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PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE 2015 JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended at the conclusion of the public hearing that the City Council adopt a resolution:
1. Approving Amendment No. 4 to the Interlocal Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Stockton and County of San Joaquin for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program Award (MOU);
2. Approving the recommended use of funds ($361,609) as stated in the JAG Program 2015 Funding Recommendations;
3. Approving the appropriation of grant funds upon receipt of an executed Grant Agreement; and
4. Authorizing the City Manager to execute all grant award documents as required by the United States Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance.
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Summary
The United States Department of Justice has announced the 2015 funding allocation for the Edward Byrne Memorial JAG program. This year, the City of Stockton and San Joaquin County are eligible to receive a combined allocation of $361,609, with the City’s allocation at $305,681 and San Joaquin County’s allocation at $55,928. As mandated by the granting agency, the City and County must meet and agree to a distribution of funds. In 2011 and again in 2014, San Joaquin County, through the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, Probation Department, and District Attorney’s Office; and the City of Stockton, through its Police Department, entered into an Interlocal Memorandum of Understanding concerning this funding and agreed to establish a Countywide Firearms Reduction Consortium (FRC) for a three year term. An Amendment to the MOU is executed each year to confirm the funding allocations and to maintain compliance with the JAG regulations.
Representatives from the County Agencies and the Stockton Police Department met in May 2015 and agreed on the allocations set forth in the proposed Amendment No. 4 to the MOU, attached as Exhibit 1 to the resolution. Other than adjusting the MOU to reflect the allocations for the upcoming fiscal year, no other changes to the MOU are recommended at this time. The granting agency requires a public hearing be held to allow for public comment and testimony on the proposed use of funds.
DISCUSSION
Background
The City of Stockton has received JAG program funds since 1997 with the specific goal of helping local government combat crime and improve public safety. Six specific law enforcement-related categories of programs are eligible for the use of these grant funds:
A. Law enforcement programs
B. Prosecution and court programs
C. Prevention and education programs
D. Corrections and community corrections programs
E. Drug treatment programs
F. Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs
In 2011, following the approval of an MOU concerning the County’s and the City’s use of these grant funds, City staff and representatives from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, Probation Department, and District Attorney’s Office agreed to establish a FRC due to the prevalence of illegal firearms in the greater Stockton area. Given the recent fiscal struggles of both the City of Stockton and San Joaquin County, a concentrated effort to reduce firearms would be impossible without grant funding. Further, firearm reduction is so integral to fighting crime that the City and County agencies agreed to dedicate future JAG allocations, as available, toward funding the FRC for a minimum of three years.
Three Amendments to the MOU were approved in June 2012, July 2013, and June 2014 to set each year’s allocation of funds between the members based on the allocations provided through the U.S. Department of Justice and for the purposes of continuing to operate the FRC. The current MOU is effective through 2016 provided the JAG program continues to receive congressional appropriation and allocate those funds to the jurisdictions.
Present Situation
The JAG is allocated on a formula based both on population and violent crime rate. Cities receiving a formula allocation larger than their County, referred to as disparate status, are allowed to modify the formula allocation to accommodate the jurisdiction’s particular need. Grant guidelines mandate that the City and County participate in a joint planning process and agree on a final funding split. For the City of Stockton and San Joaquin County, the disparate status allows the City to share in the high cost of services placed on the County District Attorney, the County jail, and the County Probation Department.
The FRC provides funding for a contracted Firearms Examiner position, a portion of a deputy district attorney assigned to prosecute persons determined to be associated with illegal guns, and overtime staffing costs for the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, Probation Department, and the Stockton Police Department in order to fund at least four proactive firearm missions each year.
In addition to the four firearm missions conducted in a given year, the Firearms Examiner and Integrated Ballistic Identification Systems (IBIS) equipment are available for use during any firearm investigation by the Stockton Police Department, San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, and the surrounding region as time permits. Current and future uses of the IBIS equipment are coordinated through the FRC, other regional partners, and with Federal agencies such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the U.S. Department of Justice.
As part of the grant application, the City of Stockton and San Joaquin County must agree to distribute the funds and execute an amended MOU outlining the agreed upon funding split and other provisions associated with grant administration. For 2015, the purpose and use of the funds remains the same; therefore, the straightforward Amendment to the existing MOU (Exhibit 1 to the Resolution) outlining the change in the allocation amounts for the upcoming fiscal year is proposed.
Included in the Amendment is the Joint Spending Plan, entitled "Edward Byrne Memorial - Justice Assistance Grant Program 2015 Funding Recommendations." The plan for 2015 follows the same funding strategy set forth in prior years with the City allocating its share of $184,609 to fund a contract for a Firearms Examiner and pay for overtime associated with the joint FRC missions. The County will spend its share of $177,000 on overtime costs associated with joint FRC missions and firearms prosecution.
Publication
The notice for this public hearing was published in The Record on Saturday, June 13, 2015.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The combined 2015 JAG Allocation is $361,609 for the City of Stockton and San Joaquin County and must be used within 36 months. The grant does not require a local funding match. For grant tracking and auditing purposes, Police Grants and Special Programs account number 025-6490 will be used for the 2015-16 JAG. As described above, a revenue appropriation in the amount of $361,609 is needed in Account No. 025-6490-331 and expenditure appropriation in the amount of $361,609 with $177,000 allocated to San Joaquin County and the remaining $184,609 to the City of Stockton.