City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: NOVEMBER 2, 2016
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Grant Application for the 2016 Securing the Cities Grant Program Amendment.
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ISSUE: Consideration of a grant application to the 2016 Securing the Cities Grant Program Amendment, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA).
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve acceptance of an award grant for $47,405; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute all the necessary documents that may be
required.
BACKGROUND: The Securing the Cities (STC) Program seeks to reduce the risk of a successful deployment of a nuclear terrorist weapon against a major metropolitan region in the United States by establishing sustainable capability among state, local, and tribal agencies to detect and report unauthorized radiological/nuclear materials within their jurisdictions supporting the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture (GNDA).
The National Capital Region (NCR) has been awarded $30 Million dollars to build sustainable steady state Preventative Radiological Nuclear Detection (PRND) capabilities (i.e. equipment, training, protocols) across the region. Approximately $24 Million will be focused on purchasing equipment and providing training to participating NCR stakeholders.
The District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) has drafted Memorandum’s of Understanding (MOUs) to be signed by the Lead Applicant (HSEMA) and each Principal Partner (participating NCR Jurisdictions) to demonstrate their commitment to the STC Program. An STC grant came before City Council on May 24, 2016 in the amount of $4,229 which began the program and paid for overtime and backfill in order for one person to attend the Executive Steering Committee meetings for two hours per month. The purpose of the monthly Executive Steering Committee meetings is to recognize the need for and encourage information sharing, operational integration, and regional cooperation to implement the STC program effectively. The PRD training will assist in learning how to operate handheld instruments which are used as an early warning for the detection of radiation. The department will send 50 people to this training this fiscal year. In addition, the RIID training spans across two days and involves the use of a more advanced instrument used to identify the radiological isotope. The department will send 25 people to this class this fiscal year. These funds are to be used exclusively to support the STC program implementation and collaboration in the design and operations of STC.
The City received word from HSEMA on September 27, 2016 that Alexandria would receive these funds based on the City’s membership in COG. All governments in the Washington COG are receiving these funds which did not require and application from Alexandria for funding. The grant award is passed through HSEMA to each local jurisdiction based on size. City Council is being made aware of these funds before Alexandria incurs any costs for this activity.
The City of Alexandria has entered into a MOU with HSEMA for the purpose of establishing a radiological threat detection capability within the NCR as part of the GNDA. The City of Alexandria plays a vital role in ensuring that our waterways are protected against terrorism and other threats, particularly in light of its responsibility for providing fire and EMS protection for emergencies on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and the thousands of Alexandria citizens and visitors who cross that structure each day.
FISCAL IMPACT: The award for the first phase of this grant is $47,405, which would pay for the following: 1) overtime or backfill in order to send one person for two hours per month to the Executive Steering Committee; 2) annual workshops; 3) 8 hours of Portable Radiation Detection (PRD) training and; 4) 16 hours of Radiation Instrument Identification Detector training (RIID).
The Department anticipates receiving future awards from the STC. There is no local match required and no ongoing costs to the City for attending the training.
STAFF:
Debra Collins, Deputy City Manager
Robert Dubé, Fire Chief