PRESENTER: Presenter
Christopher Greenwell, Grants Coordinator
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a resolution; approval authorizing the submission of a grant application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) - Regular Projects Grant, Program Year 2026, to request funding for security enhancements at Fire Stations #1, #4, #5, and #6; authorizing the City Manager, or their designee, to act on behalf of the City in all matters related to the grant; and designating the Director of Finance as the Finance Officer for this grant, if awarded.
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DEPARTMENT: Fire Department
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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 is applying 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 2026 to request additional funding on behalf of the New Braunfels Fire Department (NBFD) for the purchase and installation of various security enhancements at fire stations across the City of New Braunfels.
If awarded, this grant will provide funding to support comprehensive security upgrades at multiple City of New Braunfels fire stations to enhance facility security, access control, and situational awareness for first responders. Fire stations serve as critical infrastructure and are essential to the City’s ability to prevent, respond to, and recover from natural disasters, major accidents, and potential man-made or terroristic incidents. Ensuring that these facilities remain secure and operational at all times is vital to maintaining uninterrupted emergency response services for the community.
The proposed project will improve security at Fire Stations #1, #4, #5, and #6 through the installation of modern access control systems, building-mounted surveillance cameras, and vehicle access credential readers. Additional site work will include extending fencing and installing new gates at Fire Stations #4 and #6 to fully secure vehicle bays. These upgrades will replace or enhance existing, limited security measures by restricting unauthorized access to station facilities, monitoring exterior areas and apparatus bays, and improving the ability to document and respond to suspicious or criminal activity. The improvements will also help protect critical emergency response equipment, vehicles, and personnel housed at each station.
By strengthening security at these fire stations, the city will reduce vulnerabilities to theft, vandalism, and unauthorized access, while also improving overall operational readiness during emergency events. These enhancements will directly support emergency prevention and response efforts by allowing firefighters and emergency personnel to operate from secure facilities and deploy resources more efficiently when incidents occur.
City staff will be submitting a grant application for a total of the full cost of the planned security improvements. The granting agency will provide funds for 100% of the total amount; therefore, there is no City-match requirement.
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 and designate the Finance Director as the Financial Officer for 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 the 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; approving the submission of a grant application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, State Homeland Security Program - Regular Projects grant for Program Year 2026 to request funding towards security enhancements at New Braunfels Fire Department Fire Stations #1, #4, #5, and #6, and authorization for the City Manager to act on behalf of the City in all matters related to the grant if awarded.