HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-06-2018 Item 10 Authorize participation in a San Luis Obispo County hosted FEMA Grant to develop a multi-jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Meeting Date: 2/6/2018
FROM: Garret Olson, Fire Chief
Prepared By: James Blattler, Administrative Analyst
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 Local
Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) through a fund match by the City not to exceed $7,500 ; and
2. Authorize City Manager to execute documents necessary to appropriate the grant funds upon
notification that the grant has been awarded.
DISCUSSION
Background
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 to 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 San Luis Obispo City Council adopted the City’s first LHMP in 2006 and later adopted the
updated LHMP in 2014. At time of adoption, both documents were subsequently reviewed by the
California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), and approved by FEMA.
At the end of 2017, the County of San Luis Obispo approached the City and proposed
developing a mu lti-jurisdictional LHMP 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 and would require 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 current
LHMP, which is due for an update in 2019, staff recommends partnering with the Co unty. The
first step in this partnership would be to participate in the grant application process.
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Grant Request
City staff is requesting authorization to partner with the County of San Luis Obispo who will
submit the grant to FEMA totaling $275,000 with a 25% local match requirement of $68,750.
Based on the City’s population served the City’s share would be $7,500 .
FISCAL IMPACT
A multi-jurisdiction grant led by the County will result in significant cost savings to the City
which it would otherwise bear through a sole Agency LHMP grant. The City’s $7,500 grant
match will be funded though the Fire Department’s current operating budget and is considerably
lower than the match required in 2012, which totaled $16,200. Additionally, the City would incur
staff time needed to develop the grant.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council could decide not to pursue the grant monies through a cooperative grant. This is not
recommended 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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