ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager and Chief of Police with a REQUEST for the Following:
A. APPROVE an INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT between the City of Peoria and the COUNTY OF PEORIA under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program FY2019 Local Solicitation, in the Amount of $62,801.00.
B. ADOPT an ORDINANCE Amending the City of Peoria 2019 REVISED ANNUAL BUDGET Relating to the Capital Fund to Recognize the Receipt of an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) and the Corresponding Expenditures, in the Amount of $62,801.00.
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BACKGROUND: In July, 2019, the City of Peoria received notification of available funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program in the amount of $62,801.00. 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 2019 funding will provide the City of Peoria $36,075.00 and the County of Peoria $26,726.00. 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 one GrayKey forensic mobile device unit with a 2-year license, which will allow investigators to obtain critical evidence from mobile devices such as cell phones which are password protected. The current technology is critically outdated, with functionality limitations that inhibit the Department’s ability to effectively collect digital evidence. With these FY2019 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 $62,801.00 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 $62,801.00 in Federal funds to improve critical criminal justice technologies throughout the Peoria jurisdiction, and improve investigative resources by equipping investigators with critical digital evidence gathering technology.
IMPACT IF DENIED: If denied, the City and County of Peoria will lose $62,801.00 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 current digital evidence gathering technology will impede the effective and timely investigation of crimes which occur in this jurisdiction where digital evidence is a key factor in solving such crimes.
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 2017 - 2032 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Financially Sound City
2. Grow Peoria
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