City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: FEBRUARY 5, 2020
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of Property Transfer from DC Homeland Security-Securing the Cities to the City of Alexandria.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of accepting the transfer of property originally funded by, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the purpose of the Securing the Cities Initiative.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve the conveying of STC-funded property to the City of Alexandria, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the amount of $63,214; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute all the necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: The City of Alexandria has been a participating partner with National Capital Region (NCR) Securing the Cities (STC) program from the beginning. The NCR-STC program is funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and administered by the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA). The MWCOG-STC sub-committee is responsible for identifying tools, equipment and training that will enhance the regions readiness and security.
The National Capital Region (NCR) Securing the Cities (STC) Program is a five-year, $30 million cooperative agreement funded by the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CMWD), with grant management assistance from the District of Columbia’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (DC HSEMA). The primary goal of the program is to prevent the threat posed by illicit radiological or nuclear materials against major metropolitan areas in the United States. This is accomplished by establishing sustainable capabilities amongst state, local, and tribal agencies to detect and report out-of-regulatory control radiological and nuclear materials. In addition to the NCR, the STC program also operates in several other large metropolitan areas, including: New York, Los Angeles, Houston, and Chicago.
The NCR STC program has partnered with 27 federal, state, and local public safety agencies (e.g., law enforcement, fire & emergency medical services, maritime units, hazmat teams, civil support teams, and other first responders, etc.) in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. The program is governed by an executive committee comprised of representatives from the stakeholder agencies, along with a full-time program staff. Because of the operational nature of STC, the program office works closely with MWCOG and the NCR Watch Desk.
The STC program has provided NCR agencies with wide range radiological nuclear detection (RND) equipment, primarily used in preventative missions. The STC program also supports training courses to ensure first responders in the NCR are properly prepared for any prevention-based event. The program includes funding for the costs associated backfill staffing and overtime, in order to reduce the financial burden on partner agencies.
DISCUSSION: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has provided certain funds pursuant to the Securing the Cities Agreement (“STC”) which have been used by HSEMA to acquire property to be conveyed and used by the STC Partner. The property subject to this agreement are two (2) RADEAGLE handheld Radioisotope Identification Devices with four (4) year extended warranties for both items. The cost of each RADEAGLE is $23,877 each and the extended warranty is $7,700 each. The total value of the property to be transferred is $63,214.
By agreeing to the property transfer, HSEMA conveys all possession, title and interest in the
Property to the City of Alexandria as an STC Partner. By accepting this Agreement, the City of Alexandria accepts ownership of all the Property and agrees to abide by the STC partner obligations.
FISCAL IMPACT: The City is responsible for normal maintenance and repair costs for the property going forward. There are no additional costs associated with this property transfer. These items will be recorded on the City’s Fixed Assets list.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
STAFF:
Debra Collins, Deputy City Manager
Corey Smedley, Fire Chief