Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The United States Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), with $1 billion available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. The BRIC program makes federal funds available to states, U.S territories, federally recognized tribal governments, and local communities for hazard mitigation activities. It does so with a recognition of the growing hazards associated with climate change, and of the need for natural hazard risk mitigation activities that promote climate adaptation and resilience with respect to those hazards. These include both acute extreme weather events and chronic stressors which have been observed and are expected to increase in the future. The NOFO remains open through January 28, 2022.
The City meets the criteria to be eligible to submit an application as a sub-recipient through the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA), which is part of the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS). City staff has spoken with Ohio EMA, and they are willing to submit an application requesting approximately $300,000 to purchase training simulators for the city’s snow plow operators and other vehicle operators.
This legislation will authorize the Director of Public Service to formally apply for a BRIC program grant as a sub-recipient to Ohio EMA. It also authorizes the execution of agreements with USDHS, ODPS, or other entities in connection with the application for the grant, the award of the grant, the expenditure of grant funds, and the return of unused grant funds if any should remain at the end of the grant.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
This grant may be used for up to seventy-five percent (75%) of future eligible project costs. No financial participation is required at this time. City funds will be approved in the form of material purchasing contracts, procurement contracts and/or construction contracts that will be or have been submitted for Council's approval.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to provide the Department of Public Service with the authorization to proceed with an application prior to the application period’s end.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to apply for a Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program Grant from the United States Department of Homeland Security; to authorize the execution of grant and other requisite agreements with the United States Department of Homeland Security and other entities providing for the acceptance and administration of said grant award on behalf of the City of Columbus, Department of Public Service; to authorize the expenditure of any awarded funds and the refund of any unused funds; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) announced FY 21 funding for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program, which is a grant program that includes funds to be awarded on a competitive basis; and
WHEREAS, USDOT is accepting applications for the FY 2021 funding round through January 28, 2022; and
WHEREAS, the City intends to partner with other interested stakeholders, including the Ohio Department of Public Safety, to submit a funding application to purchase training simulators for the city’s snow plow operators and other vehicle operators; and
WHEREAS, City Council approval is needed to apply for and accept the grant funding; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to prepare and submit the aforesaid grant application prior to the end of the application period, for the public health, safety and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Service be and is hereby authorized to submit an application for a grant for USDHS’ FY 21 BRIC Program; to accept said grant, if awarded; and to execute a grant agreement and any other documents necessary to effectuate said application, acceptance, or agreement on behalf of the Department of Public Service.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to execute any agreement or other documents necessary to effectuate applying for and receiving BRIC program grant funding as a subrecipient through the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
SECTION 3. That the Department of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to expend any awarded grant funds in accordance with the terms and conditions of said grant.
SECTION 4. That, at the end of the grant period, or upon request of the grantor, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.