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7.A.

City Council Meeting - FINAL

Meeting Date:: 09/18/2018
Co-Submitter:: Stacey Brechler-Knaggs
From:: Jennifer Brown, Special Services Manager

Information

TITLE:

Consideration and Approval of Grant Application: U.S. Department of Justice, 2018 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $21,353.00.

STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Approve the submission of a Grant Application and authorize acceptance upon award for the U.S. Department of Justice, 2018 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) for the amount of $21,353.00; grant funding will be used to pay for Flagstaff Police officer overtime and for the Coconino County Sheriff's Office to purchase three (3) satellite phones with prepaid service for the Search and Rescue Division.

Executive Summary:

Approval of the grant in the amount of $21,353.00 will greatly assist in providing overtime funds to the Flagstaff Police Department for community policing and property crime interdiction initiatives. The Coconino County Sheriff's Office will utilize funds to purchase three (3) satellite phones with prepaid service for the Search and Rescue Division.

Financial Impact:

There is no significant financial impact to the City of Flagstaff in terms of expenditures. The grant is in the amount of $21,353.00 and is budgeted in FY 2019, utilizing account number 001-04-062-6101-2.

Policy Impact:

This grant will allow us to provide additional funding to assist Flagstaff Police Department in meeting the communities expectations in regards to our community policing efforts.

Connection to Council Goal, Regional Plan and/or Team Flagstaff Strategic Plan:

Flagstaff Regional Plan Policy PF.3.1. Maintain high-quality effectiveness and efficiency in law enforcement, fire, and emergency services to the extent that is consistent with governmental operations, plans, public policies, population served, and monies available.

Has There Been Previous Council Decision on This:

Yes, Council approved and accepted the Fiscal Year 2018 JAG grant application.

Options and Alternatives:

1.) Approve grant application process and acceptance upon award.
2.) Disapprove grant application process.

Background and History:

The U.S Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), was created in 1984 to provide federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist crime victims. The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program allows states, tribes, and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own local needs and conditions. JAG blends the previous Byrne Formula and Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) Programs to provide agencies with the flexibility to prioritize and spend funds where they are most needed. The formula calculates direct allocations for local governments within each state, based on their share of the total violent crime reported with the state.

Key Considerations:

The JAG formula program provides agencies with the flexibility to prioritize and place justice funds where they are needed most. The formula calculates direct allocations for local governments within each state, based on their share of the total violent crime reported with the state. The City has been certified as disparate and must submit a joint application for the aggregate of funds allocated. The JAG disparate jurisdictions are certified by the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), based in part on input from the state's Attorney General. The disparate allocation occurs when the City is scheduled to received one and one half times more funding than the County, while the County bears more than 50% of the costs of prosecution of incarceration that arise for Part 1 violent crimes committed in the city. City funds will be used to supplement overtime for community policing and property crime interdiction initiatives. As our citizens request additional patrols or when we identify an area which would benefit from additional police presence, these funds will be beneficial in assuring we can provide these necessary services. As part of the joint application process an IGA is required to be submitted to the funding agency indicating who will serve as applicant/fiscal agent for the joint funds. The IGA will authorize payment to the County in the amount of $6,406.00 for the JAG funding upon successful award.

Community Benefits and Considerations:

Financial Implications: The 2018 JAG funds have been allocated in the amount of $21,353.00 of which the City agrees to pay the County a total of $6,406.00 to be utilized for the purchase of three (3) satellite phones with prepaid service to assist with the Search and Rescue operations. The City amount of $13,591.00 will be used for police overtime, with the remaining balance of $1,356.00 to be used for allowable administrative costs for the City as the applicant/fiscal agent. This grant will fund approximately 226 hours of discretionary overtime for officers. The financial impact of these funds cannot be minimized. Without these additional funds, the Flagstaff Police Department will be hard pressed to meet proactive community policing demands without going over budget on overtime.

Community Involvement:

These funds will assist the Flagstaff Police Department and the Coconino County Sheriff's Office to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist crime victims.

Expanded Options and Alternatives:

Empower: The law-abiding citizens of our community deserve and expect our streets and neighborhoods to be places where they feel safe. The numerous letters, comments and accolades the Flagstaff Police Department receives from citizens reinforce the need for these beneficial programs.

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