Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Council Members

Agenda Item # 5



Columbus Consolidated Government



Council Meeting

07/26/2011



Agenda Report # 676



TO: Mayor and Council



SUBJECT: FY11 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant



INITIATED BY: Finance Department





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

approved, accept a grant for $127,260 from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice

Assistance (JAG) grant for the Federal Fiscal Year 2011, with no local match

requirement, to be used by eligible departments for eligible projects as

defined in the grant, and to amend the Multi-Governmental Fund by the amount of

the award.



Background: The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program

replaced the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant program in the Federal Fiscal

Year 2005. The Columbus Consolidated Government is on the list of awardees for

the annual local solicitation. The grant does not have a local match

requirement. Eligible projects for the grant fall into the following

categories: Law Enforcement, Prosecution and Courts, Prevention and Education,

Correction and Community Correction, Drug Treatment, and Planning, Evaluation

and Technology Improvement.



Analysis: A committee consisting of department heads or representatives of all

eligible public safety, law enforcement, prosecution, and judicial departments

met with the City Manager on June 30 to determine how this award would be

allocated among the departments and for what the funds would be used. The

meeting concluded that the funds would be allocated as follows: Juvenile

Court: $9,000, for an audio/video recording system; Adult Drug Court $10,000,

for drug treatment services; Mental Health Court $50,000, to extend a contract

with New Horizons Community Service Board for Mental Health Court services;

Muscogee County Sheriff?s Office $28,000, for upgrading the surveillance system

in the Government Center and other City buildings; Columbus Police Department

$15,130, for Taser purchases or upgrading the surveillance system in the Public

Safety Building; and Marshal of Muscogee County $15,130, for replacing in-car

video systems. The grant requires that the local government?s governing body

be notified of the application of this grant at least 30 days before the grant

can be awarded. The grant also requires that the public be notified of the

intent to apply for this grant and be allowed an opportunity to review and

comment on the application.



Financial Considerations: The amount that the Columbus Consolidated Government

is eligible to apply for is $127,260. There is no local match requirement.

The city will have four years in which to complete the expenditures for this

grant.



Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: The grant will bring in $127,260 to

the Multi-Governmental Fund over a four-year period, with most of the activity

expended during the first two years. The General Fund will not be affected.



Legal Considerations: The Columbus Consolidated Government is eligible to

apply for this grant award with Council approval. Council must approve the

application for and acceptance of all grant awards and the Mayor, as Chief

Executive Officer, or his designee, must sign all required contracts, reports,

and certifications. Upon signing, the City will be obligated to the U.S.

Department of Justice to comply with the terms and conditions of the grant

contract.



Recommendations/ Actions: Accept and approve the application and subsequent

award of the 2011 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in the amount

of $127,260, or as otherwise awarded, and amend the Multi-Governmental Fund by

the amount of the award.









A RESOLUTION

NO. _____

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OR HER DESIGNEE TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION AND

IF AWARDED, ACCEPT A 2011 EDWARD BRYNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT FROM

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $127,260, OR AS OTHERWISE

AWARDED, WITH NO LOCAL MATCH REQUIREMENT, AND TO AMEND THE MULTI-GOVERNMENTAL

FUND BY THE AMOUNT OF THE AWARD, AND TO ALLOCATE THE AMOUNT AWARDED TO THE

FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROSECUTION AND

COURTS, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS: JUVENILE COURT: $9,000, ADULT FELONY

DRUG COURT: $10,000, MENTAL HEALTH COURT: $50,000, MUSCOGEE COUNTY SHERIFF?S

OFFICE: $28,000, COLUMBUS POLICE DEPARTMENT: $15,130, AND MARSHAL OF MUSCOGEE

COUNTY: $15,130.

WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of

Justice Assistance has announced potential awards for the Edward Byrne Memorial

Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2011 Local Solicitation. This grant

supports a broad range of activities for the prevention and control of crime

and to improve the criminal justice system. These funds can be used for local

initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies,

contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice, as well as

research and evaluation activities that will improve or enhance: law

enforcement programs; drug treatment and enforcement programs; planning,

evaluation, and technology improvement programs; and crime victim and witness

programs (other than compensation); and,

WHEREAS, the Columbus Consolidated Government is eligible to receive $127,260

in funding with no local match requirement; the City Manager met with

department heads or representatives of all departments eligible to receive

funding from the grant, with the conclusion that the Juvenile Court, Adult

Felony Drug Court, Mental Health Court, Muscogee County Sheriff?s Office,

Columbus Police Department, and Marshal of Muscogee County will use these funds

for contract services, supplies, and equipment purchases, and,

WHEREAS, the grant requires that the governing body be notified of the

application at least 30 days prior to the award of the grant funds, and an

opportunity for public review and comment be given.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

That the Mayor or her designee is hereby authorized to submit an application

and if awarded, accept a FY11 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in

the amount of $127,260 or as otherwise awarded, and that the funds will be used

by the departments listed above as allocated, and to amend the

Multi-Governmental Fund by the amount of the award.

___________

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the

_________day of _____________, 2011 and adopted at said meeting by the

affirmative vote of

_____________members of said Council.



Councilor Allen voting __________.







Councilor Henderson voting __________.

Councilor Huff voting __________.

Councilor McDaniel voting __________.

Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.



Councilor Woodson voting __________.





____________________________ _________________________

Tiny Washington, Clerk of Council , Mayor



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