To authorize the filing of application for federal funds in an amount not to exceed $202,500.00 under the Fiscal Year 2024 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 Resolution No. 2024-10-7(R)

Adoption of a council resolution authoring the filing of application for federal funds not to exceed $202,500.00 under the Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland Security Grant Program and assignment of the Director of Emergency Management (Emergency Management Coordinator) as the Authorized Official for the Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland Security Grant Program.

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 funded programs, the State Homeland Security Grant Program and the Urban Area Security Initiative. Funds received have supported projects for police, fire, emergency management, and public safety communications preparedness and response efforts.

Each fiscal grant year, a formal council resolution is required as part of the grant acceptance process. 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 grant funding. The city has been awarded funding in the Fiscal Year 2024 to support equipment projects for: SWAT Binocular Night Visions, Fire Department Hazardous Material Suits, and a Fire Department Special Operations Utility Task Vehicle.

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 with 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, explanations, or provision of budgetary back up documents, often required with a less than 24-hour upload and approval period.

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 $202,500.

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