STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Public Safety
AGENDA DATE: December 11, 2024
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): All
DEPARTMENT: Office of Emergency Management and Crisis Response
EXECUTIVE: Dominique Artis
______________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the (1) acceptance of a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency passed through the Texas Office of the Governor Homeland Security Grants Division (HSGD) for the FY 2024 Homeland Security Grant Program which includes the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) (Federal / State Award ID No. EMW-2024-SS-05096, Grant Nos. 2980710, 3418208, 2980310, 3698807, 3176409, and 4902602, Assistance Listing No. 97.067) in the amount of $5,842,198.40 to provide funding for activities related to enhancing preparedness and building capacity to prepare for, prevent, and respond to terrorist attacks for the period January 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026; (2) establishment of appropriations in an amount not to exceed $5,842,198.40 in the DHS 2024 Homeland Security UASI Fund; (3) receipt and deposit of funds in an amount not to exceed $5,842,198.40 in the DHS 2024 Homeland Security UASI Fund; and (4) execution of the grant agreement with HSGD and all terms, conditions, and documents required by the agreement - Not to exceed $5,842,198.40 - Financing: DHS 2024 Homeland Security UASI Fund
Body
BACKGROUND
The DHS was created in 2002 and began releasing funds to state and local governments through grant programs. Since 2003, the City of Dallas has received over $130 million in grant funds under the initiatives that make up the Homeland Security Grant Program. In order to facilitate the distribution of these federal funds, each State is required to establish a State Administrative Agency (SAA) to administer and distribute the grant funding to local governments. In Texas, the SAA has been established within the Texas Office of the Governor.
These initiatives provide funding for equipment acquisition and planning and training activities to increase the ability of the City of Dallas to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from natural and man-made disasters all linked to a terrorism nexus. Some of the activities that these funds support include planning and training for first responders and departmental staff, as well as for citizens participating in the Citizen Emergency Response Team and a public awareness campaign.
Additionally, these funds are also used to assist departments with meeting national, state and regional preparedness goals through the procurement of equipment for various initiatives such as increasing interoperability during incidents.
Each initiative focuses on a component of the overall needs of Dallas to respond in conjunction with state and federal agencies during times of natural and man-made disasters. UASI focuses on the unique planning, equipment, training, and exercise needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas, with specific carve outs for Law Enforcement (LE) activities and Management and Administration (M&A) of the grant.
Previous funding from the Homeland Security Grant Program has been used for equipment and programs to support public safety and homeland security initiatives.
Listed below are the levels of funding for each initiative:
UASI $3,271,163.09
UASI-LE $2,340,517.16
UASI-M&A $230,518.15
Homeland Security Grant Program Total: $5,842,198.40
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On December 8, 2021, the City Council authorized the acceptance of the 2021 Homeland Security Grant from DHS, which includes the Urban Area Security Initiative and the State Homeland Security Grant Program; and execution of the grant agreement by Resolution No. 21-1975.
On December 14, 2022, the City Council authorized the acceptance of the 2022 Homeland Security Grant from DHS, which includes the Urban Area Security Initiative and execution of the grant agreement by Resolution No. 22-1776.
On December 13, 2023, the City Council authorized the acceptance of the 2023 Homeland Security Grant from DHS, which includes the Urban Area Security Initiative and execution of the grant agreement by Resolution No. 23-1652.
The Public Safety Committee will be briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on December 9, 2024.
FISCAL INFORMATION
|
Fund |
FY 2025 |
FY 2026 |
Future Years |
|
DHS 2024 Homeland Security UASI Fund |
$5,842,198.40 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |