Agenda item 4CCITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM: Justice Assistance Grant
SUBMITTED BY: Michael D. Classey, Chief of Police
DATE: June 13, 2013
STRATEGIC PLAN LINK: N/A
BACKGROUND:
AGENDA ITEM # 4C
JULY 8, 2013
Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) are grants that have been established by the Federal Government and
administered by the State of Florida. Atlantic Beach has benefitted from JAG grants for many years. The
allocations for this grant must be approved by at least half of the law enforcement agencies in Duval County.
The total amount of the award for Duval County is $346,597 whereas last year's award was $362,032.
There have been early discussions; however a final agreement has not yet been reached. Last year Atlantic
Beach received $78,440 in funding, but this year's county award is less than last year's. Final negotiations with
the other law enforcement agencies will be concluded in the near future and AB's final award amount should be
available for the July 8"' Commission meeting. This grant can be used to enhance law enforcement by
supplementing existing nonfederal funds for program activities, which may include the purchase of law
enforcement equipment or providing finding for law enforcement positions that have been federally funded.
This grant does not require any matching funds from the City.
Due to budget shortfalls over the past several years, these finds have been utilized to cover the majority of the
salary expense for one (1) Crime Suppression Detective and one (1) Community Oriented Policing (COPS)
Officer. Both of these positions have played an integral part in the City's Mayport Corridor initiative. Staff
recommends using this year's JAG funding for these positions.
Many times grants such as these are utilized to purchase equipment; however, I suggest that the most productive
use of these finds would be to continue finding our COPS position and the CSU Detective to work on the
projects which the City has identified as high priorities.
Subsequent to a final agreement being reached, the next step of the process for this grant will be for the Police
Department to apply for the funding on -line and to submit hard copies of the applications with original
signatures. For this process, the City needs to authorize the Mayor to sign the related paperwork. The City also
needs to authorize Chief Classey to submit the applications on -line and have the authorization to electronically
sign the on -line applications on behalf of the Mayor. The deadline for the on line applications is July 24, 2013
and the hard copy submission is due no later than August 2, 2013.
BUDGET: This action will provide grant funding to be added to the 2013 -14 Patrol and CSU Detective salary
accounts to partially fund one (1) COPs officer position and one (1) CSU Detective position.
RECOMMENDATIONS: To authorize the Mayor to sign the related paperwork for the applications and the
subsequent paperwork related to the JAG grant. In addition, to authorize Michael D. Classey to submit the
applications on line and have the authorization to electronically sign the on -line applications on behalf of the
Mayor and the City.
ATTACHMENTS: None
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER:
