Audit committee forwards Bay Area UASI MOU to full Board amid questions about DHS funding conditions
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Summary
The committee heard a presentation from Bay Area UASI General Manager Kim Molina and voted Feb. 5 to forward a retroactive MOU authorizing San Francisco to remain fiscal agent for UASI funds for Dec. 1, 2025–Nov. 30, 2030. Deputy City Attorney Bridal Ressy told the committee a pending lawsuit over DHS funding conditions remains on appeal.
The Government Audit and Oversight Committee voted Feb. 5 to forward to the full San Francisco Board of Supervisors a resolution retroactively approving a memorandum of understanding that would govern distribution of Department of Homeland Security Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant funds across Bay Area jurisdictions and continue San Francisco as a primary grantee and fiscal agent for Dec. 1, 2025–Nov. 30, 2030.
Kim Molina, identified as general manager of the Bay Area Urban Area Security Initiative (Bay Area UASI), told the committee the program has existed since 2006, involves a regional approval authority comprising members appointed by county boards of supervisors, and coordinates funding discussions quarterly. “So the Bay Area UASI has been in existence since 2006,” Molina said. “And we are a regional grant program whose mission is to, prepare for combat and prepare and respond to terrorist attacks.” Molina said San Francisco’s continued participation and fiscal-agent role were the reasons the MOU should be approved.
Supervisor Jackie Fielder asked whether the MOU included agreements with DHS or other federal authorities about how funding is allocated. Molina said the UASI grant originates with the Department of Homeland Security and comes to the region through the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), which distributes funds to regional UASIs.
Deputy City Attorney Bridal Ressy told the committee the city attorney’s office has a pending lawsuit against the federal government concerning conditions the federal government tried to impose on DHS funding related to immigration and other areas; injunctions have been entered and the lawsuit is currently on appeal. Ressy said the litigation relates to certain conditions the federal government attempted to attach to funding and could affect program conditions.
There was no public comment on the item. The committee voted to forward the MOU to the full Board with a positive recommendation; the clerk recorded three ayes and the motion passed.
What’s next: The item will appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda on Feb. 24, 2026, for final action.
