PRESENTER: Presenter
Christopher Greenwell, Grants Coordinator
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a resolution; approving the submission of a grant application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) - Regular Projects grant for Program Year 2026 to request funding towards the purchase of tactical medical unit communications systems, a dive trailer, and two police utility terrain vehicles (UTV’s) and their associated trailers, and designation of the City Manager as the grants authorized official, to act on behalf of the City in all matters related to the grant if awarded, and designation of the Director of Finance as the Financial Officer for the grant.
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DEPARTMENT: Fire Department and Police 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 will be submitting an application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) - Regular Projects grant program as administered by the Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office, Homeland Security Grants Division for Program Year 2026 in to request funding on behalf of the New Braunfels Police Department (NBPD) for the purchase of two police UTV’s, and trailers for those UTV’s, and on behalf of the New Braunfels Fire Department for the purchase of updated communications systems for the City’s Tactical Medical Unit and an updated dive trailer for the City’s Dive Team.
If awarded, the UASI grant will provide critical funding to enhance the City’s emergency response and operational capabilities through the acquisition of interoperable communication systems (radios and headsets), an updated dive trailer for the City’s dive team, and two police UTVs with trailers. These resources will strengthen coordination among first responders during high-risk incidents, large-scale events, and regional mutual aid operations. Enhanced communication equipment will improve real-time information sharing across agencies, while the dive trailer will support water-based search and rescue operations in the City’s and region’s rivers and surrounding waterways. The addition of UTVs will allow for rapid deployment in difficult-to-access areas, including parks, flood zones, and large public gatherings. With these investments, the City will be better equipped to protect first responders, over 100,000 residents, and more than 3 million annual visitors from threats and hazards associated with natural disasters, man-made incidents, and potential acts of terrorism.
If approved, the SHSP and/or UASI grants will be awarded by September 2026. The granting agency will provide funds for 100% of the total amount; therefore, there is no City-match requirement.
The actual amount provided to the City by the grant(s) will be determined at the time of award and identified within a future City Council agenda item requesting approval to purchase the equipment.
At this time, 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 Police Department and 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) Evaluate public safety front-line equipment to ensure they meet the
demand and the call “type,” where the response resource matches the risk
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, Urban Area Security Initiative - Regular Projects grant for Program Year 2026 to request funding towards the purchase of a specialized equipment for the New Braunfels Police and Fire Departments, and authorization for the City Manager to act on behalf of the City in all matters related to the grant if awarded.