Referred to:  The Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee (Chairman Uchitelle and Legislators Hansut, Heppner, Hewitt, and Lopez), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Cahill, Fabiano, Ronk, and Walter)

Chairman of the Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee, Abe Uchitelle, and Deputy Chair Gina Hansut offer the following:

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted at the request of the County Executive on behalf of the Ulster County Department of Emergency Communications / Emergency Management; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County and its municipalities have experienced multiple federally declared disasters in the past several years; and

WHEREAS, these disasters have caused a hardship on the residents as well as local governments of the affected areas; and

WHEREAS, an effective multi-hazard mitigation plan allows municipalities to conduct risk assessments to identify and prioritize appropriate mitigation actions to reduce losses from identified hazards; and

WHEREAS, local governments must have a mitigation plan approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in order to receive funds from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) (CFDA# 97.039); and

WHEREAS, it is a complex, costly and time consuming endeavor for each municipality to draft a multi-hazard mitigation plan; and

WHEREAS, in 2007-2009 the Ulster County Emergency Management Office coordinated the first Ulster County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (the ‘Plan’) with the participation of twelve municipalities; and

WHEREAS, in 2013-2017 the Ulster County Emergency Management Office coordinated the first Ulster County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update (the ‘Plan’) with the participation of sixteen municipalities; and

WHEREAS, the Plan is due for renewal in the five year planning cycle established by FEMA, and thus affords a new opportunity for all municipalities within the County to participate in this planning effort; a

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Emergency Management Office has applied for and has been awarded federal pass-through funds in the amount of $180,000.00, which is 90% of the estimated total cost of development of a new plan; and

WHEREAS, the total cost of plan development is not to exceed $200,000.00 which includes a 10% County contribution which shall be met with in-kind services; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Chair of the Ulster County Legislature is hereby authorized to execute an Agreement, and any amendments thereto, with the New York State Office of Emergency Management for participation in the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for the term May 25, 2022 to November 25, 2023, in the form as filed with the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature or as modified with the approval of the County Attorney; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the anticipated funding for this program will be part of the 2023 budget; and, be it further

RESOLVED, if funding for this program is eliminated, the Commissioner of Finance shall, immediately upon discovery, send written notification to the Clerk of the Legislature, and the relevant Department Head shall attend the next regular meeting of the Ways and Means Committee to assist the Committee in review and evaluation for determination of the program’s continuance,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                    NOES:         

Passed Committee: Law Enforcement and Public Safety on __________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on _______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$180,000.00 – ANTICIPATED 2023 FEDERAL REVENUE DOLLARS (STATE    PASS THROUGH)

$ 20,000.00 – COUNTY DOLLARS (IN-KIND SERVICES)