TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Becky Craig, Acting County Executive Officer
REPORT BY: Angel Hernandez, Emergency Services Officer
SUBJECT: Purchase of Light Towers for Emergency Response and Budget Transfer
RECOMMENDATION
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Acting County Executive Officer and Risk/Emergency Services Manager request the following actions regarding Fiscal Year 2019 Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) Resiliency Allocation grant funding:
1. Approval of a Budget Transfer increasing appropriations for the Emergency Services (Fund 1000, Org 1024000) budget by $38,569 with offsetting revenues from the federally funded FY2019 Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) Resiliency Allocations Agreement (4/5 vote required); and
2. Establishment of a capital asset in the amount of $38,569 for the purchase of three (3) Wanco Compact Diesel Light Towers for the Roads Department to use during emergency situations where the loss of power and lighting has been impacted.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The County has been working to improve preparedness and resiliency in the event of future electrical Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) using funds provided by the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES). In September 2019, the board approved the purchase of four (4) 125 kVA Mobile Generators that can be used for emergency powering of critical infrastructures during a PSPS event to special event support. Staff is recommending using remaining funds from the FY19 PSPS Resiliency Allocation grant to purchase three (3) mobile light towers that will provide safety and security during a wide variety of emergencies, including darkness at critical infrastructure sites and/or emergency shelters.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
No |
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Where is it budgeted? |
PSPS resiliency funds provided by the State of California (CEO_19PSP-CAOES). |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Approval of this item will allow for the purchase of portable light towers needed to provide safe lighting during an emergency. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
It is anticipated that the purchase will occur this fiscal year; however, maintenance of the light towers will be a nominal on-going cost to the County. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
The County will lose the PSPS funding from CalOES and need to purchase the light towers without the benefit of using grant funds. |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Healthy, Safe, and Welcoming Place to Live, Work, and Visit |
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
On October 25, 2019, the Governor announced an allocation of funds to support local government efforts to protect public safety during PSPS events. The Board approved entering into allocation agreements with CalOES for $386,317 on November 12, 2019 and $193,159 on October 20, 2020. The funds can be used to pay for various services and equipment purchases but not staff time. The County must encumber these funds toward eligible work by October 31, 2022 and pay them out by December 31, 2022.
To date, roughly $430,000 of the $579,476 has been spent to pay for mobile backup generators that can be
dispatched during an emergency, some equipment needed to distribute power from these generators, and some design services. On July 26, 2022, the Board approved advertising to install permanent generators at the Capell and Pope Valley Fire Stations that primarily serve the Berryessa Highlands and Estates communities. On August 23, 2022, the Board approved to award the construction contract to GD Nielson of Napa, CA for their bid of $133,117 on the “Capell and Pope Valley Fire Stations Emergency Generators Project,” PW 22-21. It is estimated that $100,000 of the construction contract expenses will be eligible for funding by the FY19 PSPS Resiliency Allocation grant.
Staff recommends using $38,569.00 of the remaining funds from the FY19 PSPS Resiliency Allocation grant to purchase three (3) mobile light towers for the Roads Department to provide safety and security during a wide variety of emergencies where loss of power and lighting has been impacted. These emergencies may include lighting at activated emergency shelters and/or critical infrastructure sites, overnight emergency road repairs, and PSPS events.