HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-07-24 City Council (6)o~ y,’~o
City of Palo Alto
C ty Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: POLICE
DATE:
SUBJECT:
JULY 24, 1997 CMR:339:97
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANT
APPLICATION
This is an informational report and no Council action is requested at this time. The Police
Department has submitted an application to the United States Bureau of Justice Assistance for
a Local Law Enforcement Block Grant. This report provides information on the application.
Staff will return to Council for approval prior to actual receipt of any funds.
RECOMMENDATIONS
This is an informational report and no Council action is required at this time.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
There are no impacts on current policies.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Federal Omnibus ApprOpriations Act for FY 1996 authorized the Director of the Bureau
of Justice Assistance (BJA) to make funds available to local agencies, under the Local Law
Enforcement Block Grants Program, for the purposes of reducing crime and improving public
safety. Included among the purposes, grant funds may be used for crime prevention programs
involving cooperation between the community and law enforcement personnel.
In December 1996, the City Council accepted funds from the BJA grant award to hire a
coordinator for the Positive Alternatives for Youth (PAY) program and to purchase computer
equipment for use by the coordinator. The coordinator has since implemented the multifaceted
program. Program components include job placement, mentoring, community service, tutoring,
and recreation activities for at-risk youth. Staff believes that this program truly embraces the
definition of crime prevention in that it will provide young people and their families with
CMR:339:97 Page 1 of 2,
alternative activities, assistance, counseling and the opportunity to choose more positive life
directions.
City staff and members of the PAY Advisory Committee believe that the key to the success of
the PAY program will hinge on the continued availability of a coordinator, to oversee all the
various components of the program and to ensure that at-risk youth and their families are
provided the assistance and guidance they need. As a result, staff would propose, provided the
grant funding is approved, to use these monies to continue to hire a temporary program
coordinator.
FISCAL IMPACT
Distribution of grant funds will be determined based upon crime rate data and population of
each local agency. According to information received from BJA, Palo Alto’s award would be
in the amount of $29,500. Cities receiving grant funds are required to provide a one-ninth
match. Based upon the amount of Palo Alto’s potential award, the City’s match would be
approximately $3,279. Funds for the match are available in the Police Department’s 1997-98
budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
This is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act and is not subject
to CEQA requirements.
PREPARED BY:Lynne Johnson, Assistant Police Chief
DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW:
CITY MANAGER REVIEW:
CHRIS DURKIN. Policex~
~~~ON. Assistant City Manager
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