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BACKGROUND <br /> Each year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency <br /> Management Agency (FEMA) announce funding opportunities through the Homeland <br /> Security Grant Program. The intent of the program is to support state, local and tribal <br /> efforts to prevent actus of terrorism and other catastrophic events. Funding for the <br /> program in California is managed through the California Office of Emergency Services <br /> (Cal OES). <br /> In 2021, the Police Department submitted a grant application for $168,000. The grant <br /> request was for the purchase of barriers specifically built to prevent vehicles from <br /> entering closed areas while allowing pedestrians easy ingress and egress. The <br /> proposed barriers are aligned with one of the grant's goals of protecting soft targets and <br /> public places. <br /> DISCUSSION <br /> Pleasanton regularly closes major roadways for parades and other events. Roadways <br /> are closed using either water-filled or plastic barricades; these barricades are labor <br /> intensive to set up, are not effective in fully stopping vehicles, and impede ingress and <br /> egress by pedestrians. <br /> The barriers for which the grant was pursued are the Archer 1200 vehicle incursion <br /> barriers. The barriers prevent intentional and unintentional vehicular access to public <br /> events and will increase safety in strategically selected areas of road closures. Unlike <br /> traditional barriers, they do not block pedestrians from exiting in the case of an <br /> emergency. With specialized dollies, the barriers are easily moved to allow emergency <br /> vehicles to enter a closed area. Three to four barriers are required to secure a standard <br /> two-lane roadway. Specialized trailers facilitate the rapid deployment of barriers by <br /> properly trained staff. <br /> In March 2023, the Police Department was awarded the requested grant in the amount <br /> of $168,000. Due to cost increases, the cost of the barriers and associated equipment is <br /> now $193,811 which includes initial staff training and delivery. The vendor and the grant <br /> authority are unable to pay for the price increase of $25,811 requiring the City to pay for <br /> the difference to purchase the equipment. Meridian Rapid Defense Group is the sole <br /> source provider of the Archer 1200 barriers. Pricing for the barriers is established <br /> through a contract with the Government Services Administration (GSA). The quote for <br /> the barriers is listed as Attachment 2. <br /> The vendor anticipates a 45-day delivery from date of order such that these barriers will <br /> likely be available for use this summer. As feasible, staff will consider how to utilize <br /> these new barriers to augment safety for planned street closures and/or to reduce the <br /> number of barriers that need to be rented. As these new barriers are intended to <br /> augment the rented water barricades, staff anticipates a reduction of up to 12 rented <br /> barriers per street closure which will reduce rental expenses by approximately $700 <br /> annually. <br /> Page _ of <br />