SR 09-23-2014 3GCity Council Meeting: September 23, 2014
Agenda Item: 3 —G
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Jacqueline Seabrooks, Chief of Police
Subject: 2014 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to accept a grant awarded in the amount of $31,585
from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Edward Byrne Memorial Justice
Assistance Grant for interoperable communications equipment.
2. Authorize budget changes as outlined in the Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
section of this report.
Executive Summary
The City of Santa Monica Police Department has been awarded a grant of $31,585
under the 2014 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, which is administered by the
U.S. Department of Justice. Funds must be utilized by the end of the grant period,
September 30, 2017. No local match is required.
The Police Department's approved project allows funds to be used. on costs associated
with interoperable communications equipment. This technology and communications
equipment is necessary to support interagency coordination and communication,
thereby enhancing public safety services.
Background
The JAG program is a formula grant that provides critical funding necessary to support
a range of program areas including law enforcement; prosecution and courts;
prevention and education; corrections and community corrections; drug treatment;
planning, evaluation, and technology improvement; and crime victim and witness
programs. Formula allocations are awarded by the DOJ to states and then local
jurisdictions based on Part I violent crime statistics. The 2014 JAG program provides
the City of Santa Monica with a direct allocation determined by population and Part I
violent crime statistics. Santa Monica has been the recipient of JAG grant funds
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annually for the past ten years. Past projects have included funding for overtime for
police department participation in anti -crime control operations; funding for certified
crime lab services; and funding for DNA forensic testing.
Discussion
In 2014 the grant funds would pay for interoperable radio communications equipment.
The radio equipment purchased through this grant would meet all of the grant
requirements for interoperable communications and would be a critical component for
effective interagency deployment during large -scale events and incidents.
To meet the grant conditions, the applicant must provide a 30 -day period for public
comment on the proposed use of the funds. The City of Santa Monica met this
condition by issuing a public service announcement from June 7, 2014 through July 6,
2014. The announcement was posted on the Police Department website. No responses
were received in opposition to the use of the JAG Program funds.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
Award of a $31,585 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice for interoperable
communications equipment requires the following FY 2014 -15 budget changes:
1. Establish revenue budget at account 20304.403636 in the amount of $31,585.
2. Appropriate the following expenditures to reflect receipt of the U.S. Department
of Justice Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant: $31,585 at account
20304.578842.
Prepared by: Nicole Dibling- Moore, Senior Administrative Analyst
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
Jac , eline Seabrook &p - Rod-Gould
Chief of Police City Manager
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