SR 12-12-2023 5K
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: December 12, 2023
Agenda Item: 5.K
1 of 3
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ramon Batista, Police Chief, Police Department
Subject: Authorization to Accept the 2023 Justice Assistance Grant for implementation
of the JAG Project to Impact Crime and Keep Neighborhoods Safe
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section
15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Authorize the City Manager to accept a grant award in the amount $55,117 from
the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Edward Byrne Memorial Justice
Assistance Grant for implementation of the JAG 2023 Project to Impact Crime
and Keep Neighborhoods Safe in the Police Department, and to accept all grant
renewals;
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to accept the
grant; and
4. Authorize budget changes as outlined in the Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
section of the report.
Summary
To reduce crime and keep neighborhoods safe, the Santa Monica Police Department
(SMPD) utilizes a variety of public safety and quality of life strategies, including the use
of focused operations that are supported by both sworn officers and civilian staff. To
prevent a reduction in routine service responses and to maintain the quality of regular
service, these supplemental crime impact operations are staffed using personnel on
overtime. To supplement funding for overtime costs to support these activities, the
Police Department has been awarded a grant in the amount of $55,117 under the 2023
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG), which is
administered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
5.K
Packet Pg. 369
2 of 3
Discussion
The JAG program is a formula grant that provides funding to support a range of
program areas including law enforcement. Formula allocations are awarded by the DOJ
to each State and then to local jurisdictions based on population and crime statistics.
Santa Monica has been an annual recipient of varying amounts of Justice Department
grant funds for the past thirteen years. Past projects supported by this funding have
included interoperable communications equipment, funding of overtime for crime control
operations, funding for certified crime lab services, and funding for DNA forensic testing.
The Santa Monica Police Department plans to leverage these funds for additional
overtime operations for special details. Without the additional JAG funds, the
opportunity to run focused operations targeting specific issues and concerns is reduced.
SMPD would use the funds to plan crime control operations that specifically target
priority crimes and public safety issues and quickly respond to unplanned neighborhood
crime and public safety concerns. These strategies meet unfunded needs and will
serve to improve quality of life by reducing area crime and social disorder.
Environmental Review
The acceptance of the grant and use of grant funding is categorically exempt from
CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines. The grant is covered
by the commonsense exemption which states that CEQA does not apply, “where it can
be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a
significant effect on the environment.” The grant will support the Police Department
operations and functions, providing funding for overtime costs. Therefore, it can be seen
with certainty that the proposed modification would not result in adverse physical
impacts on the environment, and as such, is categorically exempt from CEQA.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
4/11/23 (attachment A) Fiscal Year 2022-23 Midyear Budget - Authorize City
Manager to Accept a JAG 2022 Grant Award.
5.K
Packet Pg. 370
3 of 3
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to accept a grant from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice
Assistance Grant Program (JAG), which is administered by the U.S. Department of
Justice.
FY 2023-24 Grant Budget Changes
Establish Revenue Budget Appropriate Funds
Account Number(s) Amount Account Number(s) Amount
20180001.40426G $55,117 20180001.55547G $55,117
Total $55,117 Total $55,117
If renewals are awarded, budget changes will be included in subsequent year budgets,
contingent on Council budget approval.
Prepared By: Jose Arroyo, Senior Administrative Analyst
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. April 11, 2023 - Staff Report (Web Link)
5.K
Packet Pg. 371