ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager and Police Chief with a Request for the following:
A. APPROVE and Authorization the City Manager to Execute an INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT Between the City of Peoria and the COUNTY OF PEORIA under the EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) Program FY2017 Local Solicitation, in the Amount of $62,593.00.
B. ADOPT an ORDINANCE Amending the City of Peoria 2017 AMENDED ANNUAL BUDGET Relating to the Capital Fund to Recognize the Receipt of a Federal Grant Under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) and the Corresponding Expenditures, in the Amount of $62,593.00.
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BACKGROUND: On August 3, 2017, the City of Peoria received notification of available funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program in the amount of $62,593.00. This JAG Program allows states and units of government the opportunity to improve services through a range of activities aimed at preventing and controlling crime and improving the law enforcement component of the criminal justice system. The funding is an entitlement based on a Federal legislative formula using population, crime statistics and law enforcement expenditure data. The jurisdiction of Peoria has been certified by the Department of Justice as a “zero-county” disparate jurisdiction and therefore must submit a joint application for the aggregate funds allotted to them. A disparate jurisdiction occurs when a City is eligible for a “direct award” and the County is not, yet the County is responsible for providing criminal justice service such as prosecution and incarceration. The application must show how the monies will be spent by each unit and how the finances will be tracked and reported to the Federal Government. An Intergovernmental Agreement between the City and County of Peoria must be completed and submitted. The Peoria Police Department on behalf of the City of Peoria and the County of Peoria completed the application by the proscribed Department of Justice deadline. As in past years, the allotted amount will be shared by the City and County of Peoria per a long-standing mutual agreement based on the operational costs of prosecution and incarceration. The JAG 2017 funding will provide the City of Peoria $36,303.90.00 and the County of Peoria $26,289.06. There is no matching of funds required for this award. The Peoria Police Department is seeking approval for the use of its share of the funds to purchase updated hostage negotiator equipment which will be used to bring hostage and barricade situations to safe resolution. The equipment currently in use is 15 years old and will no longer be serviced if there is a malfunction. The equipment does not function within a building with cinder block interior walls, and the connection frequently disconnects during incidents, thus limiting the ability of law enforcement to take necessary action. The Peoria Police Department will also use these funds to renovate the Community Training Room, a space that is frequently used for community meetings, training sessions, and planning sessions. Community access to this room provides opportunities for transparency, partnership and builds community relations. The current equipment is from 1994 when the building was built and is becoming obsolete. With these FY2017 JAG monies each jurisdiction will have ability to replace obsolete and compromised equipment as well as increase the effectiveness of law enforcement responses and strengthen community trust.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The disparate jurisdictions of the City and County of Peoria will receive $62,593.00 for the improvement and updating of necessary law enforcement equipment. The use of grant funds for these initiatives frees up limited local dollars for other uses.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: There are no neighborhood concerns identified at this time
IMPACT IF APPROVED: The City and County of Peoria will receive $62,593.00 in Federal funds to improve critical criminal justice technologies throughout the Peoria jurisdiction, and improve community-police relations by improving the public meeting space.
IMPACT IF DENIED: If denied, the City and County of Peoria will lose $62,593.00 of law enforcement entitlement monies from the U.S. Department of Justice. Such a loss may result in the denial and/or decrease of entitlement funds in future fiscal years. Further, if denied the weaknesses of the antiquated hostage negotiator equipment will impede the effective and timely resolution of barricaded/hostage situations.
ALTERNATIVES: There are no alternatives identified at this time.
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: Not applicable for this request.
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2016 - 2029 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Financially Sound City Government, Effective City Organization
2. Grow Peoria: Businesses, Jobs, and Population
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Reduce crime.
2. Support sustainability.
3. Have an efficient government.
DEPARTMENT: Police