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LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

Meeting Date:	03/14/2016
Subject: Funding the development of an Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
Submitted For:	LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Department:	County Administrator
Referral No.:	2016-08
Referral Name:	Funding the development of an Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
Presenter:	Paul Schlesinger, Federal Lobbyist	Contact:

Information

Referral History:

Our Senators are in the process of soliciting input on appropriations requests for the federal FY 2017 Budget. They cannot accommodate any requests that would be considered a “congressionally directed spending item” (earmark) as defined by Senate Rule 44. However, they would like to know what the County's priorities are in terms of federal appropriations. The County's adopted 2016 Federal Platform includes "Federal Funding Needs" as well as "Appropriations and Grants--Support Positions."

In consideration of the County's need for a new Emergency Operations Center (EOC), the County's Federal Lobbyist Paul Schlesinger has recommended that the Committee consider including support for the federal "Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG)," which could provide funding for an EOC, in the County's Federal Platform as a top priority. This would require an amendment to the adopted 2016 Federal Platform by the Board of Supervisors.

Referral Update:

Programmatic Funding Request

Appropriations Bill: Homeland Security
Specific agency: Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Appropriations account: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Appropriations line item: Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG)
Amount requested for FY 2017 Appropriations: $350 million
Amount requested in the President’s Budget: $350 million
Amount provided by the FY 2016 enacted bill: $350 million
Explanation justifying the request, describing how funding will be used, and relevance to California:

The EMPG program funds state and local efforts to sustain and enhance the effectiveness of their emergency management programs for all hazards preparedness. In FY 2015, California received more than $27.8 million, the highest funded-state in the country, of which more than $15.5 million was sub-allocated to approximately the 58 county Operational Areas (OAs) for critical hazard preparation activities. Last year California’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), in accordance with program guidelines, prioritized the building, sustainment, and delivery of all-hazards emergency management capabilities in the following areas: Planning, organization, equipment acquisitions, training, exercises, Emergency Operations Center (EOC) construction and renovation, and maintenance and sustainment. Of particular interest to Contra Costa is the allowance for funds to be expended for EOC construction and renovation, as the County is seeking funding for the development of an EOC.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

RECOMMEND to the Board of Supervisors an amendment to the County's adopted Federal Platform to include support for funding the development of an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as the County's top priority for federal funding needs.

Attachments
Attachment A - Adopted Federal Platform, redlined revision