City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: FEBRUARY 7, 2018
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of Acceptance of Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Grant Funds for the Alexandria Fire Department (AFD) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Equipment Workstations.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of Acceptance of Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Grant Funds for the Alexandria Fire Department (AFD) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Equipment Workstations.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve the acceptance of reprogrammed federal funding in the amount of $150,000 for the purchase of EOC workstations and other equipment; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: The UASI program is intended to provide financial assistance to address the unique multi-discipline planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs of high-threat, high-density Urban Areas, and to assist these areas in building and sustaining capabilities to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from threats or acts of terrorism using the Whole Community approach. Activities implemented with UASI funds must support terrorism preparedness by building or enhancing capabilities that relate to the prevention of, protection from, mitigation of, response to or recovery from terrorism. Many capabilities which support terrorism preparedness simultaneously support preparedness for other hazards. UASI program implementation and governance must include regional partners and have balanced representation among entities with operational responsibilities for prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery activities within the region.
DISCUSSION: The District of Columbia’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) which administers this region UASI grant program is allowing the Alexandria Fire Department to reprogram unspent personnel funds from the UASI 2016 award into a new grant award through May 31, 2018 to assist with purchasing workstations for the City’s Emergency Operations Center. These funds will help to ensure the EOC receives approximately 65 workstations and several laptops. In addition, a combination copier and scanner machine will be acquired as is necessary for activations, trainings and exercises.
The 65 workstations will be located in the City’s new permanent EOC which is being created within existing space at the City’s Public Safety Center. To date the City has had only a temporary EOC setup for emergencies within the Fire Training Center at the Lee Center. This meant setting up and taking down the EOC for major weather events and other emergencies. It also meant that in the case of an emergency that could not be predicted such as the 2011 Virginia earthquake, the City did not have a ready EOC. This creation of the Public Safety Center EOC eliminates that deficiency as well as creates a more current technology environment. The EOC will also be used as a Citywide training and education facility.
FISCAL IMPACT: Due to vacant salaries in UASI grant funded positions, Alexandria had unspent 2016 UASI funds. DC HSEMA allowed $150,000 to be reprogrammed into a new award. There is no cash match requirement.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
STAFF:
Debra Collins, Deputy City Manager
Robert Dubé, Fire Chief