Item Description:
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JPA A2512844 between Hennepin County and the police depts of Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Eden Prairie, Golden Valley, and Saint Louis Park Fire Department for the Weapons of Mass Destruction Tactical Response Team, effective 05/20/2025
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that Joint Powers Agreement A2512844 between Hennepin County and the police departments of Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Eden Prairie, Golden Valley, and Saint Louis Park Fire Department, for the Weapons of Mass Destruction Tactical Response Team, effective May 20, 2025, be approved; and that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the Joint Powers Agreement on behalf of the County; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.
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Background:
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Homeland Security Grant program includes a suite of risk-based grants to assist state, local, tribal and territorial efforts in preventing, protecting against, mitigating, responding to and recovering from acts of terrorism and other threats. Grant funds provide grantees with the resources required for implementation of the National Preparedness System and work toward the National Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient nation.
Funds available under the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) and Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), which were created in the immediate aftermath of 9/11/2001, are statutorily required to support jurisdictions’ capabilities to prevent, protect against, mitigate, and respond to acts of terrorism.
FEMA and the Minnesota Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management designated Hennepin County as part of a major urban area eligible for receipt of UASI grant funding. To qualify for funding, communities within an urban area are required to conduct an assessment of vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure and locations which, if damaged or destroyed, would cause significant disruption to government and community operations. These vulnerability assessments also encompassed the assessment of corporate and community venues which are vital to the health of the community through high levels of employment and frequency of visits by residents. All projects and approval of such projects require concurrence from all members of the UASI work group.
Grant funds are accepted via county board action. Since 2004 Hennepin County has received $23M in grant funds. Major projects funded by UASI allocations include weapons screening at the Hennepin County Government Center, an FTE to administer the grant, target hardening at Hennepin County Medical Center, equipping a regional Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Tactical Response Team, a 700 MHz high speed data system, and funding for the design and equipping of the Emergency Operations Center.
Utilizing UASI grant funds, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) has procured tactical equipment conforming to industry standards to support the operational readiness of the Team. The equipment is the exclusive property of Hennepin County and is assigned to individual team members for official use only.
After extensive review, no county board resolutions or agreements have been located that would have formally created the WMD Tactical Response Team.
The original members of the team were identified by the Sheriff’s Office in partnership with the Hennepin County chiefs of police. Since the team’s inception, they have formed strong partnerships with the State of Minnesota Fire Chemical Assessment Team, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Weapons of Mass Destruction Evidence Collection Team, the Minnesota National Guard 55th Civil Support Team, and the Minnesota National Guard Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosives (CBRNE) Enhanced Response Force - Package (CERF-P).
The WMD Tactical Response Team is deployed for a variety of missions, including Presidential and dignitary visit details. In addition, they were involved in two search warrants in the past two years related to a suspected methamphetamine laboratory and a biological production of Ricin.
Minnesota Statutes §471.59 authorizes intergovernmental agreements for the exercise of governmental powers. The WMD Tactical Response Team Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) is a cooperative agreement between Hennepin County and local law enforcement agencies to provide specialized tactical responses to acts of terrorism involving chemical, biological, or radiological agents.
In accordance with Minnesota Statutes §471.59, each party to this Agreement acknowledges and agrees that it shall be solely responsible for the payment of all wages, salaries, benefits, and associated employment costs for its own personnel assigned to the WMD Tactical Response Team, including but not limited to regular compensation, overtime, on-duty injury benefits, and any workers’ compensation claims arising therefrom.
The HCSO has supervisory authority over the WMD Tactical Response Team and shall administer its operations through a defined chain of command to ensure the effective planning, training, and deployment of resources. This JPA formally creates the Team and defines responsibilities among members.
Current request: This request seeks authorization to enter into a Joint Powers Agreement with the police depts of Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Eden
Prairie, Golden Valley, and Saint Louis Park Fire Department to participate in the Weapons of Mass Destruction Tactical Response Team, effective May 20, 2025.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval