________
ISSUE: City Council consideration of acceptance of a grant allocation in the amount of $500,000 from the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (DCHSEMA), on behalf of the National Capital Region (NCR), from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These funds will be used to purchase personal protective gas masks for NCR Law Enforcement agencies.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Authorize the City Manager to accept the funding from the Urban Area Security Initiative grant program in the amount of $500,000; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute all the necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: The National Capital Region (NCR) received $51,839,027 in 2012 Urban Area Security Grant Funds from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to support regional efforts to prepare for and respond to disasters including terrorism. These funds were allocated by the NCR Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) and the Senior Policy Group (SPG). The investment-area justifications were sent to DHS as a grant application on behalf of the entire NCR. Each year the region evaluates the expenditures of the previous grant year and reprograms funds to ensure they are spent on time. This year there is $2,061,165 that must be reprogrammed to projects that can be spent by May 31, 2014.
Currently, the gas masks in the Alexandria Police Department's inventory are at the end of their service life of 10-12 years and represent old technology. Current mask technology incorporates enhanced capabilities, like communication and hydration, ensuring that our specialized units can operate and persist in the environments that require masks. For this grant, the Alexandria Police will be able to replace 55 masks (at a cost of $450 per) from $24,750 of the grant monies administered on behalf of the entire National Capitol Region (NCR).
DISCUSSION: The City was notified on April 4, 2014 by DCHSEMA that the City is eligible to receive a total of $500,000, to be made available to supply the regions Law Enforcement Agencies Special Operations Teams with critical protective equipment.
The Alexandria Police Department, Sergeant Stafford Farmer-Lee, will be the Project Manager of this Grant.
The Alexandria Police Department will be responsible for purchasing the approved masks from the contracted vendor.
The Alexandria Police Department will complete all required reporting paperwork with FEMA to include reimbursement and required documentation; and distribution of the masks to all of the CDU and HNT teams in the NCR.
This 2012 grant will begin the purchase of specialized gas masks for the NCR teams.
This project was evaluated and could be executed before the end of the grant period.
FISCAL IMPACT: The City is responsible for the normal administrative costs associated with this grant, including financial and reporting oversight provided by the Police Department, as well as the Office of Management and Budget, and the Finance Department. There is no grant match requirement.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
STAFF:
Earl L. Cook, Chief of Police
Stafford Farmer-Lee, Sergeant, Special Operations Division
Liz Weaver, Division Chief, Fiscal/Fleet Management