AGENDA #4b

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Acceptance of Law Enforcement Block Grant

 

DATE  :           February 28, 2000

 

The attached resolution would authorize the acceptance of a local Law enforcement Block Grant from the U. S. Department of Justice in the amount of $65,737.  The attached ordinance would establish a Law Enforcement Block Grant project.

 

BACKGROUND

 

On June 17, 1999, the U. S. Department of Justice announced that the Chapel Hill Police Department was eligible to receive $65,737 in block grant funds.  On July 22, 1999, we submitted an application.  We received notice on January 5, 2000, that our application had been accepted and approved for consideration.  A local match of ten percent would be required from the Town.

 

The Town Council held a public hearing on this topic on February 14.  There were no comments from the public.

 

DISCUSSION

 

In our application to the Department of Justice we proposed spending the block grant funds on technology upgrades that would allow the Police Department to enhance its computer information network.  Tonight we will ask the Council to approve funding to pay a portion of the costs of an upgraded and expanded records information system for the Department.   The remainder of the funding wouldcome from previously approved grants and the $65,737 from the FY 2000 block grant currently under consideration, as discussed in the previous agenda item.

 

Funding through the block grant would available to the Town immediately upon acceptance of the grant.  A local match of $6,573 is required from the Town.  This match can be provided through the Police Department operating budget.

 

Three requirements must be met by the Town before the grant funds can be obligated.

 

1)      An advisory board consisting of representatives from the local school system, the District Attorney’s office, the local court system and a community crime prevention group must review the grant application and make non-binding recommendations about the proposed uses of the grant funds.

 

2)      A public hearing must be held to allow citizens an opportunity to comment on the grant proposal.

 

3)      The Town Council must authorize the acceptance of the grant.

 

The advisory board that reviewed the department’s 1998 and 1999 grant proposals has unanimously approved this year’s grant application. The public hearing was held on February 14.  Should the Council authorize the acceptance of the grant tonight we will submit our request for funding to the Department of Justice.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

a)       That the Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the acceptance of the Department of Justice law enforcement block grant.

 

b)       That the Council adopt t the attached ordinance establishing a Law Enforcement Block Grant project ordinance. budget ordinance amending the Police Department budget to account for a Law Enforcement Block Grant for technology improvements.

 

a) 

 

 

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANT (2000-02-28/R-2) 

 

WHEREAS, the U. S. Department of Justice has made grant funds available to enhance the quality of law enforcement to the community; and

 

WHEREAS, Town’s application in the amount of $65,737 has been approved by the Department of Justice; and

 

WHEREAS, the grant advisory board has approved the proposed expenditures of the grant application; and

 

WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on February 14 to allow citizens an opportunity to comment on the grant;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council authorizes the Manager to accept the Department of Justice block grant and to make all necessary assurances.

 

This the 28th day of February, 2000.

 

 

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND “THE ORDINANCE CONCERNING APPROPRIATIONS AND THE RAISING OF REVENUE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 1999 (2000-02-28/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, 1999” as duly adopted on June14, 1999, be and the same is hereby amended as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

                                                  Current                                                                       Revised

APPROPRIATIONS                  Budget                Increase           Decrease                  Budget

 

GENERAL FUND

 

            Police                         7,737683                  67,737                                      7,803,420

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

                                                  Current                                                                       Revised

REVENUES                               Budget                Increase           Decrease                  Budget

 

GENERAL FUND

           

            Grants                           801,365                  65,737                                         867,102

           

 

 

This the 28th day of February 28, 2000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANT (     ) 

 

WHEREAS, the U. S. Department of Justice has made grant funds available to enhance the quality of law enforcement to the community; and

 

WHEREAS, Town’s application in the amount of $65,737 has been approved by the Department of Justice; and

 

WHEREAS, the grant advisory board has approved the proposed expenditures of the grant application; and

 

WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on February 14 to allow citizens an opportunity to comment on the grant;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council authorizes the Manager to accept the Department of Justice block grant and to make all necessary assurances.

 

This the 28th day of February, 2000.