2023.09.28 CC UASI Grant Memo — File 23-1490

Charles Femino Chief of Police Supplemental information regarding the items 23-1262 and 23- 1263 on the 9/26/23 Finance Committee agenda: These grant funds are received as part of Somerville’s participation in the Metro Boston Homeland Security Region (MBHSR). We receive annual allocations, and thus do not submit individual applications for these grant funds. Instead, funds are allocated in categories (for example Safety and Security, Critical Infrastructure) and SPD makes requests to expend available funds on a project-by-project basis. If the request is approved, SPD is provided with an award letter, which must then be submitted to the City Council for approval. In general, UASI funds are disbursed in two ways. One being via an award letter that municipalities request from Boston, which is the method used in both of the relevant items before the Council currently. The other option is to go through Boston to handle the purchase on behalf of Somerville. The latter method is used when we are likely to share a UASI asset purchase with the other partners. The goal for the SPD in participating in this program is to try to receive funding for equipment or training that the city would otherwise have to pay for using taxpayer dollars. Both of these grants were allocated in FY22. Regarding item 23-1262-Requesting approval to accept and expend a $13,616.79 grant with no new match required, from the Boston Mayor's Office of Emergency Management to the Police Department for the purchase of ten motorcycle operator headsets that include microphones. An award letter was requested (attached) for radio head gear for the SPD motorcycles. The remaining balance from the grant, which was allocated in FY22 in the full amount of $100,000, must be spent down by June, 2025. As uses are identified, award letters will be requested and submitted to the Council for approval. The quote for the headsets which was submitted to UASI to receive the award letter is also attached. Regarding item 23-1263 Requesting approval to accept and expend a $75,000 grant with no new match required, from the Boston Mayor's Office of Emergency Management to the Police Department to support the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) sustainability and upgrades. The FY22 allocation of funds distributed to the UASI communities included $75k to use by June, 2025 to upgrade the Somerville EOC. Decisions regarding the specific items that will be purchased for this purpose have not yet been made. We expect to use the funds for new laptops and furniture for the EOC, and will submit receipts for reimbursement as directed by the program in order to receive award letters for the items. Once the award letters are received, they will be submitted for Council approval again. City of Somerville Police Department 220 Washington Street Somerville, MA 02143 [phone removed] www.somervillepd.com