sr-081109-1mCity Council Meeting: August 11, 2009
Agenda Item: e - M
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Timothy J. Jackman, Chief of Police
Subject: Recovery Act Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Grant MOU
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council:
1) authorize the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the
City of Los Angeles, which will allow the City of Santa Monica to accept grant
funding from the Department of Justice for the amount of $ 248,354.25.
Executive Summary
On March 1, 2009 $275,949.15 was allocated to the City of Santa Monica Police
Department as a part of the Recovery Act Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program
Award. According to Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs', Bureau of
Justice Assistance's guidelines, this grant is a disparate allocation which requires one
agency with in the jurisdiction to be the grant administrator for all other jurisdictions.
Los Angeles has been selected to be the grant administrator for the jurisdiction,
including the City of Santa Monica, and this MOU authorizes that this action take place.
For grant administration fees the City of Los Angeles will receive 10% ($27,594.92) of
the original grant allocation, leaving the City of Santa Monica with 90% ($248,354.24) of
the original allocation.
Background
To ensure that crime is controlled and public safety is maintained during difficult
economic times the federal government designated grant funding to the Department of
Justice for use in specified law enforcement operations, supplies, expenses and so on.
The Recovery Act allocated grant funds for 77 cities with in the jurisdiction based off of
1
historic crime statistics and city demographics. The City of Santa Monica was allocated
$275,949.15. Additionally, federal guidelines require that one city with in the jurisdiction
be designated the grant administrator and is therefore eligible for administration fees.
The City of Los Angeles has been designated the administrator for our jurisdiction and
has been allocated 10% fees, therefore the total funds eligible for the City of Santa
Monica are $248,354.24.
Discussion
Due to the economic hardships faced in the past and current fiscal year, the Police
Department has implemented cost saving approaches; however, these measures have
facilitated a reduction in services to some extent. The funds from this grant will allow the
Santa Monica Police Department to cover additional costs from overtime deployments
needed during peak seasons. The funds will facilitate a precision approach to extra
staffing during deployment cycles which will enhance public safety and services to the
City.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The Recovery Act JAG program pays 100% of eligible project costs. No local match is
required. Approving this MOU does not require that the City of Santa Monica accept the
grant funds.
Prepared by:
Kevin McGowan, Assistant to the Chief of Police
Forwarded to Council:
2
Approved:
Reference Contract No.
9102 (CCS).