TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Steve Powers, City Manager
FROM: Jerry Moore, Chief of Police
SUBJECT:
title
2016 Oregon Military Department State Homeland Security Program Grant - Joint State Bomb Teams Equipment/Training Regional Projects Phase 6 and Authorizing a Transfer of Appropriation Authority
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
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ISSUE:
Shall City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to accept and execute all grant documents associated with the 2016 Oregon Military Department, Office of Emergency Management (OEM), State Homeland Security Program Grant for Joint State Bomb Team equipment and training, regional project - phase 6; and
2. Adopt Resolution No. 2016-48, transferring $77,350 from General Fund Non Departmental contingency to General Fund Police Department materials and services for the purpose of increasing appropriation authority to expend the referenced OEM grant?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
1. Authorize the City Manager to accept and execute all grant documents associated with the 2016 Oregon Military Department, OEM, State Homeland Security Program Grant for Joint State Bomb Team equipment and training, regional project - phase 6; and
2. Adopt Resolution No. 2016-48, transferring $77,350 from General Fund Non Departmental contingency to General Fund Police Department materials and services for the purpose of increasing appropriation authority to expend the referenced OEM grant.
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SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
1. OEM provides Federal Homeland Security grant funds through its State Homeland Security Grant Program. These funds are awarded to local bomb squads and can be used for specialized training, preempting terrorist attacks, target hardening to reduce vulnerability, threat recognition and assessment, intervention activities and advanced inter-agency operations.
The Salem Police Department has historically maintained close associations with the other bomb squads throughout the state and has participated in numerous joint grant applications with them. Lane County is the lead agency in the region and is responsible for preparing and submitting grant applications to OEM for these awards. Grant funds are then awarded to each individual agency for the amount specific to its bomb team. For 2016, Lane County submitted the grant application on behalf of Oregon State Police Bomb Squad, Portland Police Bureau Bomb Squad, Salem Police Department Bomb Squad and Eugene Police Department Bomb Squad
OEM has notified the City that it has approved the Lane County application and they are ready to make direct awards to each of the component agencies. The city’s award will be $77,353.00.
2. The 2016 OEM grant was not identified as a potential expense in the Police Department’s FY 2016-17 budget. As the result, the budget does not include appropriation authority to expend the grant.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
1. The Salem Police Department Hazardous Devices Team (Bomb Squad) was established in 1972 and was the first bomb squad in the State of Oregon. The team is one of four teams operating in the State of Oregon which includes Portland Police Bureau, Eugene Police Department, and the Oregon State Police. The team is comprised of four bomb technicians that are certified through the FBI Hazardous Devices School (HDS) in Huntsville, Alabama and is supervised by a Sergeant. Salem Police bomb technicians respond to approximately 50-75 activities a year that include suspicious devices, explosive removals, post blast investigations, and other calls for services requiring the technical expertise of a certified bomb technician. In addition, the team is requested to assist the other Oregon bombs teams with calls for service on a regular basis. The grant from the 2016 OEM State Homeland Security Program will provide the Salem Police Department bomb team with the funds necessary to purchase new equipment and attend advanced training as well as fill any operational gaps in regards to responding to potential bomb threats.
The grant will include new advanced communications equipment that will allow bomb technicians and emergency operations personnel to communicate during render safe operations. The communication equipment will be compatible with a multitude of radio systems which will allow for interoperability with all bomb technicians and safety personnel in the State.
The funds will include advanced upgrades to the two current bomb robots. Those upgrades will include advanced tools and accessories for assessing, accessing, and dismantling potential explosive devices. An advanced aiming system will be purchased to improve precision targeting of explosive devices to include radiological and chemical devices where disrupting the device without detonating it is critical. Additional funds will be used to purchase metal detectors to locate buried or hidden devices or components as well as other equipment for transporting explosives and/or potential devices. Two additional portable disruptors will also be purchased for remote render safe operations where a robot cannot be used to render a potential explosive device inoperable.
This grant award represents Phase 6 of an ongoing multi-year plan to better equip and train bomb technicians within the State of Oregon and requires no local funding match. The grant has standard performance and expenditure reporting requirements. Additionally, the grant requires the City to warranty that it will comply with federal and state laws and regulations including:
a) Civil rights laws;
b) Lobbying restrictions;
c) Employment, workers compensation, and public contracting requirements; and
d) Drug Free Work place requirements.
Failure to comply with the grant requirements and conditions may result in the City repaying the grant and being ineligible to receive future federal grants.
2. Resolution No. 2016-48 provides the necessary additional appropriation authority for the Police Department’s FY 2016-17 budget to expend the OEM grant. Expenditures will be offset by revenue from the OEM grant.
Stephen C. Smith
Sergeant
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 2016-48
10/07/16