AGENDA #4a

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:      Acceptance of Grant Funds for Police Vehicle Cameras

DATE:                        April 5, 2005

Enactment of the attached budget ordinance would authorize the expenditure of grant funds in the amount of $98,500 to purchase 14 in-car video cameras for police cars. 

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

In June 2004, the Police Department was notified by the U.S. Department of Justice that it was eligible to participate with the Cary Police Department in a grant-sharing program that would provide funds to purchase in-car camera systems.  The total amount of funds available was $250,000.  No local match is required.

Police Chief Gregg Jarvies and Cary Police Chief W. J. Hunter submitted a joint grant application to the Justice Department in September 2004.  The application has been approved and the funds are now available.  The grant is a reimbursement grant that requires the purchase of the cameras before the funds are disbursed.

Chief Jarvies and Chief Hunter have agreed to divide the total grant funds based on a formula that takes into account the number of officers and vehicles in each department.  The Town’s portion of the grant funds will be $98,500.  These funds will be used to purchase approximately 14 digital cameras (and related support software) for police cars.

RECOMMENDATION

We recommend that the Council enact the attached budget ordinance which would amend the budget to authorize the expenditure of $98,500 with the assurance that the Federal grant funds have been earmarked to reimburse the Town once the camera purchases have been completed. 

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND “THE ORDINANCE CONCERNING APPROPRIATIONS AND THE RAISING OF REVENUE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2004” (2005-04-05/O-1)

BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Budget Ordinance entitled “An Ordinance Concerning Appropriations and the Raising of Revenue for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2004” as duly adopted on June 14, 2004 and the same is hereby amended as follows:

This the 5th day of April, 2005.