HomeMy WebLinkAboutC6. Justice Grant and MOU
Commission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Steve Crawford, Chief of Police
Chris Kukulski, City Manager
SUBJECT: Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
MEETING DATE: June 15, 2015
AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Consent
RECOMMENDATION: Approve Justice Assistance Grant Application to the Bureau of Justice in the amount of $15,481 and authorize the Mayor to sign the Memorandum of
Agreement with Gallatin County allocating the use of those funds.
BACKGROUND: On May 12, 2015, 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 $15,481. 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 29, 2015
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Integrity and Professionalism
www.bozemanpolice.com
PROJECT TITLE:
Obtain conducted electrical weapons, rifle lights, and medical equipment for the City of Bozeman
and Gallatin County law enforcement. PROJECT NARRATIVE: The City of Bozeman is requesting $15,481 from the FY 2015 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 divide the anticipated award between the two jurisdictions.
The City has determined to use their portion ($7,745) to purchase conducted electrical weapons
(“Tasers”). Tasers are used to control dangerous and/or violent persons when appropriate and their
use are frequently an alternative to lethal force. Tasers have been carried by all City officers for approximately 10 years. Although the accepted life of a Taser is five (5) years, the City currently has 41 Tasers in use beyond five (5) years, many of which intermittently fail to operate correctly. The
purchase of eight (8) Tasers would assist in ensuring officers have functional Tasers. The purchase
of these conducted electrical weapons would greatly contribute to citizen and officer safety.
The County has determined to use their portion ($7,736) for the purchase of up to 53 Streamlight Rifle lights for use on issued patrol rifles. The remaining portion would be used to purchase medical
equipment used by the Tactical Paramedics on the City / County joint Special Response Team. The
Team currently has six (6) Tactical Emergency Medical Specialists and is partially equipped with
medical equipment to be used on deployments and / or trainings. The medical equipment is used both for officer and citizen medical emergencies. 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.
Both projects improve and enhance the JAG Program areas of Law Enforcement Programs and Technology Improvement 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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MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY OF BOZEMAN, MT AND COUNTY OF GALLATIN, MT
2015 JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) PROGRAM AWARD
This Agreement is made and entered into this ____ day of June, 2015, 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 2015 Montana Justice Assistance Grant Allocations indicate that
$15,481 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: $7,745 to the CITY for the purchase of eight (8) Conducted
Electrical Weapons (“Tasers”) for the use by officers to control a dangerous and/or
violent person when use of the Taser is warranted and necessary; and $7,736 to the COUNTY for the purchase of 53 Streamlight rifle lights and Medical Equipment for the Paramedics with the Special Response Team. The rifle lights are necessary for all
issued patrol rifles for use in low light conditions. The remaining portion of the funding
will be used to complete the purchase of medical equipment required by the Tactical
Paramedics deployed and training on the Special Response Team.
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
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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;
NOW THEREFORE, the COUNTY and CITY agree as follows: Section 1
CITY and COUNTY agree to use 2015 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 Conducted Electrical Weapons; and assures the COUNTY that no less than
$7,745 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 Streamlight rifle lights and medical equipment and assures the CITY that no less than $7,736 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
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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.
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
____________________________________
Jeff Krauss, Mayor DATE
COUNTY OF GALLATIN, MONTANA
_________________________________ Steve White, DATE
Commission Chair
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