Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Safety to pay the City of Columbus' proportionate share for the operation and administration of the Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security program (FCEMHS) including the new countywide mass notification system. The FCEMHS is responsible for managing the outdoor warning siren system within Franklin County not only by coordinating siren locations but also for their maintenance, relocation, and activation. The Agency's operational activities also include planning for disaster recovery, public education and exercises.
The FCEMHS is also serving as the lead agency for the implementation of a new mass warning and notification system designed to meet the needs of forty-two jurisdictions and emergency partners in Franklin County. A mass notification system can reach residents in the form of phone messages, text messages and email. Other considerations include preferred languages, mechanisms to reach the hearing and vision impaired and other special needs within the community. The city's participation with FCEMHS is in accordance with State law. All activities of the agency are supported by local government funds and some federal grants.
Emergency Designation: Emergency designation will ensure timely payments to FCEMHS.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $790,424.00 from the 2017 General Fund operating budget for the administration of the Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security program including expenses for the administration of the countywide mass notification system. The majority of this year's funds, or $682,424.00, represents operational and administrative support activities including the mass notification system, and $108,000.00 represents maintenance costs for the outdoor warning sirens. The city spent $761,289.60 on the FCEMHS Program in 2016 and $773,558.00 in 2015, the first year of the mass notification sy...
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