Since 2005, the Plano Department of Emergency Management has applied for, received, administered, and managed grant programs issued by the Department of Homeland Security under two separate grant programs, the State Homeland Security Grant Program and the Urban Area Security Initiative. Funds received were applied 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 formal resolution allows for the state administrative agency to award the grant to the city as a sub-recipient and authorizes the city to expend the grant funds. For Fiscal Year 2022, funding will be applied to equipment projects for the Plano Fire Hazardous Materials Team and the Plano Police Hazardous Device Unit.
Included within the resolution is the naming of an authorized official to relieve the Mayor of the day to day grant administration and management requirements. 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 extremely short deadlines for grant modifications, such as small adjustments of grant information, explanation, or provision of budgetary back up documents, often required with a less than 24-hour upload and approval.