Resolution No. 2021-2-13(R): To authorize the filing of application for federal funds in an amount not to exceed $60,000.00 under the Fiscal Year 2019 Homeland Security Grant Program through the Office of the Governor of Texas; designating the Director of Emergency Management as authorized representative of the City of Plano for the purpose of giving required assurances and acting in connection with said application and providing required information; and declaring an effective date. Adopted

Beginning in 2005, the Plano Department of Emergency Management has applied for, received, administered, and managed grant programs issued by the Department of Homeland Security. Two separate grant funding programs, the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) and the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) provided funding totaling $4,431,108.67 to the City of Plano for projects related to police, fire, emergency management, and public safety communications preparedness and response efforts.

Each fiscal grant year, a council resolution is required prior to grant acceptance. The adoption of a council resolution allows for formal grant award and authorizes expenditure of grant funds. For this particular project, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) approached the Department of Emergency Management to allocate funds remaining from other agencies within the region upon completion of 2019 grant projects. Approval of this resolution will allow for completion of a City of Plano SWAT project initially not funded due to lack of available funding. The project entails purchase of night vision equipment for SWAT team members.

Included within the resolution is the naming of an authorized official, if the Mayor will not be involved the day to day administration and management of the grant. It has been previous practice to name the Director of Emergency Management to this position. In this role, the Director of Emergency Management is given permission within the state administrative agency grant web-portal system to accept, reject, alter, or terminate all or portions of the grant on behalf of the city. This practice allows the Department of Emergency Management the flexibility to meet very tight deadlines for grant modifications – small adjustments grant information, explanation, or budgetary backup documents – often necessary with a less than 24 hour upload and approval.

This item authorizes the City of Plano to file an application for Federal funds.  If approved, the City of Plano may be awarded an amount not to exceed $60,000.

Approval of this item will support the City's Strategic Plan Critical Success Factor of being an Excellent, Innovative, and Accountable City Government.