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Council defers Homeland Security grant applications amid federal shutdown concerns; members seek separation of funding uses
Summary
Two grant applications — a Homeland Security Grant Program application and an Urban Area Security Initiative application — were deferred for two meetings after Metro staff said the items are tied to a federal government shutdown and council members asked about an immigration‑enforcement component of the federal grant language.
The council voted to defer two items (resolution 20 25‑15‑33 and resolution 20 25‑15‑34) — a Homeland Security Grant Program application and an Urban Area Security Initiative application — for two meetings. Metro staff asked for the deferral because the grants are tied to a federal funding process affected by a government shutdown.
Mark Young, who identified himself as representing fire ("Mark Young, National Fire"), said the department previously asked for a one‑meeting deferral and was now requesting an additional two‑meeting deferral because of the federal situation. Special counsel Darby and Director Darby outlined the council’s deferral rules: following multiple deferrals a fourth deferral would convert to an indefinite deferral and an indefinite deferral must remain off the agenda for at least 60 days.
Council questions and funding concerns Councilmembers asked whether the grant application could be separated to exclude elements councilmembers had identified as relating to immigration enforcement. Mark Young said the state receives the grant funds and then distributes them to local governments and that he did not believe Metro could selectively accept components of the combined application. He said Metro would not participate in ICE operations.
Councilmember Suarez asked whether the state will provide an accounting of how funds are allocated among grant components; staff said that allocation will be known when funds are released by the state.
Outcome The council approved a two‑meeting deferral for both resolutions by voice vote.
