Title
Ordinance in the Amount of $217,853 amending the State, Federal and Other Grants Fund Budget for the Appropriation of Federal Grant Funds for Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program Allotment FY 2014
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Department: Police
Council District: Citywide
Public Hearing: 6/3/2014
Advertising Date/By: NA
Contact 1 and Phone: Captain BL James, 433-7380
Contact 2 and Phone: Stephanie Moore, 373-2352
PURPOSE:
Collectively, the City of Greensboro, City of High Point and Guilford County have been awarded Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program FY 2014 funding totaling $217,853. This is a disparate allocation and will be assigned as follows: the City of Greensboro $116,639; City of High Point $45,783; and Guilford County $55,431. The Greensboro Police Department will serve as the lead/fiscal agency for the FY 14 JAG for the award period of October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2017.
The grant will be approved by the Budget and Evaluation Director and Assistant City Manager Wesley Reid in accordance with the City Grants Policy. In accordance with current City fiscal procedures to accept this grant, approval of a budget ordinance is also required by City Council.
BACKGROUND:
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program awards are authorized by 42 U.S.C. ยง 3751(a). They are formula-based, non-competitive federal criminal justice funds which do not require a match. JAG allocations are based on violent crime and population and the local unit of government award allocations are based on their proportion of the state's 3-year violent crime average.
The Greensboro Police Department will use their funding of $116,639 for first year costs of a GeoTab Fleet Management Project. GeoTab, a GPS plug and play vehicle monitoring device, will allow the Police Department and Fleet Services to monitor the activity of the Officer / Employees' driving behavior as well as keeping a more accurate record of maintenance schedules. This will reduce wear and tear on vehicles as well as crashes. This will ultimately reduce maintenance cost as well as officer / citizen injuries and liability. The High Point Police Department will use their funding of $45,783 for technology upgrades. High Point PD proposes the purchase of a) two high definition television, interactive whiteboard, projector and two desktop computers are requested to upgrade the Department's training room and conference room; b) upgrade the Crime Analysts computer with GIS mapping and other analytical needs; c) a forensic optical comparator and replacements of barrier filter glasses for the crime lab; d) ARAS 360 HD software and eleven small cameras to assist with traffic investigations; and e) 4 TB external hard drive to upgrade the interview room. The Guilford County Sheriff's Department will use their allocation of $55,431 for two outfitted unmarked vehicles to be deployed in two of the county's districts.
BUDGET IMPACT:
This is a reimbursable grant; no match required. The funds will be housed in grant account #220-3537-01. Any expenses exceeding the JAG funding will be absorbed by each agency's budget. Expense reimbursement requests will be processed quarterly and dispersed to the partnering agencies upon receipt of funds by the City of Greensboro from the Office of Justice Programs.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
The Greensboro Chief of Police requests City Council's consideration to adopt the associated budget ordinance for the Appropriation of Federal Grant Funds for Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program Allotment FY 2014in the amount of $217,853, the total grant amount to be distributed to the three law enforcement agencies on a reimbursement basis.