HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009 07 27 Consent 207 Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant FundsCOMMISSION AGENDA
INFORMA'
PUBLIC Hl
REGULAR
July, 27, 2009 MGR ~ /DEPT
Meeting Authorization
REQUEST: The Police Department requests the Commission to approve the division
of 2009 Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds totaling $239,756 and the
expenditure of said funds for law enforcement programs as outlined below.
PURPOSE: The Florida Department of Law enforcement has set aside $239,756 in
grant funds for use by all units of government within Seminole County. Use of these
funds requires a consensus on how the funds will be spent. Divided nine ways (including
the Sanford Airport Police), the city's total portion is $26,639. The Police Department
requests the Commission to approve the division and expenditure of 2009 Edward Byrne
Justice Assistance Grant funds for law enforcement programs within Seminole County in
the following manner:
• Use approximately $126,593 of the original $239,756 to replace state funding
lost for the county Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC). This program is operated
by the Sheriff's Office and provided beneficial services to all law enforcement
agencies within the county. Helping to offset budgetary shortfalls for the JAC
will allow us to maximize our services to the community by getting our officers
back on the road faster when they are handling a call involving a problem
juvenile. The city's contribution to this project is approximately $14,044. All of
the other law enforcement agencies within the county have already pledged their
support of this initiative.
• Use the remainder of the city portion, which totals approximately $12,595, to
fund the overtime for participation in a series of county-wide monthly gang task
force initiatives for the next year. The police department's officers currently
participate in the Multi-Agency Gang Task Force (MAGTF) unit, which is
composed of officers from each of the county law enforcement agencies and is
dedicated to the control and monitoring of the gang members and their associates
who call Seminole County home. We have strived to keep participation in this
force, as we have seen the benefits of keeping the criminal street gang element
from gaining a stronghold within our city. Continued participation in this task
force will permit us to further address the recent spike in our burglaries and
thefts. All of the other law enforcement agencies within the county have already
pledged their support of this initiative.
CONSIDERATIONS: Due to budgetary constraints state-wide, it has become necessary
to look for additional funding sources for not just law enforcement projects but for all city
functions. We are fortunate to be able to participate in this grant process to allow us to
maintain levels of service we have become accustomed to providing to our residents.
Closing the JAC will result in officers having to sit with juveniles, tying up road officers,
sometimes for hours, to locate aparent/guardian of a problem juvenile, loss of the county
STAY Center, which gives juveniles who are truant from school someplace to be instead
of wandering the streets all day possibly committing crimes, and a central facility to track
and monitor problem juveniles in the county so law enforcement can stay on top of a
possible problem.
We ask that you permit this distribution and expenditure of 2009 Edward Byrne Justice
Assistance .Grant funds for the mutual benefit of the law enforcement community in
Seminole County.
FUNDING: 2009 Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds are the source. The
total award county-wide is $239,756. There is no city match and the processing and
handling of this grant paperwork will be handled by Seminole County.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the expenditure of the city's portion of the original
$239,756, totaling $26,639, from the 2009 Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant in the
following manner: $14,044 to the JAC Center and $12,595 to the MAGTF initiative.
IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE: Immediately upon Commission approval.
ATTACHMENTS: None
COMMISSION ACTION: