Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/02/2009, C4 - FY 2009 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION council M.4i, 6/2/09 j acEnaa izEpont °®N..h C I T Y OF SAN LU IS O B I S P O FROM: Deborah Linden, Chief of Police Prepared By: Melissa Ellsworth,Senior Administrative Analyst SUBJECT: FY 2009 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION RECOMMENDATION 1. Authorize staff to submit an application for a 2009 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of$19,201 to purchase handheld computer tablets for traffic enforcement and collision reporting. 2. If grant is awarded, authorize the City Manager to execute necessary grant documents. DISCUSSION Grant Program Information The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to the state and local jurisdictions. JAG funds support all components of the criminal justice system, from multijurisdictional drug and gang task forces to crime prevention and domestic violence programs, courts, corrections, treatment, and justice information sharing initiatives. JAG funds may be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and criminal justice information systems for any of the following purpose areas: 1. Law enforcement programs. 2. Prosecution and court programs. 3. Prevention and education programs. 4. Corrections and community corrections programs. 5. Drug treatment and enforcement programs. 6. Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs. 7. Crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation). On April 7, 2009, Council authorized staff to apply for a under the same Federal JAG program in the amount of $78,925, which was made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (stimulus package). Council authorized staff to apply for the grant to fund a half time Records Clerk position for two years. This application has been submitted. Staff was notified via email on May 28, 2009, that additional grant funding for the City was available from the JAG program. Cy-/ Application for FY 2009 Edward:Byrne Memorial JAG Program Page 2 The JAG Program is a non-competitive formula grant and the funding allocation is based on the population and crime rate of the local jurisdiction. The amount available to the City of San Luis Obispo for FY 2009 under this new grant solicitation is $19,201. Awards are made in the first fiscal year of the appropriation and may be expended during the following three years. JAG Program funds must be used to supplement existing state and local funds for program activities and must not replace those funds that have been appropriated for the same purpose. The applicant agency (Police Department) must make the grant application available for review by its governing body (Council) not fewer than 30 days before the application is submitted and members of the public must have an opportunity to comment on the application. Applications for this grant program are due no later than July 9, 2009. Placement of this item on Council's June 2, 2009 meeting agenda fulfills these requirements.. Proposed Use of Grant Funds Staff proposes utilizing the grant funds to purchase five new hand-held computers for the Traffic (motorcycle) officers. Currently, traffic officers use handheld tablet computers and laptops to electronically produce collision reports and citations in the field under the Police Department's new Automatic Field Reporting (AFR) project (previously grant funded and approved by Council). The system utilizes the following hardware, which is installed on each police motorcycle: Panasonic Toughbook (ruggedized laptop), mobile data wireless tablet, printer, and a port replicator which provides power to the laptop and acts as a docking station for the laptop in the motorcycle saddlebag. The motorcycle officers who have been using the AFR hardware have been experiencing problems with the laptops overheating in the motorcycle saddle bag. Staff has determined that the overheating is primarily being caused by the heat generated by the port replicator. The saddlebags are not designed to release or recycle air; therefore, the environment becomes too hot for the hardware to function properly. As a result, the laptop shuts down and no longer functions until it is removed from the saddlebag. It can take up to several days to bring the equipment back up to full function. The equipment itself is not defective; rather the equipment does not function properly in the environment in which it is installed. Because AFR is a new pilot project, this malfunction was not anticipated by staff or the equipment vendor. In working with Finance/Information Technology staff and the equipment vendor, staff has determined that new-to-the-market hand-held tablet computers will alleviate the overheating problem because they do not require a separate laptop or port replicator; the new tablet computers combine the laptop and hand-field wireless display into one handheld device. The computer also has a built in keyboard, rather than a touch screen device on the existing tablets, which will be much easier and faster for officers to use in the field. The new tablet computers are designed to withstand adverse weather and to survive a six-foot drop. CONCURRENCES The Director of the Finance/Information Technology concurs with the staff recommendation. 0 1�- a- I Application for FY 2009 Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program Page 3 FISCAL IMPACT Staff is working with the AFR vendor to arrange a partial credit for return of the existing tablets. Based on initial estimates and discussions with the vendor, staff believes the JAG funds will be sufficient to purchase the five new devices. City matching funds are not required for this grant. The City may draw down any or all JAG funds after acceptance of the award. To do so, a trust fund must be established in order to maintain the funds separate from the general fund. ALTERNATIVES 1. Modify the staff recommendation. Council may direct staff to apply for the JAG funds for a different purpose, as long as the use is consistent with the purpose areas described in this report. 2. Do not submit a grant application. Council may direct staff to not submit a grant application. The alternative is not recommended. The JAG Program is non-competitive and the funds have already been allocated to our City upon application, as long as the use is consistent with the purpose areas described in this report. T:\Council Agenda ReportsTolice CAR\2009\CAR_2009 JAG Grant Application—Local SolicitationDue7-9-09.DOC 041J3