OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES - K. O'NEILL

Authorize signing of Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Letters of Commitment and Local Match Fund Commitment Letter for application to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and authorize submittal of grant application.

SBC FILE NUMBER: 1068

FEMA approved Local Hazard Mitigation Plans (LHMP) are required to be updated every 5 years.  The San Benito County Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, which includes the City of Hollister, City of San Juan Bautista, Sunnyslope Water District, San Benito County Water Districts, and the County itself was approved in 2016.  In anticipation of the 2021 expiration, the Office of Emergency Services (OES) submitted a Notice of Interest (NOI) to apply to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for funding to the creation of a updated plan.  The NOI was approved and the next step is submitting an application to the state by July 5, 2019.

As part of the application process, each participating jurisdiction must submit a Letter of Commitment to the Office of Emergency Services for submission with the application.  In addition, the lead agency must not only submit the Commitment Letter but also a Local Match Fund Commitment Letter.  The grant has a 25% cost match which can be a cash or in-kind match.  The match is not reflected in OES' FY19/20 budget but based on future discussions of cost sharing amongst the participating agencies will be added to FY20/21 budget.  

OES is requesting HMGP funding in the amount of $100,000 to hire a consulting firm to lead the planning effort and write a Hazard Mitigation Plan that meets all of the FEMA requirements.  Hiring a consultant is standard practice across the country as the process and requirements for these types of plans requires a significant amount of time that most jurisdictions cannot afford to allocate staff time on.

Hazard Mitigation Plans are critical to local government as they assist with post disaster funding, and are required for applications for future mitigation grants.

OES is requesting authorization to sign the commitment letters and submit the grant application.

It is respectfully recommended that the Board of Supervisors authorize the Emergency Services Manager or County Administrative Officer to:

1. sign the Letter of Commitment;
2. sign the Local Match Fund Commitment Letter; and
3. sign and submit the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program grant application.