Columbus, Georgia

Agenda Item #____2____



Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting



Agenda Report #___85___



TO: Mayor And Council



SUBJECT: Department of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and

Explosives Co-Operative Agreement



INITIATED BY: Police Department

_______________________________________________________________________



Recommendation: Approval is requested to submit an application and if approved

accept a Co-Operative Agreement from the United States Department of Alcohol

Tobacco Firearms and Explosives for the Columbus Police Department Gang

Resistance Education and Training Program known as The G.R.E.A.T. Program. The

Co-Operative will reimburse $102,340 for purchases made to operate the G.

R.E.A. T. Program. Amend the FY04 Multi-Governmental Fund by the amount of the

grant.

Background: The Co-Operative Agreement period is January 16, 2003 ? January

15, 2004. The purpose of this Co-Operative Agreement is to establish a legal

relationship between the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives and

the Columbus Police Department. This agreement sets forth the responsibilities

for the operation of the gang prevention program known as Gang Resistance

Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.). The G.R.E.A.T. Program is in its eighth

year of operation and the fifth year of participating in the Co-Operative

Agreement.

Analysis: The program provides 100% reimbursement. The Co-Operative Agreement

requests approval to operate the G.R.E.A.T. program. Locally the Police

Department Budget Office will manage the Co-Operative Agreement. This is the

fifth year of the program. The local jurisdiction application must be revised

annually.

Financial Considerations: The proposed resolution will authorize the acceptance

of, $102,340 of Federal funds. As provided in the charter and state law, only

Council has the authority to change spending levels. This grant was not

anticipated in the FY04 Multi-governmental Fund. The fund needs to be amended

to set up appropriations for expenditures since the financial system will only

allow expenditures to be made if budget is available.

Legal Considerations: Approval of this contracts will obligate the City to all

conditions of the grant's award.

Recommendation/Action: Approve the acceptance of funding from the Department

of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives. Amend the Multi-Governmental Fund

by the amount of the grant.