Title
Resolution to Apply for, Accept, Approve and Appropriate the 2009 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant from the United States Department of Justice - Office of Justice Programs - Bureau of Justice Assistance to the Police Department (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
In March of 2009, The City of Ann Arbor Police Department received notification that it had been declared eligible for a $168,158 Justice Assistance Program grant award and an invitation to submit its application online to the United States Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance by May 18, 2009.
The 2009 Justice Assistance Grant requires that the Police Department make the grant application available for review by City Council. Grant requirements also stipulate that the City's application and any future amendments be made available for review and comment by citizens and neighborhood or community organizations to the extent that applicable law or established procedure make such an opportunity available.
In keeping with these requirements, and with City procedures, the Department submitted this cover memo with the attached resolution, application and public hearing notice to City Administration on May 18, 2009, for review and distribution to City Council members. City Council Members received these documents on May 18, 2009, via e-mail communication from the City Administration advising City Council of the availability for review, in accordance with the grant terms, in preparation for the June 15, 2009, Public Hearing and City Council Meeting.
The City Clerk's Office will publish the public hearing notice in the Ann Arbor News on Sunday, May 31, 2009, and post a copy of the grant application in the City Clerk's office for public review on Monday, June 1, 2009. The public hearing will be conducted at the beginning of the June 15, 2009, City Council Meeting and City Council will be asked to vote on the attached resolution later in that meeting after receiving public comment.
The 2009 Justice Assistance Grant Program provides an opportunity for local governments to support activities to prevent and control crime and to improve the criminal justice system. Funding under this grant program allows local government to fund activities under any of the following six purpose areas:
Law Enforcement Programs
Prosecution and court programs
Prevention and education programs
Corrections and community corrections programs
Drug treatment programs
Planning, evaluation and technology improvement programs
The City of Ann Arbor Police Department is eligible to use JAG funds for personnel, overtime, technical assistance, training, and equipment in one or more purpose area.
Historically, the Department has relied on its JAG Program grants to purchase basic equipment required to remain current with best practice standards for law enforcement policing equipment and technology which fall under the first purpose area listed above (Law Enforcement Programs). Funding for the purchase of equipment designed to help department personnel perform their duties as safely and efficiently as possible has become increasingly important.
As with its past LLEBG Grants, the Police Department is planning to utilize the 2009 Justice Assistance Grant funding allocation for law enforcement policing equipment and technology for its Patrol Division. The $168,158.00 grant award requires no matching funds.
As the 2009 Justice Assistance Grant Program uses an online application and award documents process involving electronic signatures, the Department is requesting that City Council authorize the City Administrator or his designee to submit the application and authorize the City Administrator to accept the grant and appropriate the grant funds to the Police Department budget for the life of the grant without regard to fiscal year.
Staff
Prepared by: Khurum Sheikh, Lieutenant, Ann Arbor Police Services
Reviewed by: Barnett Jones, Safety Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Roger W. Fraser, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor Police Department was notified in March 2009 of its eligibility for $168,158.00 in 2009 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funds and invited to apply online no later than May 18, 2009, to the United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Justice Assistance which uses an online application process involving electronic signatures;
Whereas, The Police Department intends to use the 2009 Justice Assistance Grant funding allocation it receives for law enforcement policing equipment and technology for its Patrol Division;
Whereas, The 2009 Justice Assistance Grant requires that the Police Department make the grant application available for review by City Council prior to its submission;
Whereas, Grant requirements stipulate that the City's application and any future amendments be made available for review and comment by citizens and neighborhood or community organizations to the extent that applicable law or established procedure make such an opportunity available;
Whereas, The Department submitted this cover memo with the attached resolution, application and public hearing notice to the City Administration on May 18, 2009, for review and distribution to City Council members, via e-mail communication, advising City Council Members of the availability for review, in accordance with the grant terms, in preparation for the June 15, 2009, Public Hearing and City Council Meeting;
Whereas, The Clerk's Office published the attached notice in the Ann Arbor News on Sunday, May 31, 2009, announcing the June 15, 2009, public hearing and posted a copy of the grant application for public review in the City Clerk's Office on Monday, June 1, 2009; and
Whereas, The $168,158.00 grant award requires no matching funds, but the award documents specify that a trust fund account be established,
RESOLVED, That City Council approve the grant agreement with the United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Justice Assistance indicating its acceptance of the grant and its terms by authorizing the City Administrator, his designee or the Project Director to submit the application online after approval as to substance by the City Administrator and approval as to form by the City Attorney;
RESOLVED, That if awarded the grant, City Council accept the 2009 Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $168,158.00 and appropriate the grant funds to the Police Department for the life of the project without regard to City fiscal year; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator or his designee be authorized and directed to execute the grant agreement between the City of Ann Arbor and the United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Justice Assistance and to take all necessary actions to implement this Resolution, including all necessary accounting measures acceptable to the funder to identify grant funds and their disbursement.