HomeMy WebLinkAbout03 BLOCK GRANT LAW 03-19-01AGENDA RET'DRT
II
MEETING DATE-
MARCH 19, 2001
No. 03
TO'
WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER
FROM'
POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT' LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
·
SUMMARY:
The Omnibus Appropriations Act for fiscal year 1999 (Public Law 105-119)
authorizes the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to make funds
available to local government under the Local .Law Enforcement Block Grant
(LLEBG) Programs for reducing crime and improving public safety. The Police
Department proposes to upgrade technology with the purchase of digital camera
equipment. The Police Department proposes to use the 2000-2001 LLEGB
funds to purchase digital cameras, support equipment, and necessary
enhancements to computer storage of digital images.
RECOMMENDATION'
1. Open and close a Public Hearing.
.
Authorize usage of the funds as recommended by the Police Department.
FISCAL IMPACT'
Fiscal impact in the amount of $6169. The grant award in the amount of $55,524
does require a matching amount of $6169.
BACKGROUND'
For sometime the Police Department has been looking to enhance and upgrade
photographic documentation technology. In addition, Judge Donna Crandall of
the Orange County Superior Court has requested that police departments in the
county use digital camera technology as part of their domestic violence
investigations. Currently the Tustin Police Department has already begun to
convert to digital technology with the Optical Imaging and Live-Scan systems.
Digital cameras will further enhance this digital transformation and the
photographic systems currently in use, i.e. 35 mm format cameras and Polaroid
cameras.
Digital cameras will improve the quality of information in terms of photographic
investigations and evidence gathering. It will do so at'a reduced cost over the
current methods of photographic processing. The Police Department proposes
the purchase of approximately 45 digital cameras for use with the Patrol and
Investigation Units. In addition, equipment in the form of additional computers,
printers and supplies will be purchased for the necessary support of these
cameras.
The LLEBG grant for 1999-2001 in the amount of $50,481 has also been
earmarked for Digital technologies. These additional funds are needed to not
only purchase the digital cameras, but to purchase and enhance the necessary
computer software and image storage.
On March 1, 2001 a meeting of the Advisory Board as required by the grant was
held. The Advisory Board supported the purpose as outlined by the Police
Department for expenditure of the funds.
STEVE
Chief of Police