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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-12-13 City Council (31)TO: FROM: City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: POLICE 8 DATE:NOVEMBER 22, 1999 CMR:419:99 SUBJECT:APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT ORDINANCE ACCEPTING LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,192 RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends Council approval of the attached Budget Amendment Ordinance (BAO) that amends the Police Deparmaent’s FY 1999-2000 budget to provide an additional appropriation provided by a Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) in the amount of $26,192. Funds to cover the City’s required match of $2,910 are included in the Police Department’s budget. Staffrecommends 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. The City received LLEBG funds in 1997 and 1996. For 1999, the City of Palo Alto has been awarded grant funds in the amount of $33,796. Due to the disparate allocation provision of the LLEBG guidelines, Palo Alto, along with every other city in Santa Clara County except San Jose, must contribute 22..5 percent to the County. The City must also provide a 10 percent match. Previous LLEBG funds have been used to pay the salary of the Positive Alternatives for Youth coordinator. Staff proposes on using this year’s grant funds for the same purpose. DISCUSSION The PAY program has been in operation since 1996. It continues to provide positive alternatives for youth, especially those at-risk. One of the conditions associated with the acceptance of the grant award is that, prior to the obligation of funds, a public hearing must be held regarding the proposed use of the money. Another condition is the continuation of an advisory board that was formed in 1996. The purpose of the advisory board is to review the proposed use of funds and to make non-binding recommendations regarding the use of funds. The current advisory board includes representatives from the Police Department, Recreation and Human Services Divisions of the Community Services Department, Palo Alto Unified School Board, Palo Alto Unified School District, Palo Alto Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, Superior Court, City Council, YMCA, YWCA, Adolescent Counseling Services, Youth Community Service, and the Schultz Jewish Community Center. CMR:419:99 Page 1 of 3 During 1998-99, 17 youth participated in the job placement component of the PAY program. A number of these young people were on probation, some have had problems with drug/alcohol use, and many had school attendance issues. Over the year, over half of them improved their school attendance, ten improved their grades, all four seniors graduated from high school, ten are still employed, and all of the participants have stayed in school. Businesses that have participated this last year include Garden Court Hotel, Macy’s, Videoscope, GAP, Orchard Supply Hardware, Footlocker, Baskin-Robbins, Amy’s Hallmark store, Masma Construction, Hobee’s, World Savings Bank, Le Boulanger, and NOVA. Activities and accomplishments in the other components of the PAY program this year have included providing 97 teens and 21 families with counseling services; arranging for one-on-one mentoring with 18 youth; conducting homework labs and tutoring services, and collaborating with Youth Community Services to provide a Summer of Service camp for 30 middle school youth. The PAY program has received a number of awards over the last couple of years fi’om State Recreation organizations. Due to its success, Staff believes it is important to continue this program. To date, other than stafftime, City funds have not been used for the operation of PAY. In addition to LLEBG grant, the Advisory Committee is looking for funding from other donations and grants in order to keep the program functioning. Disparate Allocation Provision There is a disparate allocation provision included in the LLEBG program guidelines. The provision is intended to resolve potential funding disparities within jurisdictions. This year, Santa Clara County meets one of the two criteria that require this provision to be used. That criteria occurs when a potential funding disparity exists in a county’s allocation compared with that of multiple municipalities (400 percent) and a county bears more than 50 percent of the prosecution or incarceration costs arising from Part I violent crimes reported by the municipalities and that funding allocated under the LLEBG Program would threaten the efficient administration of justice within the county. Because that situation exists in Santa Clara County, 22.5 percent of each city’s allocation must go to the County. An agreement between the Police Chiefs and Santa Clara County was reached whereby the 22.5 percent would be used by the County for the purpose of hiring two investigators in the District Attorney’s Office who will be assigned full-time to the county-wide task force, the Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE)Team, that deals with sexual predators. RESOURCE IMPACT In compliance with BJA requirements, the City has established a Local Law Enforcement (LLE) sub- fund in which the grant funds will be deposited. Palo Alto’s total allocation was $33,796. Pursuant to the disparate allocation situation, $7,604 of Palo Alto’s funds have been allocated to Santa Clara County. The remaining balance of the City’s allocation, $26,192, will be received from BJA. Funds for the City’s required match of $2,910 are included in the Police Department’s non-salary budget and will be transferred to the LLE sub-fund. This BAO will not impact the Budget Stabilization Reserve. CMR:419:99 Page 2 of 3 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. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Budget Amendment Ordinance Attachment B: Changes to the Budget Stabilization Reserve PREPARED BY:Lyrme Johnson, Assistant Police Chief DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW: PATRICK CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: HARRISON,City Manager CMR:419:99 Page 3 of 3 ORDINANCE NO. ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO AMEAIDING THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR1999-00 TO ACCEPT A BLOCK GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,192 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 28, 1999 did adopt a budget for fiscal year 1999-00; and WHEREAS, the+ Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Program awarded the City a Local Law Enforcement (LLE) program block grant of $33,796; and WHEREAS, the City along with other cities in Santa Clara County, must comply with the disparate funding provision of the grant and contribute 22.5% of the $33,796, which equals $7,604, to the County of Santa Clara; and WHEREAS, the balance retained by the City of Palo Alto is $26,192; and WHEREAS, the City must provide $2,910 in matching funds over the grant period, which 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 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 1999-00 budget as hereinafter set forth. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows: SECTION i. The sum of Twenty Six Thousand One Hundred Ninety Two Dollars(S26,192) 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 Two Thousand Nine Hundred Ten Dollars ($2,910) 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. This transaction will have no effect on the Budget Stabilization Reserve. SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 6. 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:APPROVED: City Clerk Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM:City Manager Senior Asst. City Attorney Administrative Services Department Director Chief of Police Attachment B Budget Amendment Ordinances Impacting General Fund Reserves Approved To Date in 1999-00 Estimated Beginning Budget Stabilization Reserve (BSR) Balance Adopted Budget Addition to BSR Downtown Urban Design Improvements, CIP 19608 Downtown Parking Structure Feasibility Study, C1P 19530 Salary and Benefit Increases Retroactive to July I, 1999 for Management and Confidential Employees City Manager Executive Recruitment Friends of the Palo Alto Library Grant Arts Council of Santa Clara County Grant Palo Alto Art Center Foundation Donation Cost of Sound Wall for Tennis Facility at 3005 Middlefield IT Strategic Plan Downtown Parking Structure Feasibility Study, CIP 19530 Citizens Options for Public Safety (COPS) Local Law Enforcement (LLE) Block Grant ($120,349) (570,000) (5432,200) (526,000) ($58,000) (5;5,407) (5;10,000) (5;50,000) (5;250,100) ($143,000) (5;135,901) (5;26,192) $58,000 $5,407 $10,000 $60,534 5135,901 $26,192 $189,566 $18,877,888 $1,214,000 ($120,349) ($70,000) (5432,200) ($26,000) $0 $0 $0 ($50,000) 5;0 ($143,000) 5;0 $0 (5432,200) (S317,917) BSR Balance After BAO’s $19,250,339