ORDINANCE authorizing the Director of the Mayor's Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security to electronically submit applications for subrecipient grant assistance and execute and accept  subrecipient grant agreements with the STATE OF TEXAS OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR relating to the FY2016 Homeland Security Grant Program funding from the Urban Area Security Initiative and the State Homeland Security Program; declaring the City's eligibility for such grants; authorizing the director to act as the City's representative in the application process, to request and/or accept the grants and manage and expend the grant funds as awarded, and to apply for and accept all subsequent awards, if any, pertaining to the program including amendments or modifications to these agreements or any subsequent documents necessary to secure the City's grant funding through the life of these grant awards

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security provides grants to enhance the capacity of state and local governments to respond to incidents of terrorism and natural disasters. The Homeland Security Grant Program includes both the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSP). The UASI program specifically addresses the unique needs of high risk urban areas with funding to develop an enhanced and sustainable capacity to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from threats or acts of terrorism. In Texas, the agency that manages and administers these programs is the Texas Office of the Governor, Homeland Security Grants Division, which has forwarded the City of Houston’s FY2015 HSGP grant awards in 26 component sub-awards.

Local allocations of UASI funds are governed by an executive committee that includes representation from the City of Houston and Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties.  The committee receives proposals from jurisdictions across the region that are reviewed and prioritized by committees of subject matter experts.  After deciding which projects will best “buy down” the region’s risk, the successful proposals are included in a formal grant application to DHS.  The department requests council approval to apply for, accept, and manage (including amendments/modifications to the awards) grant funds through the Homeland Security Grant Program. 

• UASI ($10,336,553.68) – Funds are requested for planning, organization, equipment, training and exercises.  There are 19 projects requested by the City of Houston for this program. The largest projects requested include:
  • $2,238,350 for  the sustainment and enhancement of the 700 MHz radio system and establishment of redundancy in capability

  • $1,356,949 for system enhancements of the public safety video initiative

  • $1,189,587 for community emergency preparedness capability development and implementation of programs

  • $1,138,853 for regional technology and operations support to sustain and enhance capabilities at the City of Houston Emergency Operations Center and Office of Emergency Management, and throughout the five-county UASI region.

  • $708,545 for the sustainment of the Houston Regional Intelligence Service Center, our region’s fusion center.

• SHSP ($148,968) – There is one sub-award allocated to the City of Houston for this program. These funds are allocated to sustain planning support for the Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Initiative, ensuring plans and procedures are updated, trained, and tested.

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that Council authorize the director of the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety & Homeland Security to apply for, accept and execute sub-award agreements and to request and/or accept any amendments/modifications to these agreements or any subsequent agreements necessary to secure Houston’s allocations through this grant program.

$10,485,521.68 

Texas Homeland Security Grants Division 

(pass-through from DHS)

Dennis Storemski

Phone: 832-393-0875