REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approve Budget Modification No. 7 to Appropriate FY 2015/16 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program Grant Funds Totaling $11,432 for Law Enforcement Equipment
Report
GRANT SUMMARY
City staff applied for, and on August 31, 2015 the City was awarded, grant funds in the amount of $11,432 to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance (OJP/BJA) via the Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program for the purchase of front line law enforcement equipment. The Grant Award documents are attached to this report (Attachment 1, Grant Award).
The Department of Justice has awarded annual JAG grants to Sunnyvale DPS since 1996. FY2015/16 is the fifth consecutive year in which JAG monies will be used to purchase equipment for front-line policing. In prior years, JAG funding was used to supplement personnel costs in the Traffic Unit. Realignment within DPS necessitated the requested change in use from personnel to equipment. OJP/BJA approved the change as a condition of accepting the grant funds.
The following equipment has been approved for purchase with grant funds (Attachment 2, Budget Narrative):
Item #1: Three Sage Guns
Three Sage Guns are being purchased for use by patrol officers and SWAT team members as an addition to three similar tactical weapons that are already in use. A Sage weapon is a "less lethal" weapon firing a 37mm "baton" generally at distances around 10-20 yards. It is designed to be used on extremities such as arms or legs, similar to a hand held wooden baton, and is effective in suppressing events or incidents where the use of lethal force is not an appropriate response. The model requested is the Over/Under Launcher, which is perfectly suited for use in patrol cars and SWAT operations. It is compact, it is more accurate and it delivers the round at peak efficiency. It can also be carried in the vehicle loaded and locked and ready to go with no preparation down time. The addition of three Sage Guns will expand the department’s capability for responding to riots and other events where officers face non-lethal combatants who are not complying with orders/directions.
Item #2: One K-9 Bite Suit
DPS currently employs four canine patrol officers who participate in ongoing in-house training, and monthly and quarterly training at the county level. The bite suit currently used for training is 10-15 years old and has had its arms replaced more than once. Purchase of the new bite suit will allow canine handlers to train without concern for injury resulting from failure of the training equipment.
Item #3: Five (5) First responder vests
The Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) is currently in need of equipment designed to carry necessary safety equipment in an ergonomically appropriate manner. Officers operating in the CNT environment are often faced with long operational periods in which they are required to carry negotiating and safety equipment on their person for extended periods of time. The load bearing first responder vests will enable them to carry all necessary equipment in a balanced and functional manner, thus allowing operators to work at maximum efficiency while sustaining operations over protracted time intervals.
Item #4: One (1) Master Crime Scene Barrier Kit
Acquisition of this kit will provide patrol with a means to maintain the privacy of families and victims who are injured or deceased, and will allow officers to secure and block off any scene, reducing the incidence of visual infringement by the public and media.
The Bureau of Special Operations, Division of Strategic Services will be responsible for management of the grant.
Granting Agency
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance (OJP/BJA)
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.1.5 Grants, Donations, Contributions and Sponsorships:
The City Manager may accept or reject donations, contributions and sponsorships, both solicited and unsolicited, of money, equipment and in-kind contributions to City Departments or the City in general up to $100,000, so long as they do not require a local match or obligate the City to ongoing expenses not already planned in the City’s Resource Allocation Plan. Donated funds will be expended for the specific purpose as agreed upon with the donor or for general purposes, as onetime supplements to the department’s operating budget. Donations of equipment will be considered based on program outcomes, department goals and needs, maintenance costs and replacement costs. The donor must be informed in writing if the equipment is not to be replaced.
The City Manager may apply for grants of any dollar amount, but shall notify the Council when grants are being pursued pursuant to Council Policy 7.1.1 (Fiscal -Long Range Goals and Financial Policies), B.4. (Grants and Intergovernmental Assistance). The City Manager may accept and appropriate grant funds up to $100,000 that do not require a local match or obligate the City to any ongoing expenses, through an administrative budget modification. Any grants of $100,000 or more, or that require a local match or obligate the City to ongoing expenses, shall require Council approval of a budget modification before funds can be expended by staff. The budget modification shall include the use to which the grant will be placed; the objectives or goals of the City that will be achieved through use of the grant; the local match required, if any, plus the source of the local match; any increased cost to be locally funded upon termination of the grant; and the ability of the City to administer the grant.
This grant does not meet all of the criteria to be administratively appropriated by the City Manager. Purchased equipment may require a future addition to the equipment replacement schedule, which would require a City Council decision at a later time. A budget modification is being requested to accept and appropriate this grant award. Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance (OJP/BJA) have external reporting requirements and fall under the federal single audit guidelines.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This activity does not require environmental review because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that it may have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
FISCAL IMPACT
Expenditures for this equipment are reimbursable up to a cumulative total of the $11,432 appropriation. This equipment is supplemental to similar equipment currently in use. The equipment will be included in the City’s Public Safety Equipment Replacement Schedule, and will impact the General Fund when due for replacement. Staff will seek grant funding to offset replacement costs.
Required Local Match
None
Funding Source
Grant Funds and General Fund resources.
Increased Cost to City Upon Grant Termination
Increased costs will occur when equipment is replaced. Staff will pursue grant funding to offset the cost.
Budget Modification No. 7 has been prepared to appropriate FY2015/16 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program funds in the amount of $11,432 for the purchase of frontline law enforcement equipment to a new project, FY 2015/16 JAG Grant.
Budget Modification No. 7
FY 2015/16
|
|
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
|
General Fund |
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
FY 15 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program Grant |
$0 |
$ 11,432 |
$ 11,432 |
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Expenditures |
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|
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New Project: FY2015/16 JAG Grant |
$0 |
$ 11,432 |
$ 11,432 |
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council Agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Senior Center, Community Center and Department of Public Safety; and by making the agenda and report available at the Sunnyvale Public Library, the Office of the City Clerk and on the City’s website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve Budget Modification No. 7 to appropriate Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs FY 15 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program Grant funds in the amount of $11,432 to a new project, FY2015/16 JAG Grant.
Prepared by: Elaine Ketell, Management Analyst
Reviewed by: Frank J. Grgurina, Director, Department of Public Safety
Reviewed by: Grace K. Leung, Director, Department of Finance
Reviewed by: Jane Chambers, Interim Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Grant Award
2. 2015 JAG Budget Narrative