SR-701-006 (9)
PD:JTB:MM:f:\police\share\staffrpt\llebg2002
Council Meeting: July 23, 2002 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Appropriation and Uses of the 2002 Local Law Enforcement Block
Grants Award, Interest on 2000 and 2001 Awards, and Re-
designation of Use for Unexpended 2000 and 2001 Award Funds
Introduction
This report recommends that the City Council appropriate and designate uses of
the 2002 Local Law Enforcement Block Grants (LLEBG) award and interest
earned on 2000 and 2001 awards, and re-designate uses of unexpended funds
from prior year awards.
Background
The City of Santa Monica is eligible to receive $151,337 of the Federal 2002
LLEBG appropriation, ??to reduce crime and improve public safety.? A local
match equal to 10% of the total project cost is required. The grant requires
public discussion of the proposed use of the funds.
For the last two years, the City has used LLEBG grant funds for advanced
forensic services in the investigation of violent crimes; including the ?DNA
Evidence Testing? project that commenced with the 2000 LLEBG award and was
expanded in 2001 to include all felony crimes of violence and a broader range of
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forensic services. In addition, 2000 and 2001 funds were used for Crossing
Guard safety equipment, a registry to identify persons with cognitive memory
problems who wander away from their residential care facilities, and two Police
Youth Services Division vehicles to transport children.
Discussion
Staff recommends that Council hear from the public, deliberate and designate
$51,337 of the 2002 award for the continuation of the DNA Evidence Testing
Project. Continued access to advanced forensic services will enhance the ability
of the Police Department to investigate and solve serious crimes.
Staff recommends designating $316,986, comprised of the remaining 2002
LLEBG grant funds, unspent 2000 and 2001 funds plus earned interest, and the
required local matching funds, toward the cost to replace the City?s aging
Emergency 9-1-1 System. An itemized table is provided in the Budget/Financial
section.
The two-year federal obligation periods for our 2000 and 2001 LLEBG grant
awards will expire on November 30, 2002 and August 5, 2003, respectively.
Currently unspent grant funds must be used for an eligible public safety project
prior to those dates or be returned to the U.S. Department of Justice. The
Emergency 9-1-1 System is an eligible and timely use of the LLEBG funds.
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Santa Monica?s Emergency 9-1-1 System is more than five years old and does
not include improvements that have been developed in the last few years. Under
former State guidelines, system age alone would have qualified Santa Monica for
a State-financed replacement of all eleven of the existing Emergency 9-1-1
System workstations. Although the State has agreed to provide funding to
replace Santa Monica?s 9-1-1 System equipment, current State guidelines do not
provide enough State funds to replace all eleven workstations. Instead, the State
will contribute a fixed dollar amount, projected to be $350,000, toward the cost of
our new system.
The projected State contribution falls $450,000 short of the amount needed to
replace the existing equipment and ensure sufficient capacity for joint Police-Fire
dispatch operations, which are scheduled to commence in early 2003. The
$316,986 in combined LLEBG funds, local match and interest replaces a
substantial portion of the shortfall, and will be used to equip the remaining four
replacement dispatch workstations. This number will ensure that Police and Fire
continue to operate at their current service levels. Any cost savings will be
applied toward replacement of other Emergency 9-1-1 system components, or to
purchase additional dispatch workstation equipment to ensure room for growth
and improvements in emergency preparedness.
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Budget/Financial Impact
The LLEBG grant provides 90% of the total cost of eligible projects. The grantee
must provide local matching funds equal to 10% of the total project cost. In the
case of the 2002 allocation, the total cost is $168,152 with $151,337 (90%)
financed by the LLEBG grant funds and $16,815 (10%) provided by the City.
Interest earned on federal LLEBG grant funds may also be used on eligible
projects, if the grantee provides additional local matching funds. Use of the
$13,155 of interest that has been earned on 2000 LLEBG grant funds through
March 31, 2002 will require the provision of an additional $1,461 in local match.
Use of the $7,134 of interest earned on 2001 LLEBG grant funds through March
31, 2002 will require $792 of additional local match. The total of $19,068 in
required local matching funds is available in the Police Department?s FY2002-
2003 Operating Budget, Office Supplies/Expenses account (#01304.522310).
The 2000 and 2001 grant awards and local matching funds were previously
appropriated and budgeted.
$51,337 of the 2002 LLEBG grant award and $5,704 of the local match will be
set aside for the DNA Evidence Testing project.
With Council approval, a total of $316,986 will be available from the combined
LLEBG sources to pay Emergency 9-1-1 System replacement costs as itemized
in the following table:
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Project TotalGrant FundsLocal Match
Appropriated
2000 Grant$33,333.00$30,000.00$3,333.00
2001 Grant$150,000.00$135,000.00$15,000.00
Unappropriated
2002 Grant $111,111.00$100,000.00$11,111.00
2000 Interest$14,616.00$13,155.00$1,461.00
2001 Interest$7,926.00$7,134.00$792.00
Total$316,986.00$285,289.00$31,697.00
The following FY2002-2003 budget changes will be necessary:
1. Establish Revenue Account #20304.403130 (LLEBG ? 2002) in the
amount of $151,337 to reflect receipt of the 2002 LLEBG grant funds;
2. Appropriate $100,000 of the 2002 LLEBG grant funds to Capital
Improvement Project Account #C20053703.589000 (Local Law
Enforcement Block Grant) for the Emergency 9-1-1 System, $51,337 of
the 2002 grant funds to Operating Account #20274.578830 for DNA
Evidence Testing; $13,155 of interest earned on the 2000 grant funds to
Capital Improvement Project Account #C20053701.589000 for the 9-1-1
System; and $7,134 of interest earned on the 2001 grant funds to Capital
Improvement Project Account #C20053702.589000 for the 9-1-1 System;
3. Transfer $19,068 in local matching funds from Police Department FY2002-
2003 General Fund Operating Budget Account #01304.522310 (Office
Supplies/Expenses) as follows: $11,111 to Capital Improvement Project
Account #C01053703.589000 (Local Law Enforcement Block Grant ?
Local Match) for the Emergency 9-1-1 System, $5,704 to Operating
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Account #01304.578830 for DNA Evidence Testing; $1,461 to Capital
Improvement Project Account #C01053701.589000 for the 9-1-1 System;
and $792 to Capital Improvement Project Account #C01053702.589000
for the 9-1-1 System.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council appropriate and designate uses of the
2002 Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) award and interest on 2000
and 2001 awards, re-designate uses of unexpended funds from prior year
awards, and approve the budget changes described above.
Prepared by: James T. Butts, Jr., Chief of Police
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