The federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provided funding to California’s Office of Homeland Security (OHS) through the FY04 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI). In 2004, San Francisco was designated, by the California Office of Homeland Security (OHS), as one of 10 urban areas eligible to apply for funding through the FY 2004 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) program and subsequently awarded $26,481,275. As part of the grant requirements, portions of the award were disbursed to adjoining counties.
The City and County of San Francisco Office of Emergency Services disbursed $1,500,000 to the County of San Mateo, as part of the FY04 UASI Grant. The Sheriff’s Area Office of Emergency Services (OES), through partners in law enforcement, fire services, public works and public health, purchased equipment, which was designated as regional and county mutual aid equipment and not the property of any one agency.
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The Golden Gate UASI Task Force (GGUTF) was also initiated under the FY04 UASI Grant, for the purpose of regional planning, training, and conducting preparedness exercises between the Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo operational areas, in regards to terrorism and natural disaster. GGUTF is also a participant in the development of a new Bay Area Regional Emergency Coordination Plan (RECP), which includes 10 Bay Area counties, State OES Region II, and cities of Oakland, San Jose, and San Francisco. RECP’s mission is to integrate the response between participating counties and improve utilization and distribution of resources.
GGUTF unanimously recommended that the County of San Mateo employ four (4) planners, one each from law enforcement, fire, health, and emergency management disciplines to work with San Francisco’s planner to develop regional disaster preparedness and response plans.
The proposed UASI FY05 Memorandum of Agreement provides authority and funding to hire the four (4) San Mateo Operational Area staff or contractor who will work side by side with San Francisco’s Office of Emergency Services and Homeland Security. These positions are: a) a Sheriff’s Lieutenant, who will serve as team lead; b) an OES District Coordinator; c) a Public Health Physician, under the supervision of Dr. Scott Morrow; and d) a Fire Battalion Chief. The assigned County personnel will maintain their position with their San Mateo County agency while assigned to the GGUTF. It is anticipated the Fire position will be filled through a contract, since no corresponding County position classification exists for Fire Battalion Chief. Salary, benefits, and contract costs will be paid to San Mateo County for the four assigned staff and contractors, from FY05 UASI funds held by the San Francisco Office of Emergency Services.
Once approved by your Board, the Agreement will be submitted to the City and County of San Francisco for approval and final execution, following which we will bring back a Salary Ordinance Amendment and an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) to establish the positions and funding for the remainder of this fiscal year. The FY 2006-07 Budgets for Sheriff’s Emergency Services, and the Public Health Division of Health Services, will annualize the UASI position/contract cost and reimbursement.
Any changes in the grant will be requested through the San Francisco Office of Emergency Services after the approval of the San Mateo County Homeland Security Grant Approval Authority, which has overall authority over the San Mateo County Homeland Security grants administered through the Sheriff’s Area Office of Emergency Services.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Resolution and Agreement as to legal form.
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There is no specific cost incurred in this first step of approving the Agreement. Once the Agreement is executed by the City, and a funding package is brought back to your Board, the cost of the proposed four (4) San Mateo planning positions, estimated at $750,000 per year, will be paid in the first year by the 2005 UASI grant. The planning positions shall be for a minimum of two (2) years, provided sufficient funding is available through the 2006 UASI grant. At the conclusion of the two-year period, the status of the UASI programs staffing, funding, and accomplishments will be reviewed for a determination of how to proceed from that point.
The County has no obligation to use County funds to pay for these positions, and the County’s agreement to provide the staff is contingent on City’s agreement to provide funding. There should be no impact on the County, OES, or Sheriff’s Office net General Fund cost.
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