Agenda - 02-21-2006-5e - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 21, 2006 Action Agenda Item No. 5-e. SUBJECT: Acceptance of 2005 Buffer Zone Protection Program (BZPP) Grant Funds DEPARTMENT: Emergency Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Memorandum of Agreement INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack Ball, 968-2050 PURPOSE: To accept grant funding and approve a memorandum of agreement for a State pass-through grant award of federal Homeland Security funds in the amount of $50,000 to reimburse the County for equipment purchased for improving the response to critical facilities and key resources in the County. BACKGROUND: The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded the State of North Carolina funding for homeland security equipment through the FY2005 Buffer Zone Protection Program (BZPP). Federal funding is allocated in accordance with a DHS risk assessment to provide funds to jurisdictions with critical facilities or key resources, Orange County is eligible for funding because it has one critical facility -the Dean Smith Center at UNC, as noted in Annex A to the attached Memorandum of Agreement. In December 2004, Orange County Emergency Management along with representatives from law enforcement agencies in the County participated in a joint planning session with representatives from the North Carolina National Guard to develop a Buffer Zone Protection Plan for the site in Orange County. The plan included a vulnerability assessment that studied what resources and capabilities are necessary to reduce vulnerability of the site to a terrorist attack. In .July 2005, Orange County received word that it qualified for funding in the amount of $48,500 under the BZPP for its vulnerable site. Staff coordinated with the law enforcement agencies and developed an equipment prioritization list in conjunction with the outcomes identified in the Buffer Zone Protection Plan. Staff then submitted a spending plan to the State of North Carolina for the equipment.. The spending plan for that funding is still pending with the United States Department of Homeland Security. The spending plan identified explosive mitigation equipment, vehicle barriers, communication equipment, chemical and biological detection equipment as being priorities for the sensitive site.. In November 2005, Orange County was informed that a supplemental funding program in the amount of $50,000 from the BZPP was open for applications for the critical facility. Staff quickly identified ah additional, separate spending plan for that funding regarding facility surveillance equipment. The spending plan for the supplemental program was rapidly approved and the