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Budget committee forwards $2.11 million federal homeland security grant to full Board without recommendation
Summary
The Budget & Finance Committee heard Department of Emergency Management testimony on a $2,112,026 DHS grant (SHSGP/MMRS) that funds CBRN planning, mass‑casualty preparedness, continuity‑of‑operations work and three 0.5 FTE grant‑coded positions; the committee forwarded the ordinance to the full Board without recommendation and requested retrospective outcome reporting.
The San Francisco Budget & Finance Committee voted Jan. 28 to forward to the full Board an ordinance to accept and expand a $2,112,026 federal homeland security grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Ami Albertson Alden of the Department of Emergency Management told the committee the award combines State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) funds and Medical Metropolitan Response System (MMRS) funds, is 100% federally funded with no local match, and supports planning and training including chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) planning, volunteer management, continuity‑of‑operations for city financial systems and mass‑casualty planning and pharmaceuticals for mass inoculation or treatment.
"This is an annual homeland security grant that San Francisco has received for several years," Albertson Alden said, adding most funds sustain existing projects and three half‑time positions are new additions that are federally funded.
Monique Zamuda of the Controller's Office described continuity‑of‑operations work the proposed half‑time controller position would complete, saying the Controller assumed leadership two years ago for finance and administration functions within the city's emergency preparedness plan and that dedicated staff time is needed to finish procedures to keep payroll, purchasing and accounting systems recoverable after a disaster.
Supervisors repeatedly pressed DEM for retrospective evidence of what prior grant cycles have produced and for details that show the work products produced for prior grant dollars; DEM repeatedly offered to return with a retrospective accounting and to meet individually with supervisors.
Committee members also asked whether the grant funds the city's Hazard Mitigation Plan projects (DEM said it does not) and noted the grants' multi‑year timelines. DEM cited a 2006 federal requirement that jurisdictions plan for evacuees with pets and said one proposed Animal Care & Control position fulfills that FEMA eligibility requirement.
A motion to forward the ordinance to the Board "without recommendation" carried by voice vote in committee; no roll call tally was recorded in the transcript. DEM officials told the committee they would provide a follow‑up retrospective showing how prior grant funds were spent and the status of ongoing projects.
The Board will consider the ordinance at its Feb. 3, 2009 meeting.
