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Home My WebLink About1997-12-08 City Council (15)TO: City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL 5 FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: POLICE AGENDA DATE: SUBJECT: DECEMBER 8, 1997 CMR:485:97 APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT ORDINANCE ACCEPTING LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS RECOMMENDATION Staffrecommends Council approval of the attached Budget Amendment Ordinance (BAO) that amends the FY 1997-98 budget to provide an additional appropriation offset by funding awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Local Law Enforcement Block Grants program to the Police Department in the amount of $31,330. Funds to cover the City’s required match of $3,481 are included in the Police Department’s budget. Staff also recommends that the grant funds be used for compensation for the Positive Alternatives for Youth (PAY) coordinator. BACKGROUND The Federal Bureau of Justice Assistance has again made funds available to local agencies under the Local Law Enforcement Block Grants Program for the purposes of reducing crime and improving public safety. During 1997, the City of Palo Alto was awarded grant funds from this program in the amount of $29,514. In July 1997, staff informed the Council that the Police Department had applied for second year funding (CMR:339:97). Staff was recently informed that grant funds will be awarded to the City for a second year. Council had approved the use of last year’s funds for the purpose of hiring a coordinator for the Positive Alternatives for Youth (PAY) program and for the purchase of computer equipment for the coordinator. CMR:485:97 Page 1 of 3 DISCUSSION As reported in July 1997, due to the success of the first year of the PAY program as described in CMR:494:97, staffproposes to use all of the second year grant funding for compensation for the program coordinator. During this last year, a coordinator was hired on an hourly basis. The City was fortunate to fred an energetic and enthusiastic coordinator who has been able to enhance the collaboration with other agencies and organizations that has resulted in a very successful implementation. The use of the Police Substation at the Ventura Center for a youth center, where after school tutoring and other activities occur, has already attracted numerous young people. One of the special conditions associated with the acceptance of the award is that, prior to the obligation of funds, a public hearing must be held regarding the proposed use of the grant funds. Another condition required by acceptance of the grant award is the continuation of an advisory board that was formed last year. The purpose of the advisory board is to review the proposed use of funds and to make non-binding recommendations regarding the use of the funds. The board includes representatives from the Police Department, Recreation and Human Services Divisions, the Palo Alto School Board, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, the Superior Court, the Palo Alto Unified School District, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Council, and non-profit organizations including the YMCA. RESOURCE IMPACT In compliance with BJA requirements, the City has established a Local Law Enforcement (LLE) sub-fund in which the grant funds are deposited. Funds totaling $31,330 will be received from BJA. Funds for the City’s required match of $3, 481 are included in the Police Department’s non-salary budget and will be transferred to the LLE sub-fund. POLICY IMPLICATIONS Expenditures of funds for youth programs are consistent with City policy. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT This is not a project subject to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements. CMR:485:97 Page 2 of 3 ATTACHMENTS CMR:339:97 PREPARED BY: DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW: Lynne Johnson, Assistant Police Chief CHRIS DURKIN, Police Chief CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: EMILY HARRISON, Assistant City Manager CMR:485:97 Page 3 of 3 ORDINANCE NO. ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO AMENDING THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1997-98 TO ACCEPT A BLOCK GRANT FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE FOR A LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of Article III of the Charter of the City of Palo Alto, the Council on June 23, 1997 did adopt a budget for fiscal year 1997-98; and WHEREAS, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Program awarded the City a Local Law Enforcement (LLE) program block grant of $31,330; and WHEREAS, the City must provide $3,481 over the grant period in matching funds, which amount will be provided from the Police Department’s budget; and WHEREAS, the Police Department has designated the grant funds to fund a contract program coordinator for the Positive Alternatives for Youth (PAY) program and to fund the purchase of computer equipment; and WHEREAS, the funds will be deposited into the Local Law Enforcement subfund in the Federal and State Grants Special Revenue Fund; and WHEREAS, City Council authorization is needed to accept and expend the grant receipts and to amend the 1997-98 budget as hereinafter set forth. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows: SECTION 1 The sum of $31,330 is hereby appropriated to the Local Law Enforcement subfund in the Federal and State Grants Special Revenue Fund, from a BJA Block Grant. SECTION 2 The sum of $3,481 is hereby transferred from the Police Department non-salary budget in the Request For Services Functional Area as matching funds to the Local Law Enforcement subfund in the Federal and State Grants Special Revenue Fund. SECTION 3. As specified in Section 2.28.080(a) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code, a two-thirds vote of the City Council is required to adopt this ordinance. SECTION 4. The Council of the City of Palo Alto hereby finds that the enactment of this ordinance is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act and, therefore, no environmental impact assessment is necessary. SECTION 5. As provided in Section 2.04.350 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code, this ordinance shall become effective upon adoption. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: ATTEST: C±ty Clerk Chief of Police APPROVED AS TO FORM:Mayor Senior Asst. City Attorney APPROVED: City Manager Acting Administrative Services Department Director ity of Palo Alto City 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 staffand 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, sta~ 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 fimds will be determined based upon crime rate data and population of each local agency. According to information received fi’om BIA, 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: Lyune Johnson, Assistant Police Chief CITY MANAGER REVIEW: EMI~~SON, ~ssistant City Manager- CMR:339:97 Page 2 of 2