ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and Chief of Police with a Request for the Following:
A. ACCEPT the FY2021 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG), from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) of the Department of Justice (DOJ), in the Amount of $76,319.00; and
B. ADOPT an ORDINANCE Amending the City of Peoria 2020-2021 BIENNIAL BUDGET, Relating to the General Fund, to Recognize the Receipt of Grant Funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Providing the FY2021 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG), in the Amount of $76,319.00; and
C. APPROVE and Authorize the City Manager to Execute an INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT Between the City of Peoria and the County of Peoria, under the FY2021 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG), in the Amount of $76,319.00; and
D. APPROVE a Two-Year AGREEMENT with FLOCK SAFETY, for the Purchase and Installation of 16 Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) Cameras, in the Amount of $109,000.00; and
E. APPROVE a SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE of the First Year’s Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) Camera Subscription Costs and Installation Fees, from FLOCK SAFETY, in the Amount of $44,000.00, with FY2021 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) Funds; and
F. APPROVE a SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE of the Second Year’s Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) Camera Subscription Costs, from FLOCK SAFETY, in the Amount of $40,000.00, from the Police Camera Fund.
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BACKGROUND: In August 2021, the City of Peoria received notification of available funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program in the amount of $76,319.00. 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 2021 funding will provide the City of Peoria $44,265.00 and the County of Peoria $32,054.00. 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 Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) Technology for the Police Department from Flock Safety. The City will implement 16 ALPR Cameras in areas prone to violence. These cameras cost $2,500 per year per camera, with a $250 one-time installation fee per camera and are fully maintained by Flock Safety. In addition, the City will receive a (1) One Year free trial of 1 Square Mile Coverage of Flock Safety’s Gunshot Detection - Raven. Should the City decide to keep the Raven Gunshot detection into the Second Year, a separate request will be made to purchase the additional 1 Year coverage of 1 Square Mile for $25,000 (reflected in the attached contract but not up for request for purchase at this time). With this technology, the Police Department will be able to place ALPR Cameras in high crime or hotspot areas, as well as data sharing via the software platform between dozens of agencies in Illinois. With these FY2021 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 $76,319.00 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.
The City will utilize $42,392.00 of Federal Funding from the FY2021 JAG AWARD and $1,063.00 of Capital Funds to pay for the First Year’s ALPR Contract Costs. The Police 2022 Camera Fund will be used to pay for the Second Year’s Cost of $40,000. A separate Council Communication will be drafted should the City decide to continue the 1 Square Mile of Raven Gunshot Detection coverage from Flock Safety at a cost of $25,000 into the Second Year following the expiration of the First Year’s trial period.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: There are no neighborhood concerns identified at this time
IMPACT IF APPROVED: The City and County of Peoria will receive $76,319.00 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. The City of Peoria will implement 16 ALPR Cameras in areas prone to violence in order to give it’s Police Department an additional investigative tool.
IMPACT IF DENIED: If denied, the City and County of Peoria will lose $76,319.00 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 City of Peoria Police Department investigators would lose out on critical evidence gathering and data sharing technology.
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