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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 2009 JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) 07-21-09Agenda Item 1 AGENDA REPORT Reviewed: City Manager Finance Director MEETING DATE: JULY 21, 2009 TO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER FROM: SCOTT M. JORDAN, CHIEF OF POLICE SUBJECT: 2009 JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) SUMMARY: Congress established the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program in the 2005 Omnibus Appropriations Package. The JAG program blends the previous Edward Byrne Formula Grant (Byrne) and the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) programs into one program, which is intended to provide agencies with the flexibility to prioritize and place justice funds where they are most needed. The Police Department proposes to use the 2009 JAG funds to provide supplemental funding to the Proactive Methamphetamine Task Force (PROACT) and to purchase digital camera equipment. RECOMMENDATION: Open and close a Public Hearing. 2. Authorize usage of the funds as recommended by the Police Department. 3. Authorize reimbursement from the County of Orange to the City of Tustin for the purchase of digital camera equipment, and authorize the Chief of Police to sign any grant related paperwork on behalf of the City. FISCAL IMPACT: The grant award is in the amount of $20,049. After a 10% PROACT contribution and a 9% administration fee, the City of Tustin will retain $16,240. The County of Orange will serve as the applicant/fiscal agent for the Justice Assistance Grant funds and will reimburse the City of Tustin the full amount of the city portion of the grant award upon verification that the funds have been spent in accordance with grant procedures. Page 2 BACKGROUND: This JAG grant funding represents the second round of funding presented to Council for spending consideration this year. In April, Council approved round one which was directly related to Recovery Act Stimulus funding. We are now presented with additional JAG funding and request approval to distribute this funding in the following manner: In the late 1990's the Proactive Methamphetamine Task Force (PROACT) was formed and is comprised of personnel from several municipal police agencies, agents from the State Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, the Orange County Sheriff's Department, the Orange County Probation Department and the Orange County District Attorney's Office. This task force was funded by the Byrne grant funds and allowed for reimbursement of an officer's time, equipment and the clean-up of methamphetamine labs. These labs have extremely hazardous materials and require special handling not only for clean-up, but for prosecution of those responsible for operating the lab. Orange County Police Chiefs have agreed that the continued operation of the PROACT task force is a high priority that benefits all Orange County cities. The majority of Orange County cities that are receiving this round of JAG grant funding are designating 10% of their funding for the PROACT task force. For Tustin, this represents a commitment of $2,005 of the total JAG funds available. This is a worthwhile expenditure to insure that methamphetamine labs in Orange County continue to be investigated and cleaned up at minimal costs to each city. The Police Department supports the commitment of these funds to the PROACT task force. After application of a 9% Administrative Fee totaling $1,804, the Police Department recommends the balance of the funds in the amount of $16,240 be used to purchase six high resolution digital cameras and upgraded accessories (lenses, lighting, etc.) to allow for evidentiary photographs of crime scenes to be enlarged for prosecution purposes without losing evidentiary integrity. It is the intention of the Police Department to issue these cameras to the Crime Scene Investigation unit to eliminate the need in most circumstances for patrol officers to devote any time to photography, thus freeing them up for proactive enforcement purposes more quickly from any given crime scene. SCOTT M. JO AN Chief of Polic .) - l~'1'~1 CHRISTINE SCHWA Support Services Division Manager OFFICIAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given that the City Council, of the City of Tustin, will conduct a public hearing on July 7, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 300 Centennial Way, Tustin, California to consider the following: THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S USE OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) FUNDS TO SUPPLEMENT THE PROACTIVE METHAMPHETAMINE TASK FORCE (PROACT) AND THE PURCHASE OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT. This grant will be used to supplement the Orange County Proactive Methamphetamine Task Force (PROACT) operations. PROACT investigates and conducts the necessary clean up of clandestine methamphetamine laboratories throughout Orange County. The grant will also be used to purchase high resolution cameras for crime scene investigation photography. If you challenge the subject items in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at a public hearing described in the notice or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Tustin at, or prior to, the Public Hearing. If you require special accommodations to attend this meeting, please contact the City Clerk at (714) 573-3025. Information relative to this item is on file with the Tustin Police Department and is available for public inspection at City Hall. Anyone interested in the information above may call the Police Department at (714) 573-3046. Pamela Stoker City Clerk publish: Tustin News 2009 JAG Expenditure Form City: The City of Tustin proposes to use the 2009 Justice Assistance Grant funding as follows: Project Objectives The City of Tustin Police Department intends to utilize JAG funding to purchase Crime Scene Investigation quality digital cameras for the Crime Scene Investigation Unit. Crime scene photographs, which are routinely enlarged for trial purposes, lose a great deal of clarity and create the need for the purchase of high resolution equipment. Goals of the project: Equip the Crime Scene Investigation Unit with high resolution digital camera equipment to enhance the quality of crime scene photos when enlarged for court purposes. Strategies to be used for project: Purchase six high resolution camera kits to be utilized for crime scene photos. Utilize Crime Scene Investigation Unit for majority of photographic responsibilities rather than patrol officers who are not equipped with high resolution cameras. Ouantijiable Performance Measures: Produce photographic evidence that maintains clarity when enlarged for court. Increased patrol availability by eliminating case photography by patrol officers whenever possible. Timeline andfor project plan: Purchase will proceed immediately upon approval of funding; project plan will begin upon receipt of equipment. Objectives and goals will be measured by quality of photographic court evidence when enlarged and increased patrol officer availability by eliminating responsibility for routine photography from patrol unit. Funding: Total Allocation: $20,049 PROACT Contribution: (10%) $2,005 Administrative Fee (9%): $1,804 Funds Retained byCity/County: $16,240 Signature of Aut rized Recipient Official Date 1 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Memorandum of Understanding We, the Orange County Executive Officer and the city managers of the cities that are eligible to receive the 2009 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funding in Orange County, or their designees, do hereby indicate our understanding that the County of Orange will serve as the applicant/fiscal agent for the 2009 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funds for which our agencies maybe eligible. Print Name and Title Signature Orange County - $25,601 Print Name and Title Signature Anaheim City - $175,929 Print Name and Title Signature Buena Park City - $34,584 Print Name and Title Signature Costa Mesa City - $33,543 Print Name and Title Signature Fountain Valley City - $10,757 JAG Memorandum of Understanding (continued) Print Name and Title Signature Fullerton City - $51,125 Print Name and Title Signature Garden Grove City - $80,388 Print Name and Title Signature Huntington Beach City - $48,156 Print Name and Title Signature Irvine City - $16,193 Print Name and Title La Habra City - $22,401 Signature Print Name and Title Lake Forest City - $11,991 Signature Print Name and Title Mission Viejo City - $10,102 Signature JAG Memorandum of Understanding (continued) Print Name and Title Signature Newport Beach City - $16,348 Print Name and Title Signature Orange City - $30,420 Print Name and Title Signature Placentia City - $12,299 Print Name and Title Signature Santa Ana City - $223,236 Print Name and Title Stanton City - $18,005 Print Name and Title Tustin City - $20,049 Signature Print Name and Title Signature Westminster City - $39,327