City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MARCH 3, 2021
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Grant Application to the Urban Area Security Initiative for Funding to Pay for a Rail Operations Control Center Program Manager.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of a grant application to the Urban Area Security Initiative for funding to pay for a Rail Operations Control Center Program Manager.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve the submission of a grant application for $217,050 to fund payment of salary and benefits for an Alexandria Fire Department Captain; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents that may be required.
DISCUSSION: The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has established a Rail Operations Control Center (ROCC) which utilizes the resources of surrounding jurisdiction fire departments to assist with emergency incidents and oversight. Funding for a regional grant through the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) that pays for the cost of the program. The ROCC program manager is responsible for overseeing 31 ROCC Fire Liaisons who support response efforts to over 3,000 events each year within the WMATA rail system, providing critical information to first responders.
BACKGROUND: The Rail Operations Control Center (ROCC) Fire Liaison Program was established in 2016 after the L'Enfant Plaza incident which resulted in a fatality. At that time, eight jurisdictions were to provide personnel to fill a 24/7 shift position at the ROCC to assist with oversight and a fire department officer employee to assist with any issues in the Metro system. The four main jurisdictions, the District of Columbia, Fairfax, Montgomery, and Prince Georges County were to provide a full-time person for the position. The other four juris...
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