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RESOLUTION NO. 2015-039 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ADDING ONE GIS SPECIALIST TO THE AUTHORIZED STAFFING LEVEL OF THE FEDERAL GRANTS FUND
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council adopt the resolution.
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SUMMARY
The San Diego Office of Homeland Security, who administers the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI), has notified the City of additional Fiscal Year 2014 UASI grant funding. The Urban Areas Security Initiative addresses the unique planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas.
The Fire Department is proposing to add an additional GIS Specialist to the authorized staffing level of the Federal Grants Fund to assist the Fire Department, the City, and County address these needs.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Development Services Director has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a "Project" in accordance with Section 15378(b)(2) of the State CEQA Guidelines because it is a personnel related action; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Not Applicable.
DISCUSSION
One of the core missions of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is to enhance the ability of state, territory, local, and tribal governments to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other disasters. As first responders to emergency incidents, the Police, Fire and Public Works Departments have benefited greatly from several federal homeland security grants. The Fiscal Year 2014 Urban Areas Security Initiative (FY2014 UASI) grant provides funding for the continued development of readiness and operational response capacity of Police and Fire first responder personnel.
All Hazard Preplans
All-Hazard Preplans are specially prepared maps of various commercial and governmental buildings which provide detailed information about the building so that first responders can be better prepared to respond to the emergency. These preplans (maps) show detailed floor plans with electrical and water shut-off locations, room numbers, building construction, ingress and egress locations, and a myriad of other useful information for first responders. Fire, police and medical (AMR) personnel use these in rapid and directed response to incidents. FY2010 UASI Grant funds were used to create 161 high hazard models; however they are in a now outdated format. The current standard format is a higher level of detail that is designed to be put on a countywide server to be used by all agencies around the County.
FY2014 UASI Grant funds of $100,000 were originally allocated to the City of Chula Vista to develop and enhance the all-hazard preplans. Regional efforts from the San Diego Public Safety Geographic Information System (GIS) committee are being made to digitize maps of the County for use by first responders. Each map is uploaded to a County geographical database for information sharing. These maps are available and distributed in digital form to all first responding units for the region. For the City of Chula Vista, a map in hard copy is also located in every responding unit in case of communication failure during emergencies.
Previous UASI grant awards for planning needs were awarded to the City of Chula Vista and were used to fund one full-time and two part-time GIS Specialists (12-20 hours/week) to assist with the creation of all-hazard preplans for the region (including Chula Vista). As of November 2012, preplans are now created in a more extensive database model to meet the new San Diego Public Safety Database standard. The workload has increased significantly to meet the new standard. Therefore, the San Diego Office of Homeland Security has allocated an additional $90,000 of UASI funding to the City of Chula Vista to fund additional staff hours.
The Fire Department is proposing to add an additional GIS Specialist to the authorized staffing level of the Federal Grants Fund in order to assist in creating the new all-hazard preplans. This would result in having two full-time GIS Specialists, a part-time GIS Specialist, and an intern working on the UASI preplan project. The costs associated with the proposed new GIS Specialist will be fully offset by UASI grant funds. These funds have already been appropriated in the Fiscal Year 2014 Federal Grant Fund budget; therefore no budget appropriations will be needed. Continued grant funding for this position is not guaranteed, and is determined each year through a county-wide committee which allocates UASI grant funds. If continued grant funding is not available, this position will be eliminated unless alternative sources of funding can be identified.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site specific and consequently the 500-foot rule found in California Code of Regulations section 18704.2(a)(1) is not applicable to this decision. Staff is not independently aware, nor has staff been informed by any City Councilmember, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision maker conflict of interest in this matter.
LINK TO STRATEGIC GOALS
The City's Strategic Plan has five major goals: Operational Excellence, Economic Vitality, Healthy Community, Strong and Secure Neighborhoods and a Connected Community. This action will positively affect the goal of Strong and Secure Neighborhoods by providing critical data to first responders when they arrive on scene of an emergency.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this resolution will result in the addition of one GIS Specialist to the authorized staffing of the Federal Grants Fund. No appropriations are needed at this time; there are sufficient funds in the fiscal year 2015 Federal Grants Fund budget. The funding from the FY2014 Urban Areas Security Initiative will completely offset these costs, resulting in no net fiscal impact to the Federal Grants Fund.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There is no anticipated ongoing fiscal impact. The identified grant funding is sufficient to fund the GIS Specialist position for 9 months. Continued grant funding for this position is possible but not guaranteed, and is determined each year through a County-wide committee which allocates UASI grant funds. If continued grant funding is not available, this position will be eliminated unless alternative sources of funding can be identified.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
Staff Contact: Madeline Smith, Fire Department
Ed Chew, Information Technology Services