PRESENTER: Presenter
Jennifer Gates, Grants Coordinator
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a resolution; ratification for the submission of a grant application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, State Homeland Security Program - Regular Projects grant for Program Year 2025 to request funding for the purchase of a transport trailer, and authorization for the City Manager to act on behalf of the City in all matters related to the grant if awarded.
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DEPARTMENT: Fire
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City’s adopted 2024-2029 Strategic Plan includes objectives pertaining to public safety and fiscal sustainability. As such, Staff recently applied to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, State Homeland Security Program - Regular Projects grant program as administered by the Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office, Homeland Security Grants Division’s State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) grant for Program Year 2025 to request additional funding on behalf of the New Braunfels Fire Department (NBFD) for the purchase of a transport trailer for a grant-funded rescue utility vehicle.
If awarded, the grant will provide funds to purchase a trailer to transport a grant-funded compact, all-terrain utility task vehicle (UTV) for the New Braunfels Fire Department (NBFD) to a range of locations during its deployment. The addition of this versatile equipment will allow NBFD to support and respond to a wide range of activities such as proactive onsite staging of the UTV during a large public event or its deployment during local or regional emergencies and disasters.
City staff recently submitted a grant application for a total amount of $11,000. The granting agency will provide funds for 100% of the total amount therefore, there is no City-match requirement.
If approved, the grant will be awarded by September 2025.
Staff is also requesting City Council approval of a resolution, as required by the granting agency, that will authorize our City Manager to act as the authorized official on behalf of the City in all matters related to this grant. The designated authorized official is given the power to apply for, accept, reject, alter, or terminate the grant on behalf of the applicant agency.
ISSUE:
The City’s adopted 2024-2029 Strategic Plan includes objectives pertaining to public safety and fiscal sustainability, both of which will be supported by the grant application, its associated resolution, and requested equipment for the New Braunfels Fire Department.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☐Economic Mobility ☐Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☒Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
(Organizational Excellence) Considering statutory and market-based factors, continue to diversify revenue streams to support long-term fiscal sustainability of the Organization. (Community Well-Being) Continue to develop alternative public safety deployment strategies that align to call type and statutory requirements to allow for efficient use of current and future staff resources.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The granting agency will provide reimbursement of all awarded costs; there is no City-match requirement.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of a resolution; ratification for the submission of a grant application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, State Homeland Security Program - Regular Projects grant for Program Year 2025 to request funding for the purchase of a transport trailer, and authorization for the City Manager to act on behalf of the City in all matters related to the grant if awarded.