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Orozco, Norma From:Orbane <orbanegallegos@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, August 18, 2020 3:58 PM To:eComment; Penaloza, David; Councilmember Vincent Sarmiento; Solorio, Jose; Bacerra, Phil; Mendoza, Nelida; Villegas, Juan; Pulido, Miguel Subject:August 18th, 2020 ITEM 22B To the City Council, I want to address item 22B on today's agenda for the purchase of $353,653 Gurkha Multi Purpose Vehicle. The money comes from the UASI Grant from the Department of Homeland Security. It is meant to build and sustain the capabilities necessary to: -prevent acts of terrorism using the WHOLE COMMUNITY APPROACH -protect against acts of terrorism using the WHOLE COMMUNITY APPROACH -mitigate acts of terrorism using the WHOLE COMMUNITY APPROACH -respond to acts of terrorism using the WHOLE COMMUNITY APPROACH -RECOVER form acts of terrorism using the WHOLE COMMUNITY APPROACH Many capabilities which support terrorism preparedness simultaneously support preparedness for other hazards. Grantees must demonstrate the dual-use quality for any activities implemented that are not explicitly focused on terrorism preparedness. There are two national FOCUSES: -emerging threats including cybersecurity -projects that enable operation of critical business and government functions including those essential to human health, safety, and/or economic security Please refer to page 360 of the adopted city budget titled OES UASI to see the line item breakdown of this fund. Please see that under Machinery & Equipment is a $0. This is a sharp contrast to the $172K that was recently spent on five new Tahoes from this same account number #12514407- 66400. The rest was paid with funds from an equitable sharing account in which police officers can seize assets and cash and can appropriate them without waiting for an indictment or conviction. Return of property and cash is only available if the suspect can prove he obtained it legally. Chief Valentin wishes to use the UASI funds again to fund the purchase of this vehicle with the following reasoning: This project is for the procurement of one compact armored vehicle, which will enable the Santa Ana Police Department SWAT team to respond to Complex Coordinated Attacks, Active Shooter Events, Hazardous Materials Tactical Operations ( HMTOC) and Weapons of Mass Destruction WMD) tactical situations within the Urban Area. It will enhance accessibility and armored vehicle coverage in the region, AS WELL AS FULFILL A LARGE NEED FOR SUCH VEHICLES IN THE EVENT OF CIVIL UNREST, mutual aid assistance and/ or multi -jurisdictional catastrophic incidents. The vehicle also has fire mitigation capabilities enabling personnel to address burning property from a protected environment. The fire mitigation capability is new to the Operational Area and is a capability currently not possessed by the Santa Ana Police Department. Some of the features of this truck include but are not limited to: -stops artillery shell fragments 7