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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/7/2010 - STAFF REPORTS - 5.C. PALM Sp r V N Y �C �5� Y C �qORATFO it City Council Staff Report DATE: July 7, 2010 NEW BUSINESS SUBJECT: NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUBMIT A STATE HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT REGARDING THE COACHELLA VALLEY EARLY WARNING SYSTEM. FROM: David Ready, City Manager BY: Palm Springs Fire Department SUMMARY The Coachella Valley Earthquake Warning System (CREWS) is a $3 million dollar regional project presented to the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG). There are two Federal Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grants being issued by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services and CREWS is a pre-disaster mitigation project. CVAG, as the lead agency on the project is not eligible to applying for these grants as they do not have an approved Hazard Mitigation Plan on file with the State. However, CVAG member cities do have approved mitigation plans on file and may submit a "Notice of Interest" (NOI) for their mitigation projects. Staff recommends that Palm Springs submit the NOI to Cal EMA for consideration of the CREWS project on behalf of CVAG. If the NOI is approved for the CREWS project, and sufficient funding has not been secured from partnering jurisdictions, the City Council would then deny the NOI without prejudice, and have no further obligations. If Council decides to accept the NOI, staff would begin the formal application process. The first grant NOI is due July 19, 2010. The second one has not been announced but should be in two months. The City Council is not incurring any financial liability by submitting a Notice of Interest. RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager to submit a Notice of Intent for a State Hazard Mitigation Grant for the Coachella Valley Early Warning System. .-Z-47-AE-A4 S.G . City Council Staff Report July 7, 2010 -- Page 2 Notice of Interest for CREWS Project STAFF ANALYSIS: Since the beginning of 2010 there have been more than 27 Major earthquakes world- wide. The neighboring Easter 2010 7.1 M Mexicalli earthquake in particular was "wake- up" call for our community. Felt widely throughout the Coachella Valley, this event served as a reminder of our continued need to be prepared and to aggressively pursue active mitigation opportunities. Our recent earthquakes (7.2 Sierra El Mayor on April 4tn 4.5 Ocotillo May 18t", and 5.7 Ocotillo June 14t") have underscored the threat to our region and motivated CREWS to initiate this proposal. CREWS represent a proven earthquake warning (EQW) system for the Coachella Valley, and would be the first user driven earthquake early warning network in the United States. With a proposed budget of $3 million, a public-private partnership approach to regional preparedness would be cost effective and essential given the large infrastructure investment. The City Council adopted Resolution #22673 on February 17t", 2010 to support CVAG's efforts in making the CREWS project become a reality. CVAG has been identified as the lead agency for the CREWS project but cannot pursue this grant opportunity. The City can submit a NOI to determine if the State has a willingness to apply Federal grant funding towards this project. If submitted, the NOI will circulate among the Cal EMA staff and provide a high level or "project awareness" which may lead to grant funding now or in the future. Submission of the Notice of Interest is an on-line process. The NOI will either be approved or denied by the state, in which case the City would not submit a formal grant application. CVAG staff will assist fire department staff to ensure that all project management and grant documents are prepared and submitted as required. The City will incur soft costs (staff time) to manage the grant. FISCAL IMPACT: If approved, the federal share is 75%, or $2,250,000, and the applicant match is 25%, or $750,000, The matching funds must be in place at the time of application submittal, approximately two months after acceptance of the NOI. The federal share must be in place by the City to fund the project approximately one year after grant approval, which would then be "reimbursed" back to the jurisdiction. It would be CVAG's responsibility to secure both the match and federal share amount from each Coachella Valley City to cover the project expenses, which we would then reimburse back to each jurisdiction. City Council Staff Report July 7, 2010 -- Page 3 Notice of Interest for CREWS Project The significant challenge in applying for this grant will be CVAG's ability to secure full project funding including a 25% local match — from member cities and or another agencies or foundations, private donations, etc. It is important to note, the CVAG Executive Director has expressed his willingness to pursue project funding if the N01 is approved. Having approval from the State for this project will provide a significant local incentive to secure the funds. If funding has not been secured by CVAG at the time of application submission, the City will decline to submit and will not have any further responsibilities. r a a G. Goetz, Fire Ch David H. Ready It alter Attachment: Notice of Interest Instructions 5.C. NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUBMIT A STATE HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT REGARDING THE COACHELLA VALLEY EARLY WARNING SYSTEM: RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager to submit a Notice of Intent for a State Hazard Mitigation Grant for the Coachella Valley Early Warning System., MATERIALS TO FOLLOW Item 5 - C .