REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: March 13, 2019 Report No. CSS-19-005
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Blair McDonald, Director, Community Safety Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Amendment to Council Resolution in support of a Grant Application
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council rescind the Resolution as approved at the Regular Council meeting, January 21st, 2019, and replace and approve the following:
That Council support by way of resolution a $50,000 joint application with the City of Victoria for the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund - Emergency Operations Centre and Training Stream, that the Township of Esquimalt will provide overall grant management for the project, and that the Mayor and Corporate Officer are authorized to execute any agreements related to a successful grant application.
Body
RELEVANT POLICY:
Emergency Program Act, RSBC 1996, c.111
Emergency Management Bylaw, 2015, No. 2853
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
BUILD AND ENHANCE PARTNERSHIPS - Work with governments, school districts and stakeholders to enhance relationships and advance issues impacting the community - Promote emergency preparedness through shared initiatives and training
BACKGROUND:
The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) is a suite of funding programs intended to enhance the resiliency of local governments and their residents in responding to emergencies. Funding is provided by the Province of BC and is administered by Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM). The funding stream being applied for is “Emergency Operations Centres and Training.”
The previous report to Council was to support a grant application to contract the design of a functional exercise to test the evacuation component of Esquimalt’s Emergency Response and Recovery Plan. The new project seeks funding to contract the design and management of two joint exercises between the Township of Esquimalt and City of the Victoria utilizing evacuation and earthquake scenarios that impact their shared police force. The Township and City have recently updated portions of their emergency plans, communications plans, and evacuation plans and have never conducted a joint exercise with the Victoria Police Department to understand response implications when both jurisdictions are impacted. This is necessary prior to conducting a functional evacuation exercise in the Township. Other relevant stakeholders, including the Department of National Defence will also be invited to participate, as well as the Emergency Social Services and Emergency Radio Communications volunteers.
An updated Council resolution of support to recognize that this is a joint application with the City of Victoria and that Esquimalt will manage the grant funds is a requirement to complete the application process.
ISSUES:
1. Rationale for Selected Option
The CEPF is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of funding that can be used to enhance the resiliency of the Township of Esquimalt and our residents in recovery from emergencies.
2. Organizational Implications
Staff time will need to be allocated for the aforementioned exercise and overall project coordination. Staff will be required to administer the funding but the exercise design will be completed by a consultant. EOC exercises with our neighbours and our police department will increase the capacity and ability of the Township to effectively respond to emergencies.
3. Financial Implications
There are no direct financial implications as 100% of the cost of eligible activities is contributed by the fund. The project will be supported in-kind through staff time of approximately $18,000 to participate in the exercises and $5,000 for in-house Emergency Operations Centre refresher training by both the City and the Township. The combined total project budget is $78,000.
4. Sustainability & Environmental Implications
There are no sustainability or environmental implications.
5. Communication & Engagement
Staff from relevant departments will be consulted in the exercise design to ensure holistic organizational involvement. Volunteers from the community will be engaged in the exercise.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. That Council rescind the Resolution as approved at the Regular Council meeting, January 21st, 2019, and replace and approve the following:
That Council support by way of resolution a $50,000 joint application with the City of Victoria for the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund - Emergency Operations Centre and Training Stream, that the Township of Esquimalt provide overall grant management for the project, and that the Mayor and Corporate Officer are authorized to execute any agreements related to a successful grant application.
2. That Council rescind the Resolution approved at the Council meeting on January 21, 2019 and not pass an amended resolution in support of the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund application.