TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Steve Powers, City Manager
FROM: Jerry Moore, Chief of Police
SUBJECT:
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United States Department of Justice Edward Bryne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants for Federal Fiscal Year 2019
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Safe Community.
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ISSUE:
Shall the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute all U.S. Department of Justice, Justice Assistance Grant documents to accept the $87,139 award?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Authorize the City Manager to execute all U.S. Department of Justice, Justice Assistance Grant documents to accept the $87,139 award.
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SUMMARY:
The U.S. Department of Justice provides funding through its Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program to assist local law enforcement efforts in preventing and reducing crime.
Execution of the 2019 JAG Grant award documents (Attachment 1) will allow for the continuation of the Police Department’s Community Service Officer (CSO) program at current service levels.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
1. The City received notice of the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) intent to award the FY2019 JAG Grant. The City has until February 7, 2020, to accept the grant award.
2. The USDOJ, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has identified the City of Salem and Marion County as “disparate” jurisdictions for the JAG Grants and requires a joint application and award for both entities. The City has been notified by the County that it will not be participating in the 2019 JAG Grant. This should not affect the City’s eligibility to receive its portion of the JAG grant award.
3. The City’s portion of the JAG Grant award for FY 2019 is expected to be $87,139.
4. There is no local match required for this grant.
5. The City’s portion of the grant funds will be used to fund the Community Service Officer program.
6. The City must make the grant application available for review by the Council and the public for not fewer than thirty days. Any awarded grant funds will be withheld until the thirty-day review period has passed.
7. The City will be required to provide quarterly financial status reports, quarterly progress reports and a final report to the USDOJ.
8. The City will be required to comply with the awarded grant’s terms and conditions and other legal requirements, including but not limited to, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Department of Justice regulations, and such other federal regulations included in the award. These requirements will include complying with applicable federal civil rights laws, OMB circulars, and Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFARA) requirements.
9. The City Attorney’s Office, after monitoring lawsuits and negotiations with other government entities within Oregon and nationwide, has requested that some specific certifications be removed as a condition of the award. This is similar to the actions taken by another Oregon jurisdiction and accepted by the DOJ. Accepting the award, with the identified certifications removed will not impede the City’s ability to adhere to ORS 181A.820 and Council Policy A-9, concerning use of City fund and activities regarding enforcement of federal immigration law and data collection.
10. The City Manager may execute additional modifications to the grant award documents as necessary for the City to receive its grant award while remaining compliant with applicable laws and policies.
11. Acceptance of the JAG program grant funds will benefit the public and the City of Salem.
BACKGROUND:
The City has received JAG Grants since 1997 and uses the funds to support the Police Department’s Community Service Officer (CSO) program. The CSOs provide a valuable service to the community by responding to non-emergency calls where enforcement action and arrest powers are not required, thereby allowing patrol officers more time to respond to, investigate, and solve more serious offenses. The CSOs respond to calls for non-injury accidents, traffic control, cold burglaries, stolen vehicles, animal complaints, noise complaints, found property and other events of a similar priority.
The Department’s eight CSO’s are assigned to a patrol squad, either on a day or swing shift, and work 24 hours a week with staggered days off. This provides for the most efficient coverage and ensures that at least one CSO is on shift during the heaviest call periods.
The CSO program has proven to be highly successful as a training position as many of our CSO’s have been hired as Police Officers, Dispatchers, Telephone Reporting Officers and Records Technicians
Skip Miller
Deputy Chief
Attachments:
1. 2019 JAG Grant Award (with strikethrough)