Report Prepared by: Tom Trindad, Captain, Police Department
Title
SUBJECT: Fiscal Year 2015 State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Consider accepting Fiscal (FY) 2015 State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) funds to purchase a Bomb Suit and Bomb Helmet (EOD) for the Merced Police Department Bomb Unit to protect bomb tech when down range investigating suspicious packages.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Accepting FY 2015 SHSGP grant funds in the amount of $25,355.00 as revenue in account 001-1001-324-02-00;
B. Appropriating $25,355.00 to Machinery/Equipment expense account 001-1001-523-43-00;
C. Approving the use of pooled cash until reimbursement from the grant is received: and
D. Authorizing the City Manager to execute the necessary documents.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by staff; or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
5. Continue to a future meeting.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200 - Powers.
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 405 - Powers Vested in the City Council.
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 1105 - Budget Appropriations.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As it relates to Council priority for Public Safety.
DISCUSSION
The Merced County Office of Emergency Services (OES) has awarded funds through the FY2015 State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP). The scope of the grant includes funding for emergency management equipment, Incident Command System training, law enforcement equipment, fire department equipment, and health department equipment. Within the parameters and requirements of the grant program, monies have been awarded by the Merced Big 5 Committee to the individual agencies and jurisdictions within the County.
On December 9, 2015, the City of Merced Police Department was awarded $25,355.00 of the FY 2015 SHSGP funds to purchase an Explosive Bomb Suit and Helmet.
The Merced Police Department has a Bomb Unit that services not only the City of Merced but Merced and Mariposa Counties as well. A Bomb Squad is defined as: a bomb response organization consisting of at least one bomb team that meets Type I or Type II standards as defined in Section 7.1 of the National Guidelines for Bomb Technicians, published by the U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The duties of the team are to: render safe and/or remove suspected Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), incendiary devices, military ordinance, explosives, explosive chemicals, pyrotechnics and military ammunition of .50 caliber and above. In addition, the Bomb Unit provides support to the department's Special Weapons and Tactics
Team at a minimum in the following areas:
- Crisis negotiations
- Breaching
- Render-safe procedures (RSP)
- Identification and elimination of booby traps
The grant funds will allow the Bomb Unit to have the necessary equipment for protection of bomb techniques while investigating suspicious packages. The funds will be used to purchase a Bomb Suit and Helmet, allowing Unit members to respond to active scenes with explosive devices and be able to afford protection to bomb tech while “down Range”.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
The City of Merced would have to transfer money to make the initial purchase of the equipment. However, the grant will reimburse the City of Merced the amount of $25,355.00. Adopt a motion accepting FY 2015 SHSGP grant funds in the amount $25,355.00 as revenue in account 001-1001-324-02-00 and appropriating the same to the Machinery/Equipment expense account 001-1001-523-43-00.
ATTACHMENTS
No attachments available.