City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 3, 2020
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
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Consideration of a Grant Application to the 2020 State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) Grant through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) for Emergency Response Equipment.
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ISSUE: Consideration of a grant application to the 2020 State Homeland Security Program SHSP grant through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management VDEM to fund specialized hazardous material training to meet minimum training standards established for State (Regional) Hazardous Material Teams as well as enhance response capabilities.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Authorize the submission of a Fire Department hazardous materials training grant application for $23,350; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: The State Homeland Security Program is a grant program run by VDEM. Grant applications are submitted to support Homeland Security efforts in local jurisdictions throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Funds for the program are provided by the National Preparedness Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security under the Homeland Security Grant Program. Allowable expenditures include equipment, exercises and training.
DISCUSSION: These funds will assist the City Hazardous Materials Team meet recently revised VDEM inventory and training standards. This will help ensure the team has adequate equipment and training to meet the minimum capabilities to meet State and Federal standards. The training programs requested in this year’s grant are the same programs request last fiscal year. VDEM reduce our grant allotment by half for the previous years request.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Fire Department is requesting grant funds up to the amount of $23,350 to enhance the preparedness abilities of our hazardous materials team members to effectively respond to and mitigate Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) threats. This grant will fund specialized formal training classes, in the disciplines of HazMat IQ, DECON, Air Monitoring, and RAD detection, to the hazardous materials team members, to be conducted locally. City staff will administer the grant. The City is also responsible for the normal administrative costs associated with this grant, including financial and reporting oversight provided by the Fire Department, as well as the Office of Management and Budget, and the Finance Department. There is no cash match requirement.
The City has applied for and has been awarded this grant in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
STAFF:
Debra Collins, Deputy City Manager
Corey Smedley, Fire Chief