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Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) AwardTHE CITY OF Dubuque o r Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: 2009 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Approval and Acceptance of Grant Award DATE: September 1, 2009 Acting Chief of Police Terry Tobin is recommending acceptance of the 2009 Justice Assistance Grant award in the amount of $87,467. The grant requires no cash match. The funds will be used to support Dubuque County law enforcement operations along the Mississippi River, and to provide for Police Department equipment purchases and overtime to conduct the Citizen Police Academy. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. Michael .Van Milligen MCVM:jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Terry Tobin, Acting Chief of Police THE CTTY OF DUB E Masterpiece on the Mississippi Date: August 31, 2009 To: Michael C. Van Milligen City Manager From: Terry Tobin t li Acting Chief of Police MEMORANDUM Re: 2009 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Approval and Acceptance of grant award INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this memorandum is to request City Council approval to accept the 2009 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) application. The grant is for $87,467 and requires no cash match. The Dubuque Police Department is the fiscal agent for the JAG grants funds, with joint funds to be used to support Dubuque County law enforcement operation along the Mississippi River. The grant period is four years. BACKGROUND: For the past years, the police department has participated with the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant allowing the department to obtain overtime funds, equipment, and supplies for various prevention and enforcement activities. Again this year, the 2009 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program provides federal criminal justice funding to 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. The purpose of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant is to assist local units of government with grant funds for local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice for any one or more of the following purpose areas: • Law Enforcement Programs • Prosecution and Court Programs • Prevention and Education Programs • Corrections and Community Corrections Programs • Drug Treatment and Enforcement Programs • Planning, Evaluation, and Technology Improvement Programs • Crime Victim and Witness Programs (other than compensation) DISCUSSION: On June 15, 2009, the City Council approved the submission of the Justice Assistance grant application in the amount of $87,467. The Justice Assistance Grant requested operating funds for six key law enforcement components: A) Police Tactical Response -Providing funds for special equipment and clothing related to Special Weapons Tactical response for barricaded subjects, hostage situations, and critical incident response to industry, business and school situations. B) Citizen Police Academy -Providing overtime funds for instructors and funds for supplies and materials. C) Watercraft- Provide funds for a boat for use by the Dubuque County Sheriff's Office and Dubuque County Conservation Board. Currently there are no other Iowa Law Enforcement boats in this area of the river, which consists of approximately 15 miles of river. Uses for the watercraft include but are not limited to: Search and Rescue operation, river patrol during special events, alcohol compliance checks, rescuing stranded boaters and assisting with criminal investigations that occur on the river. The total cost of the boat with motor and trailer is $25,670. Grant funds will provide $11,384, and Dubuque County will provide the remaining funding of $14,286 to complete the purchase. D) Police Patrol Vehicle -Provide funds for the purchase of one marked patrol vehicle and accessories for use by the Community Oriented Policing three-person traffic safety team. The vehicle would be equipped with police radar, car computer, data radio, cage, shotgun, rifle (M-4), in-car video, emergency lights, radar, police markings, installation and labor. E) Universal Forensic Extraction System -Provide funding for the purchase of equipment for use by our Criminal Investigation Division, allowing extraction and analysis of cell phones, Smartphones and PDA devices. F) Global Positioning System (GPS) Tracking Device -Provide funds for the purchase of a tracking device unit and accompanying software for covert operations by the Criminal Investigation Division. On August 28, 2009 we received notification the Justice Assistance grant application was approved. To accept the award, we are instructed to complete the following as soon as possible: 1. Print the Award Document and Special Conditions 2. Sign the Award Document (The Award Document is the page that requires the Mayor's signature; it has a blank spot for "Authorized Grantee Signature") 3. Initial the bottom right corner of every Special conditions page(s) and 4. Fax BOTH the Award Document and the Special Conditions page(s) to (866) 388-3055 or (202)354-4081. Acceptance documents may also be e-mailed to acceptanceC~usdoi.gov. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended we accept the 2009 Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $87,467, complete the award document noting the special conditions and return to the Bureau of Justice Assistance with the appropriate signature and initials. ACTION REQUESTED: For City Council consideration and approval accepting the 2009 Justice Assistance grant award in the amount of $87,467 and authorize the signing of the award document and special conditions. cc: Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Jenny Larson, Budget Director Jeanne Schneider, City Clerk