SR-092507-1F~~
~,~Yof City Council Report
Santa Monica®
City Council Meeting: September 25, 2007
Agenda Item: ~ _ ~
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Timothy J. Jackman, Chief of Police
Subject: Appropriation and Uses of the 2007 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice
Assistance Grant
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council appropriate the $58,993 award under the 2007
Justice Assistance Grant program, designate use of the fund for the DNA/Advanced
Forensic Evidence project and approve the budgeYchanges
Executive Summary
The City is eligible to receive a grant award of $58,993 under the 2007 Justice
Assistance Grant program, administered by the U.S. Department of Justice. To qualify,
the proposal must fall within one of seven defined purpose areas: Law enforcement,
prosecution, prevention, corrections, drug treatment, planning and technology, or as a
qualified project under the former Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program. Funds
are received in the first year of afour-year grant period. No local match is required.
Discussion
In 2005 and 2006, Council authorized the Police Department to apply funds awarded
under the JAG program to the "DNA/Advanced Forensic Evidence" project. The project
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pays costs for certified crime labs to analyze and report findings on DNA and other
forensic evidence collected in major crimes. The grant funding has given the Police
Department a potent investigative tool that is too costly to pay from the operating
budget. Among the crimes solved in 2006 through DNA analysis are five of Santa
Monica's most troubling cold case homicides. The addition of $58,993 from the 2007
JAG award will ensure continued access to the lab services through December 2010.
As a condition, the applicant must provide a 30-day period of public comment on the
proposed use of the funds. Santa Monica met this condition by issuing a public service
announcement from June 27 through July 27, 2007. The announcement was posted on
the City and Police Department websites, public bulletin boards in City Hall and the
Public Safety Facility and e-mail distribution of a Police Department community bulletin.
One response was received in support of the proposed grant project. No responses
were received in opposition to the project.
Budget/Financial Impact
The JAG program pays 100% of eligible project costs. No local match is required. The
following FY2007-2008 budget changes will be necessary:
1. Establish a revenue budget in the amount' of $58,993 at account number
20304.403627.
2. Appropriate the grant funds to 20307.578833
Prepared by:
Marla McCullough
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Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
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