Title
Resolution to Approve Interlocal Agreement for Search and Rescue Emergency Response Vehicle with Oakland County and other Participating Agencies
Memorandum
The Urban Cooperation Act and the Emergency Management Act permit political subdivisions to exercise jointly with another political subdivision any power, privilege or authority which they share in common and might exercise separately.
The Urban Area Security Initiative includes the Counties of Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne and the City of Detroit. Within these counties a specialized response Task Force ("Michigan Task Force 1 (MI-TF1)") has been organized, largely funded by grant monies from the Department of Homeland Security, primarily composed of firefighters from the cities, villages and township within the geographic boundaries of the Urban Area Security Initiative.
Participating Agencies that have members of MI-TF1 in the Urban Area Security Initiative are able to operate specialized Search and Rescue Emergency Response Vehicles and associated equipment acquired and owned by Oakland County in situations where the existing resources of a governmental entity might require this specialized search and rescue resource both intra- and interstate.
Ann Arbor Fire Services recommends that the City of Ann Arbor be designated a Participating Agency in the Urban Area Security Initiative and authorize the Fire Chief to request, offer or provide assistance under the terms of the Search and Rescue Emergency Response Vehicle Interlocal Agreement which is attached.
Staff
Prepared by: Battalion Chief Kevin Cook, Mary Fales, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Reviewed by: Chief Dominick Lanza, AAFD, Chief Barnett Jones, Safety Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Roger W. Fraser, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor has the power, privilege and authority to maintain and operate a fire department providing fire protection, fire suppression, emergency medical services, technical rescue, search and rescue response operations, hazardous incident response, and other emergency response services ("Fire Services");
Whereas, Fire Services can be further improved by mutual aid and cooperation between political subdivisions;
Whereas, The Urban Cooperation Act and the Emergency Management Act permit political subdivisions to establish cooperative initiatives to combine services, manpower and/or resources to response to times of public emergency, conflagration or disaster ("Incidents") where a individual political subdivision might be strained or overwhelmed if forced to confront such Incidents in isolation;
Whereas, The Urban Area Security Initiative was formed by the Counties of Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne and the City of Detroit ("Participating Agencies") to address specialized search and rescue emergency responses through designated employees or volunteers that participate with the Michigan Task Force 1 (MI-TF1);
Whereas, The Participating Agencies have entered into a Search and Rescue Emergency Response Vehicle Interlocal Agreement pursuant to the Urban Cooperation Act, MCL 124.501 et. seq.;
Whereas, The participating entities do not intend by this agreement to establish this task force or its command board as a separate legal or administrative entity under Section 7 (1) of the Urban Cooperation Act, MCL 124.507 (1) and have not therefore provided for or otherwise established such an entity by terms of this agreement;
Whereas, The Interlocal Agreement has been approved reviewed by the Chief of Fire and, Safety Services Area Administrator and Fire Services is willing and able to participate in accordance with the terms of the Agreement; and
Whereas, Designation of the City of Ann Arbor as a Participating Agency will allow the Ann Arbor Fire Services access to specialized Search and Rescue Emergency Response Vehicles and associated equipment as a member of MI-TF1 and participation is recommended by City Administration.
RESOLVED, That City Council authorizes the City of Ann Arbor to become a Participating Agency in the Search and Rescue Emergency Vehicle Interlocal Agreement in consideration of the mutual interest, obligations and promises contained in the Agreement which is attached hereto and incorporated in this Resolution as if fully set forth herein;
RESOLVED, That City Council designates the Chief of Fire Services as its authorized representative to the Michigan Task Force 1 (MI-TF1) under the terms of the Agreement and supports the designation of employees and/or volunteers to participate with the MI-TF1; and
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized and directed to execute the Interlocal Agreement after approval as to substance by the City Administrator and as to form by the City Attorney.