HomeMy WebLinkAboutAuthorize MOU with Gallatin County for Justice Assistance Grant
Commission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Ron Price, Chief of Police
Chris Kukulski, City Manager
SUBJECT: Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
MEETING DATE: June 2, 2014
AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Consent
RECOMMENDATION: Approve Justice Assistance Grant Application to the Bureau of Justice in the amount of $19,315 and authorize the City Manager to sign the Memorandum of
Agreement with Gallatin County allocating the use of those funds.
BACKGROUND: On May 10, 2014, The Bureau of Justice Assistance announced the
Bozeman Police Department and the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office were eligible for an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) in the amount of $19,315. A requirement of this disparate grant is that the funds be used jointly between the two law
enforcement agencies and that a Memorandum of Agreement is in place that describes allocation
of those funds.
The use of JAG funds will support projects within the Bozeman Police Department and Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office that improve the effectiveness of our systems and enhance the safety of
our officers and community. A brief project narrative is attached.
FISCAL EFFECTS: Approval of this proposal will have no adverse impacts on the current Police Department budget. Matching funds are not required by the funding agency.
ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Commission.
Attachments: Memorandum of Agreement with Gallatin County
Project Narrative Report compiled: May 21, 2014
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PROJECT TITLE: Obtain Rifles and safety equipment for the Bozeman Police/Gallatin County Special Response
Team.
PROJECT NARRATIVE: The City of Bozeman is requesting $19,315 from the FY 2014 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice
Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. The Department of Justice has determined that the City meets
the criteria for a disparate jurisdiction within Gallatin County. Therefore, the City and the
County have determined to equally divide the anticipated award between the two jurisdictions.
The City has further determined to use their portion ($9,660) to improve safety and response to
high risk situations with our Special Response Team. We serve jointly with the Gallatin County
Sheriff’s Office. The Special Response Team responds to armed barricaded subjects, high risk
fugitive searches, potential hostage situations, and other high risk incidents that may exceed the capabilities of responding patrol personnel. The Special Response Team is also tasked with
response to high risk and violent events that require the potential application of lethal force to
safeguard life in the community. The team is also a regional asset that responds to not only
Gallatin County situations, but also to requests for assistance from neighboring jurisdictions such
as Yellowstone National Park and Park, Meagher, and Sweet Grass Counties.
Our team has 4 sniper rifles that provide the ability to use lethal force when warranted from long
range distances. We have found that 4 rifles owned by both City and County are no longer safe
to use and in need of upgraded optics. We have also been using ballistic helmet protection that
is no longer deemed safe by the manufacturer. Current helmets in use were either manufactured in 2000 and guaranteed for 10 years by the manufacturer or manufactured in 2008 and
guaranteed for 5 years. The helmet we have identified as being best suited for our team is the
United Shield Spec Ops DELTA Ballistic Helmet level IIIA.
The City half of the request would be for thirteen (13) ballistic helmets at approximately $620 each for a total of $8,060 and one (1) FN Herstal .308 caliber Rifle manufacturer number 75510
for approximately $1,690. All of the request is for the combined city-county special response
team. The combined total request for the helmets and one rifle for the City’s half is $9,660. Any
costs beyond $9,660 will be paid for by local funds. The purchase of the rifles and helmets
would greatly contribute to citizen and officer safety.
The County has determined to use their portion ($9,655) for the purchase of up to (3) police
tactical Precision rifles and (3) Rifle Optics to equip the marksman members of the Special
Response Team. The City / County joint Special Response Team currently operates with (4)
rifles which have had numerous recalls, and currently they are under recall, this is determined to be unsafe. The City of Bozeman is going to purchase (1 of 4) rifles, while the County will
purchase the remaining (3). The Rifle optics currently being used are 10 years old, different
models, and need to be replaced. The optics have turrets which are unreliable and not holding a
true zero, the point of impact is inconsistent. The City of Bozeman is within the jurisdiction of
the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and as such incorporates its justifications as stated above. In addition the Sheriff’s Office protects roughly the same number of people outside of the
jurisdiction of incorporated cities.
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Both projects improve and enhance the JAG Program areas of Law Enforcement Programs and
Prevention programs and both projects are anticipated to be completed within one-year of
funding award. As the lead applicant, the City of Bozeman will be responsible for project and grant administration, including financial management, and ensuring the project is implemented
consistent with applicable federal, state, county and local standards. The City is also responsible
for compliance with assurances and certifications, submitting reports, and providing oversight
and assistance to the sub-recipient of funds (Gallatin County).
Since the City and County have worked jointly on several similar projects, including previous
JAG projects, effective working relationships have been established between the two
jurisdictions and methods for addressing barriers and conflicts have been developed.
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Page 1 of 3
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY OF BOZEMAN, MT AND COUNTY OF GALLATIN, MT 2013 JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) PROGRAM AWARD
This Agreement is made and entered into this ____ day of June, 2014, by and between the
COUNTY of GALLATIN, a political subdivision of the State of Montana, acting by and through its
governing body, the Gallatin County Commissioners, hereinafter referred to as COUNTY, and the CITY of BOZEMAN, a self-governing political subdivision of the State of Montana, acting by
and through its governing body, the Bozeman City Commission, hereinafter referred to as CITY, both of Gallatin County, State of Montana:
WHEREAS, the 2014 Montana Justice Assistance Grant Allocations indicate that $19,315
is jointly available to the CITY and the COUNTY for eligible purposes stipulated within the grant guidance; and
WHEREAS, said guidance stipulates that, as disparate jurisdictions, the CITY and
COUNTY must both be signatory on the required Memorandum of Understanding (MOU); and
WHEREAS, the selected purpose area of this award is ‘Law Enforcement’ and all funds
will be used for eligible costs under Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number
16.738; and
WHEREAS, the CITY and COUNTY believe it to be in their best interests to allocate the
JAG funds as follows: $9,660 to the CITY for the purchase of replacement helmets, a rifle and related accessories for the special response team; and $9,655 to the COUNTY for the purchase
of rifles for the special response team; and WHEREAS, both the City and the County receive more than $500,000 annually in federal
funds; and,
WHEREAS, the parties recognize the CITY as the grantee is obligated to comply with all
applicable federal requirements related to the receipt and expenditure of the additional JAG allocation including the requirements detailed in OMB-133; and
WHEREAS, the COUNTY is a sub-recipient of grant funds obligated to comply with requirements detailed in OMB-133, including requirements ensuring the COUNTY is meeting
audit requirements; and WHEREAS, each governing body, in performing governmental functions or in paying for
the performance of governmental functions hereunder, shall make that performance or those
payments from current revenues legally available to that party; and
WHEREAS, each governing body finds that the performance of this Agreement is in the best interests of both parties, that the undertaking will benefit the public, and that the division of costs fairly compensates the performing party for the services or functions under this Agreement;
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Page 2 of 3
NOW THEREFORE, the COUNTY and CITY agree as follows:
Section 1
CITY and COUNTY agree to use 2014 JAG funds, if awarded, for purposes described above; and
Section 2
CITY agrees to provide the COUNTY with detailed invoices for costs incurred for the acquisition of patrol rifles and accessories; and assures the COUNTY that no less than $9,655 will be expended on the acquisition of these items.
Section 3
COUNTY agrees to provide the CITY with detailed invoices for costs incurred for the acquisition of rifles and assures the CITY that no less than $9,655 will be expended on the acquisition of these
items.
Section 4
Nothing in the performance of this Agreement shall impose any liability for claims against COUNTY or against the CITY other than claims for which applicable law may impose liability.
Section 5
Each party to this Agreement will be responsible for its own actions in providing services under this Agreement and shall not be liable for any civil liability that may arise from the furnishing of the services by the other party.
Section 6
The parties to this Agreement do not intend for any third party to obtain a right by virtue of this Agreement.
Section 7
By entering into this Agreement, the parties do not intend to create any obligations express or implied other than those set out herein; further, this Agreement shall not create any rights in any
party not a signatory hereto. Section 8
The CITY acknowledges its responsibility to comply with all applicable Federal requirements related to the receipt and expenditure of these funds, including but not limited to those outlined
in OMB-133 and agrees to complete all federal reporting requirements on behalf of both parties.
Section 9
As a co-recipient or sub-recipient of federal funds through this Justice Assistance Grant (JAG),
the COUNTY agrees to meet all of the contractual requirements stipulated by the Bureau of
Justice Assistance (BJA) in the award of this grant.
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Page 3 of 3
Section 10
As the fiscal agent for this JAG, the CITY agrees to monitor performance and financial activities
conducted by the COUNTY in the performance of this grant to ensure compliance with funding agency requirements.
CITY OF BOZEMAN, MONTANA
____________________________________
Chris Kukulski, City Manager DATE
COUNTY OF GALLATIN, MONTANA
____________________________________
Joe P. Skinner, DATE
Commission Chair
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