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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007/05/22 Item 13 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT ~l!f::. CITY OF '~CHULA VISTA OS/22/2007 Item~ ITEM TITLE: PUBLIC HEARING TO NOTICE ACCEPTANCE AND APPROPRIATION OF EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT FUNDS. SUBMITTED BY: REVIEWED BY: RESOLUTION ACCEPTING $90,139 FROM THE 2007 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT AND DIRECTING STAFF TO INCLUDE SAID FUNDS TO THE FY 2007/2008 BUDGET OF THE JUSTICE fJSIST ANCE GRANT FUND. CHIEF OF POLIC~ CITY MANAGER d 1 4/5THS VOTE: YES NO X BACKGROUND Proposed to streamline justice funding and grant administration, the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program allows states, tribes, and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their local needs and conditions. JAG blends the previous Byrne Formula and Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) Programs to provide agencies with the flexibility to prioritize and place justice funds where they are needed most. Federal funds from the Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program must be used to supplement existing funds for program activities and carmot replace, or supplant, nonfederal funds that have been appropriated for the same purpose. The unit of local government must provide an assurance that the application or any future amendment was made public and an opportunity to comment was provided to citizens and the neighborhood or community organizations to the extent applicable law. Local match is not required with the JAG Program. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW Not Applicable. 13-1 OS/22/2007, Item /8 Page 2 of3 RECOMMENDATION That Council: ~ conduct the public hearing and accept $90,139 from the 2007 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant; ~ direct staff to include said funds to the FY 2007/2008 budget of the Justice Assistance Grant Fund; ~ direct staff to first utilize the grant funds as required to fund the over-hire program; ~ direct staff to come back mid-year to add one Police Sergeant position and utilize any remaining funds after the over hire program has been funded. BOARDS/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Not Applicable. DISCUSSION The Police Department has recently received notice of an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) award in the amount of $90,139 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). These funds were allocated to the Police Department based on population and Part I violent crime statistics. Part I violent crimes include murder and non-negligent manslaughters, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assaults as reported by the FBI. Acceptance and appropriation of these funds requires a public hearing per stipulations of the Justice Assistance Grant. The Police Department is planning on using JAG grant monies to fund the cost of the Over Hire program for FY 2008. Additionally, should there be any funds available after funding the Over Hire program, the Department request utilizing remaining funds to offset the cost of one Police Sergeant in the FY 2008 Police Department budget. This new position in the Traffic Unit was initially proposed during the FY 2007 budget process. OVER HIRE PROGRAM Council Resolution # 2006-099 approved the Department's request to increase the number of Over Hire officers from five to ten. This was in response to the critical staffing levels that the Department was experiencing. The Over Hire Program maintains a steady flow of new recruits which in turn significantly minimizes the time between when a sworn position becomes vacant and when it is filled with a fully trained officer. In years past, it has taken up to 18 months to place a fully qualified and trained officer into vacant positions. Historically, the Department has been able to fund over hires through salary savings. However, in FY 2008, the Department has been asked to absorb $1,600,000 in salary savings in an effort to balance the FY 2008 city-wide budget. Because of this, the Department can no longer utilize salary savings to fund the Over Hire Program. The Department proposes to utilize JAG funds in FY 2008 to offset the cost of the Over Hire Program. 13-2 OS/22/2007, Item13 Page 3 00 ADDITIONAL STAFFING NEEDS The Police Department initially proposed the addition of one Police Sergeant in the Traffic Unit during the FY 2006/2007 budget process. The Traffic Unit currently consists of 11 officers, 4 agents and 5 civilian personnel. With only one sergeant supervising these 20 positions and the potential of more officers being added through Office of Traffic Safety grants, there is a definite need for an additional sergeant to share the supervision of these positions and oversee the traffic enforcement operations. FUNDING STRATEGY The Police Department recommends using the entire $90,139 allocation of the 2007 JAG funds for personnel costs related to the funding of the Over Hire Program. Should any funds remain after funding the Over Hire Program, staff recommends utilizing remaining funds to offset the costs of one Police Sergeant in the Traffic Unit. Staff will return mid- year with additional funding strategies for the Traffic Sergeant. DECISION MAKER CONFLICT Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site specific and consequently the 500 foot rule found in California Code of Regulations section 1 8704.2(a)(l) is not applicable to this decision. FISCAL IMPACT There is no net impact to the General Fund in FY 2008. Acceptance of the grant will direct staff to include $90,139 to the FY 2007/2008 budget of the Justice Assistance Grant Fund (fund 254), which will be used for personnel costs as enumerated above. Staff will return mid-year to present funding strategies for the Police Sergeant. ATTACHMENTS Council Resolution 2006-099. Prepared by: Jonathan Alegre, Senior Management Analyst, Police Department 13-3 /fH-4d1 In en! RESOLUTION NO. 2006-099 RESOLUTION OF TIlE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AMENDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET TO ADD A pEACE OFFICER AND POLICE LIEUTENANT, 3.5 FULL TIME EQUIVALENT HOURLY STAFF, ADDITIONAL OVERTIME AND BENEFIT FUNDING, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED OVER HIRE OFFICERS FROM FIVE TO TEN, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE FROM THE AVAILABLE BALANCE OF TIlE GENERAL FUND WHEREAS, the Police Department recently met with staff from the Office of Budget and Analysis to discuss Department budget issues and initial steps toward implementing the Department's five-year strategic business plan; and WHEREAS, in order to maintain the high level of service to the citizens of the City of Chula Vista, the department is seeking appropriations to address shortfalls in the Personnel Services budget including the following: . Add a Police Lieutenant, and one Peace Officer to the authorized staffing levels of the Police Department . Appropriate $1,700,000 to the fiscal year 2006 Police Department Personnel Services budget from the available balance of the General Fund for personnel costs and additional overtime and benefits costs . Increase the number of authorized over hire officers from five to ten NOW. TIiEREFORE. BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Chula Vista does hereby amend the Police Department budget to add a Peace Officer and Police Lieutenant, 3.5 full time equivalent hourly staff, additional overtime and benefit funding, increase the number of authorized over hire officers from five to ten, and appropriate $1,700,000 to the Police Department Fiscal Year 2006 Personnel Services budget from the available balance of the General Fund. Presented by Approved as to form by ~ Richard P. Emerson Police Chief ~\'(~~\\~'(i'N~\\ Ann Moore City Attorney 13-4 Resolution No. 2006-099 Page 2 PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED by the City Council of the City ofChula Vista, California, this 28th day of March 2006 by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers: Castaneda, Chavez, McCann, Rindone and Padilla NAYS: Councilmembers: None ABSENT: Councilmembers: None ATrEST: u -: ~-"1 J.J6-' f-- ~ &l d ~ ~ Susan Bigelow, MMC, City Clerk STATEOFCALIFORNlA ) COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO ) CITY OF CHULA VISTA ) I, Susan Bigelow, City Clerk of Chula Vista, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 2006-099 was duly passed, approved, and adopted by the City Council at a regular meeting of the Chula Vista City Council held on the 28th day of March 2006. Executed this 28th day of March 2006. r ~'" d - _ ~JJA. I ~ ~ Susan Bigelow, MMC, City C k 13-5 RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ACCEPTING $90,139 FROM THE 2007 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT AND DIRECTING STAFF TO INCLUDE SAID FUNDS TO THE FY 2007/2008 BUDGET OF THE JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT FUND. WHEREAS, the Police Department has received notice of an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant award in the amount of $90,139 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance; and WHEREAS, these funds were appropriated based on population and Part 1 violent crime statistics for purposes stipulated by the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program; and WHEREAS, the City Council held a public hearing on May 22, 2007, to notice use of the Justice Assistance Grant funding in the amount of $90,139; and WHEREAS, the funds will be utilized to fund the Police Department's Over Hire program and any remaining funds are recommended to offset the cost of one Police Sergeant in the Traffic Unit. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the City Council of the City of Chula Vista does hereby accept $90,139 from the 2007 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant and direct staff to include said funds to the FY 2007/2008 personnel category.of the Justice Assistance Grant fund. Further, staff is directed to return to Council mid-year to present a funding strategy for one Police Sergeant should any remaining funds be available Richard P. Emerson Police Chief Approved as to form by: ~.~f ,,' , Ann Moore City Attorney 13-6