Agenda

Return

C. 35

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Date:	March 29, 2016

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Amending adopted Federal Platform - Support funding for an Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 03/29/2016

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

ABSENT:

Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor

Contact:

L. DeLaney, 925-335-1097

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: March 29, 2016
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ADOPT an amendment to the County's adopted Federal Platform to include support for funding of the development of an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as the County's top priority for federal funding needs, as recommended by the Legislation Committee. (No fiscal impact)

FISCAL IMPACT:

No immediate fiscal impact in adopting the amendment to the Federal Platform.

BACKGROUND:

Our federal representatives 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."

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

In consideration of the County's need for a new Emergency Operations Center (EOC), the County's Federal Lobbyist Paul Schlesinger recommended that the Legislation Committee consider including support for the federal "Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG)," program 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. At their March 14, 2016 meeting, the Legislation Committee voted unanimously to forward this recommendation to the full Board of Supervisors for consideration.


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.


Attachment A: Adopted Federal Platform, redlined revision

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The County would not be able to include its support for this federal program as a priority in its advocacy efforts.