MEMORANDUM

To:                  Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly

Ron Long, President

Through:         John J. Williams, Mayor                     

From:              Scott Walden, Emergency Management Coordinator

Date:               May 22, 2006

Re:                 Background Information - Resolution Recognizing the Borough Citizen Corps Program R2006-053

Adopting the accompanying resolution maintains grant eligibility for the CERT programs.

CERT Background

To assist communities in preparing for disasters, federal grants are available through the U.S. Citizen Corps Program. The Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (ADHS&EM) administers the federal Citizen Corps Program.

The Borough began actively participating in the Citizen Corps program in 2003 and in the last three years has received five grants totaling $180,702.14. In addition to initial grant funding, the Mayor and Assembly showed their support for Citizen Corps program implementation by adding $16,000 to OEM’s FY 2004 budget for the program.

The Kenai Peninsula Citizen Corps (KPCC) is a volunteer-based program that provides communities with training to identify disaster risks and develop solutions, and opportunities to connect local leaders, volunteers and first responders to help build stronger, safer, better prepared communities on the Kenai Peninsula. The Borough has implemented two programs under the umbrella of the KPCC. These include the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training and Fire Corps wildfire preparedness training. Other CC programs that are being considered for implementation in the near future include Medical Reserve Corps and Neighborhood Watch for rural areas outside the cities.

To date, 72 CERT volunteers and 50 CERT program instructors have been trained in seven communities. In addition, this spring 43 people have completed Fire Corps training sessions in three communities. There are approximately 110 people from 15 communities wait-listed for upcoming CERT trainings. The CERT program goal is to provide disaster preparedness community education information to every community in the Borough (approximately 40 towns and community areas).

KPCC programs are managed and coordinated by the KPCC Council and the Citizen Corps Coordinator. As a condition for receipt of 2004 grant funding, the KPCC was established on March 17, 2004 as a subcommittee of the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). The Council is currently made up of six members in addition to the Citizen Corps Coordinator. These members represent industry, public health, emergency medical services, the Red Cross, and amateur radio operators. (KPCC website: www.kpvolunteers.org).

Beginning with the 2006 grant cycle, local jurisdictions must demonstrate formal adoption of the Citizen Corps Council that governs their CC programs.

This can be done by adopting the accompanying resolution confirming the Borough’s continued participation in the program and recognition of its establishment under the LEPC. The program can remain grant eligible with this resolution and the Borough could make the program grant dependant as well.

Summary of KPB Citizen Corps (CERT) Funding History

·Ordinance 2002-19-36: accepting a $14,000 grant from the State DHS to deliver CERT training and develop CERT teams in Borough communities.

·Ordinance 2003-19-32: accepting a $19,000 grant to continue CERT training implementation.

·Ordinance 2003-19-45: accepting $7500 in supplemental grant funding to assist with CERT program implementation (purchased three disaster caches for Anchor Point, Bear Creek & Seward area, and Cooper Landing).

·Ordinance 2004-19-02: accepting $113,564.31 to continue Citizen Corps program activities (principally CERT) as well as development of a Community Watch Program in high crime rural areas.

·Ordinance 2004-19-52: accepting $26,637.83 for continued implementation of Citizen Corps program activities.

·Total Borough grant appropriations for the program amounts to $180,702.14.

·In addition to grant funding, the Mayor and Assembly showed their support of the CERT program in 2003 by adding $16,000 to OEM’s FY 2004 budget for CERT program implementation.