Title
Staff Report for a City of San Leandro City Council Resolution to Accept Grant Funds in the Amount of $36,345 from the 2021 Department of Justice’s Edward J. Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) and to authorize the City Manager to Execute all Documents Pertaining to this Resolution to Fund the Purchase and Administration of the CordicoShield Wellness Software Application
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution to accept a grant award of $36,345 from the 2021 Department of Justice’s Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) and to authorize the City Manager to execute all documents and appropriate funds to fund the purchase and administration of the CordicoShield Wellness Software Application.
BACKGROUND
The Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance (JAG) Grant Program (42 U.S.C. 3751 (a)) is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. The Byrne JAG Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs and was created in 2005 by merging the Edward J. Byrne Memorial Grant Program (Byrne) with the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program (LLEBG). Byrne JAG funding can be used to support a broad range of state and local government projects, including those designed to prevent and control crime and to improve the criminal justice system.
To ensure that each state and territory receives an appropriate share of JAG funds, allocation to state and local governments is based on a formula using population and crime statistics in combination with a minimum allocation. Funds are split 60/40 between state and local recipients within states. Municipal governments, tribes, and community-and faith-based groups are eligible to receive Byrne JAG funding. Historically, funding for the JAG Program in California had been allocated directly to counties through a non-competitive process.
The JAG Program supports seven “Program Purpose Areas” designated by federal statute. These include the following:
(1) Law enforcement programs.
(2) Prosecution and court programs, including indigent defense.
(3) Prevention and education programs.
(4) Corrections and community corrections programs.
(5) Drug treatment and enforcement programs.
(6) Planning, evaluation and technology improvement programs.
(7) Crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation).
The JAG funding must be spent according to certain federal guidelines, including the following:
(1) Byrne JAG funds must be used to supplement existing funds for program activities and cannot replace, or supplant, nonfederal funds that were appropriated for the same purpose.
(2) Byrne JAG funds cannot be used to fund security enhancements or to purchase equipment by nongovernmental entities not engaged in criminal justice or public safety directly or indirectly.
(3) Byrne JAG funds cannot be used to purchase vehicles (excluding police cruisers), vessels (excluding police boats), or aircraft (excluding police helicopters); luxury items; real estate; or for construction projects, other than penal or correctional institutions.
(4) Byrne JAG funds can be used for state and 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:
1. Law enforcement programs;
2. Prosecution and court programs;
3. Prevention and education programs;
4. Corrections and community corrections programs;
5. Drug treatment programs;
6. Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; and
7. Crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation).
ANALYSIS
The Police Department has a need for augmenting its current employee wellness program and plans to utilize a software application to provide a safe, confidential environment for staff to engage with trained professionals on all matters of mental health and wellbeing. This grant will fund the following items:
1. $20,000 Annual software application subscription service
2. $2,200 two tablets or laptops (e.g. Microsoft Surface Pro)
3. $9,420.15 SLPD staff time setting up/launching application
4. $1,090.35 3% NIBRS set aside required by DOJ granting agreement
5. $3,634.50 Alameda County Sheriff administrative fee (grant oversight/support)
6. $36,345 Total - 2021 Byrne JAG allocation for San Leandro
The department recommends the City Council appropriate the 2021 JAG funding to purchase this software application and related hardware which satisfies the “technology improvement program” purpose area listed above.
Legal Analysis
The City Attorney has reviewed the associated grant documentation and has approved as to form.
Fiscal Impact
This project is fully reimbursable and has no matching requirement.
This Grant Fund (F150) project will cost $32,710.50 (a sum of #1-4 listed in the Analysis section above), which requires increasing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-2022 Budget by the same amount ($32,710.50) and will be funded by a grant that will increase revenues through an Alameda County Sheriff’s Office reimbursement deposited into the City’s Federal Grants Account, 150-3608.
Budget Authority
This project requires an appropriation of $32,710.50 in the FY2021-2022 operating budget, Account 150-21-058, and will carryover into FY2022-2023 until all grant funds have been expended.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
PREPARED BY: Scott Koll, Financial Services Manager, Finance Department