SR-701-006 (15)
PD:JTB:MM:f:\police\share\staffrpt\llebg2004
Council Meeting: July 27, 2004 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Appropriation and Uses of the 2004 Local Law Enforcement Block
Grants Award and Earned Interest on Prior Year Awards
Introduction
This report recommends that the City Council appropriate and designate uses of
the 2004 Local Law Enforcement Block Grants (LLEBG) award and interest
earned on the 2002 and 2003 awards.
Background
The City of Santa Monica is eligible to receive $50,121 of the Federal 2004
LLEBG appropriation ??to reduce crime and improve public safety.? A local
match equal to 10% of the total project cost is required. The grantee has two
years from the date of the award to spend the funds, and any interest earned, on
eligible uses. The grant requires public discussion of the proposed use of the
funds.
Discussion
Staff recommends that Council designate $26,846, comprised of $24,161 in 2004
LLEBG grant award funds and $2,685 in local matching funds, for purchase of
eight (8) Viking Pro 1000 dry suits for the Police Harbor Unit dive team. The dry
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suits are needed to protect the dive team from bacterial contaminants in the
waters of the Santa Monica Bay that cause a variety of respiratory, digestive and
skin diseases. The dive team spends extensive hours in the water to carry out
security checks and periodic inspection and maintenance on the pier pilings and
fourteen breakwater buoys. In an emergency, the dive team must enter the
water even if water pollution advisories are in effect. Fiscal constraints prevent
paying for the suits from the City Risk Management Division budget normally set
aside for employee injury mitigation equipment.
For the past four years, Council has designated a portion of each LLEBG
allocation to pay for DNA and advanced forensic services in the investigation of
violent crimes. The grant funding has given investigators an important
evidentiary tool to solve major crimes that is too costly to pay from the Police
Department operating budget. Without additional funding, the project will end
when the 2003 LLEBG grant period expires on October 29, 2005. Staff
recommends that Council designate $28,844, comprised of the remaining
$25,960 in 2004 LLEBG grant funds and the 10% local match of $2,884, to
continue the DNA and advanced forensic evidence project through the end of the
2004 grant period.
Interest earned on federal LLEBG grant funds may also be used on eligible
projects, if the grantee provides the requisite 10% local matching funds. Interest
earned, but not yet appropriated, is $1,616 for the 2002 LLEBG award and
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$1,391 for the 2003 LLEBG award. It is recommended that the earned interest
and the 10% local match be designated for the DNA and advanced forensic
evidence project.
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. For the
2004 allocation, the total project cost is $55,690 with $50,121 (90%) provided by
the LLEBG grant and $5,569 (10%) provided by the City. Appropriation of
interest on the two prior year awards will require the City to provide an additional
$334 in local matching funds. The matching funds are available in the Police
Department?s FY2004-2005 Operating Budget Account #01304.544010 (Special
Department Supplies).
The following FY2004-2005 budget changes will be necessary:
1) Establish Revenue Account #20304.406780 (LLEBG ? 2004) to record receipt
of $50,121 in 2004 LLEBG grant award funds;
2) Appropriate $50,121 in Capital Improvement Project Account
#C20053705.589000;
3) Appropriate $1,616 interest earned on the 2002 award to Capital
Improvement Project Account #C20053703.589000, and $1,391 interest
earned on the 2003 award to Capital Improvement Project Account
#C20053704.589000;
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4) Transfer local matching funds from Police Department FY2004-05 General
Fund Operating Budget Account #01304.544010 (Special Department
Supplies), as follows:
a) $5,569 to Capital Improvement Project Account #C01053705.589000 for
the 2004 LLEBG award match;
b) $179 to Capital Improvement Project Account #C01053703.589000 for the
2002 LLEBG interest match;
c) $155 to Capital Improvement Project Account #C01053704.589000 for the
2003 LLEBG interest match.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council hear from the public, appropriate and
designate uses of the 2004 Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) award
and interest on the 2002 and 2003 awards, and approve the budget changes
described above.
Prepared by: James T. Butts, Jr., Chief of Police
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