HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5j. Authorize the Fire Department to participate in County-led grant application to update the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Item 5j
Department: Fire
Cost Center: 8599
For Agenda of: 8/15/2023
Placement: Consent
Estimated Time: N/A
FROM: Todd Tuggle, Fire Chief
Prepared By: James Blattler, Emergency Manager
SUBJECT: MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION
1. Authorize Fire Department to participate in a grant application process from the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for funding to develop a multi -
jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP); and
2. Authorize the City Manager, or their designee, to execute the gran t documents and
approve the budget changes necessary to appropriate the grant amount upon
notification that the grant has been awarded.
POLICY CONTEXT
Through the Hazard Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000), the U.S. Congress set a goal to
encourage local governments and states to develop plans and undertake projects to
mitigate the impact of natural disasters on a community before disasters occur. Federal
requirements established by FEMA as a result of this legislation, include a requirement
that hazard mitigation plans be reviewed and updated a minimum of every five years, and
following any major disaster declaration, to maintain eligibility for funding and technical
assistance from state and Federal hazard mitigation programs.
The Hazard Mitigation Plan aligns with the Council’s Major City Goal of Climate Action,
as the plan is required to address the mitigation of climate-related emergencies and
disasters.
The recommended actions are consistent with the City of San Luis Obispo’s Financial
Management Manual, Section 740 - Grant Management Policy. The policy states that
Council will approve all grant applications in excess of $5,000 and delegates receipt and
contract execution to the City Manager.
DISCUSSION
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Item 5j
Background
City Council adopted the City’s first Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) in 2006 and later
adopted the updated Local HMP in 2014. At the time of adoption, both documents were
subsequently reviewed by the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), and
approved by FEMA.
In 2017, the County of San Luis Obispo approached the City and proposed developing a
multi-jurisdictional HMP for participating agencies throughout the County, which would
meet the Federal requirements established by FEMA. The County would seek a grant to
support the development of the plan requiring participating agencies to supply a
proportional funding match based on each participating agency’s population.
After considering the significant staff time and funding required to update the City’s 2014
HMP, the city partnered with the County to participate in the first multi-jurisdictional HMP
which was updated in 2019 and formally approved in June 2020.
As recommended by the FEMA’s Local Multi-Hazard Mitigation Planning Guidance, the
County is now initiating the process of updating the current HMP by seeking a grant to
manage the update.
Staff is requesting authorization to partner with the County of San Luis Obispo who will
submit the grant to FEMA. For the current HMP, the City’s cost-share was $4,500, which
is expected to be similar to the match requirement for this 2025 update.
Previous Council or Advisory Body Action
On February 6, 2018, Council Authorized the Fire Department to participate in a County-
led grant for updating the 2014 LHMP. On June 2, 2020, Council adopted the 2019 Multi-
Jurisdictional HMP.
Public Engagement
This item is on the agenda for the June 20, 2023, City Council meeting and will follow all
required postings and notifications. The public will have an opportunity to comment on
this item at or before the meeting.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act does not apply to the recommended action in
this report because the action does not constitute a “Project” under CEQA Guidelines
Sec. 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: No Budget Year: 2024-25
Funding Identified: Yes
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Item 5j
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding
Sources
Total Budget
Available
Current
Funding
Request
Remaining
Balance
Annual
Ongoing
Cost
General Fund $4,500 $4,500 $ $0
State
Federal
Fees
Other:
Total $4,500 $ $ $0
A County-led multi-jurisdiction grant will result in significant cost savings to the city which
it would otherwise bear through a sole-agency HMP grant. The City’s estimated grant
match of $4,500 is considerably lower than the match required in 2012 which totaled
$16,200. Additionally, the City would incur staff time needed to develop the gran t. FEMA
requires a 25% match for the grant program.
If awarded, the match for the grant would not be expended until fiscal year 2025. The
department has the capacity to absorb this expense.
ALTERNATIVE
The Council could decide not to pursue the grant monies through a cooperative
grant. This action is not recommended by staff as the grant opportunities are limited and
the grant funds would only serve to enhance preparedness for, response to, and recovery
from local disasters.
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