Item 8GAGENDA ITEM # 8G
APRIL 13, 2009
STAFF REPORT
City of Atlantic Beach
Commission Meeting
AGENDA ITEM: Justice Assistance Grant
DATE: April 1, 2009
SUBMITTED BY: Michael D. Classey, Chief of Police
BACKGROUND:
Justice Assistance Grants (JAGS) are grants that have been established by the Federal
Government and administered by the State of Florida. The Atlantic Beach Police
Department has received the approval for $33,538 in grant funding to purchase law
enforcement equipment or to retain law enforcement positions. This grant does not
require any matching funds from the City.
Presently, all police positions allocated are filled. However, a review of the police
department's budget reveals that there is insufficient funding to cover all of the salaries
and benefits through the end of the fiscal year. In the absence of additional revenues,
which appears very unlikely, the police department would need to reduce staffing by at
least one fulltime sworn position to stay within the existing budget.
It is most likely that one of the COPS positions dedicated to Mayport Road and Royal
Palms would be lost due to budget shortages. I believe that this would severely reduce
our effectiveness in both of these projects. Many times grants such as this are utilized to
purchase equipment; however, given our current budget dilemma, I contend that the most
productive use of these funds would be to retain both of our COPs positions to work on
the projects which the City has identified as top priorities.
The next step of the process for this grant is for the Police Department to apply for the
funding on-line and to submit hard copies of the application 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 application on-line and have the
authorization to electronically sign the on-line application on behalf of the Mayor. The
deadline for the on line application is May 18, 2009 and the hard copy submission will
follow shortly thereafter.
BUDGET: This action will provide $33,538 in grant funding to be added to the 2008-
2009 Police salary account to retain a COPs officer position which lacks sufficient
funding in the General Fund salary budget.
RECOMMENDATIONS: To authorize the Mayor to sign the related paperwork for
the application and the subsequent paperwork related to the JAG grant. In addition, to
AGENDA ITEM # 8G
APRIL 13.2009
authorize Michael D. Classey to submit the application on line and have the authorization
to electronically sign the on-line application on behalf of the Mayor and the City.
ATTACHMENTS: None
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER:
AG DA ITEM NUMBER: