HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009/08/11 Item 15CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA STATEMENT
~~~ CITY OF
CHULA VISTA
08/11/2009 Item
ITEM TITLE: PUBLIC HEARING BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CHULA VISTA TO NOTICE ACCEPTANCE AND
APPROPRIATION OF THE EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL
JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT FUNDS RELATED TO THE
AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT.
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CHULA VISTA ACCEPTING $442,963 FROM THE
BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE FOR THE 2009
EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE
GRANT AND AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2009/2010
ADOPTED BUDGET BY TRANSFERRRING TWO
POSITIONS FROM THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM FUND AND THEIR
ASSOCIATED PERSONNEL COSTS TO THE ARRA FUND
AND APPROPRIATING AN ADDITIONAL $32,803 TO THE
ARRA FUND FOR SERVICES AND SUPPLIES
EXPENDITURES
SUBMITTED BY: CHIEF OF POLICE G?-tl)
REVIEWED BY: CITY MANAGE
4/STHS VOTE: YES X NO
SUMMARY
The Police Department has recently received notice of an Edwazd Byrne Memorial
Justice Assistance Grant award in the amount of $442,963 from the Bureau of Justice
Assistance. These funds were allocated to the Police Department based on city population
and Part 1 violent crime statistics. This grant is part of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act and is generally referred to as "JAG Stimulus Grant".
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ENVIItONMENTAL REVIEW
Not Applicable.
RECOMMENDATION
That Council conducts the public hearing and adopt the resolution.
BOARDS/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Not Applicable
DISCUSSION
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) was signed into
law by President Obama on February 17, 2009. It is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart
our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing
long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Act is an
extraordinary response to a crisis unlike any since the Great Depression, and includes
measures to modernize our nation's infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand
educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief,
and protect those in greatest need.
The Recovery Act will inject $787 billion into the economy, providing jobs and much
needed resources for states and local communities. Among these resources is more than
$4 billion for state and local law enforcement and other criminal and juvenile justice
activities. The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) which provides federal leadership in
developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administering justice, and
assisting victims, will administer $2.76 billion of this funding. $2 billion has been
allocated towards the Edwazd Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program
(for clazity, we will refer to this grant as JAG Stimulus Grant). The JAG Stimulus Grant
differs from the normal Edwazd Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, which the
department receives on a yeazly basis, in that this is a one time allocation.
Federal funds from the Edwazd Byrne Memorial JAG Program must be used to
supplement existing funds for program activities and cannot 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.
The Police Department received notice in May 2009, of the JAG Stimulus award in the
amount of $442,963 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance. These funds were allocated
to the Police Department based on city population and Part 1 violent crime statistics. Part
1 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. Because
of the disparate funding between the County of San Diego and the municipal police
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agencies, the local municipal law enforcement agencies and the County of San Diego
Sheriff were required to submit a single application based upon an agreed upon allocation
of the total County of San Diego awazd amount. For the JAG Stimulus Grant, the
allocations to each agency remained unchanged. The City of San Diego Police
Department will act as the fiscal agent for this grant, and is therefore submitting all
documentation directly to the Department of Justice for this grant. The City of Chula
Vista will report all grant activity to the City of San Diego Police Department in
compliance with the grant provisions.
The Police Department recommends using the JAG Stimulus funds to create a new
Community Outreach Team, and the purchase of important safety related equipment.
These JAG Stimulus Grant funds aze for a two year period (FY 2010 and FY 2011).
Community Outreach Team
As a result of the significant fiscal crisis in which the City of Chula Vista declared a
"Fiscal Emergency", the Police Department eliminated a significant number of positions
in the FY 2010 budget. Part of the reductions included the department Public Information
Officer and the entire Community Relations Unit. This left the department without any
proactive community outreach. The department proposes creating a Community Outreach
Team comprised of one Public Information Officer and one Police Community Relations
Specialist. This newly created unit would continue the successful community relations
efforts and as well as act as a "strike team" to respond to community concerns in a timely
manner. JAG Stimulus Grant funds will fully fund this Community Outreach Team for
two years. The department will seek additional funding after FY 2011 to continue the
program or it will be eliminated.
Since the department received notification in May of 2009 of the grant award, the
expenditures for the Community Outreach Team were included in the FY 2009/2010
Local Law Enforcement Grant Program fund. Because the City would like to track all
ARRA expenditures in a separate fund, this resolution transfers the expenditures from the
Local Law Enforcement Grant Program to the ARRA fund.
Police Equipment
The remaining funds for the JAG Stimulus Grant will be utilized to purchase various
police equipment such as computer equipment, police safety equipment, and supplies.
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 18704.2(a)(1) is not applicable to this decision.
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FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this resolution will result in the amendment of the fiscal yeaz 2010 adopted
budget by appropriating $32,803 to the Supplies and Services category of the ARRA
Fund and transferring $199,938 from the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program
Fund to the ARRA Fund. The funding from the 2010 Edwazd Byrne Memorial Justice
Assistance Grant will completely offset these costs, resulting in no net fiscal impact to
the General Fund in fiscal yeaz 2010. The remaining $210,222 for FY 2011 will be
included during the regular budget adoption process.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT.
Funding for this project is for fiscal yeazs 2010 and 2011 and will result in no net fiscal
impact to the General Fund. Additional funding in succeeding fiscal years will need to be
secured in order to continue the Community Outreach Team.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
Prepared by: Edward Chew, Administrative Services Manager, Police Department
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RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CHULA VISTA ACCEPTING $442,963 FROM THE BUREAU
OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE FOR THE 2009 EDWARD BYRNE
MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT AND
AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2009/2010 ADOPTED
BUDGET BY TRANSFERRRING TWO POSITIONS FROM
THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANT
PROGRAM FUND AND THEIR ASSOCIATED PERSONNEL
COSTS TO THE ARRA FUND AND APPROPRIATING AN
ADDITIONAL $32,803 TO THE ARRA FUND FOR SERVICES
AND SUPPLIES EXPENDITURES
WHEREAS, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) was
signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009 and it is an unprecedented effort to
jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing
long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century; and
WHEREAS, $2 billion has been allocated towazds the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice
Assistance Grant (JAG) Program; and
WHEREAS, the Police Department received notice in May, 2009, of the JAG Stimulus
award in the amount of $442,963 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance; and
WHEREAS, the Police Department recommends utilizing these funds for a Community
Outreach Team comprised of a Public Information Officer and Police Community Relations
Specialist, as well as purchasing various police department related supplies and equipment.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the City Council of the City of Chula Vista does
hereby accept $442,963 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance for the 2009 Edward Byme
Memorial Justice Assistance Grant and amending the fiscal year 2009/2010 adopted budget by
appropriating $32,803 to the Supplies and Services category of the ARRA Fund, and transferring
$199,938 from the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program Fund to the ARRA Fund.
Presented by: Approved as to form by:
Interim Police Chief
• ~~~o?~
~ l
Bart Miesfeld
City Attorney
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