HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 11 Justice Assitance Grants AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 11/18/2019
Meeting Type: Regular Meeting Staff Contact/Dept.: Richard L. Lewis Staff Phone No: 541-726-3729
Estimated Time: 5 Minutes S P R I N G F I E L D C I T Y C O U N C I L Council Goals: Provide Financially Responsible and Innovative Government Services ITEM TITLE: JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANTS
ACTION REQUESTED:
Hold a public hearing on the proposed uses for the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Justice Assistance Grants
ISSUE STATEMENT:
The Police Department proposes use of the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Justice Assistance
Grants to procure unfunded equipment and contracted services.
ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 1: 2017 Justice Assistance Grant Program Narrative Attachment 2: 2018 Justice Assistance Grant Program Narrative
Attachment 3: 2019 Justice Assistance Grant Program Narrative
DISCUSSION/ FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The City of Springfield was awarded Department of Justice Local Justice
Assistance Grants (JAG) for grant years 2017, 2018, and 2019, in the amount of $25,280, $28,707, and $24,712 respectively. The JAG grants are an annual, non-competitive grant award designated to support public safety goals. The 2017 and 2018 JAG grants were awarded in July 2019 after an extended hold on all Oregon agency award applications due to compliance with 8 U.S.C. 1373, including sending and receiving information about a person’s immigration status. The 2019
JAG grant was awarded September 20, 2019 The Police Department proposes use of the local JAG grant funds to support police program purchases and/or services, which have no prior dedicated funding source:
The 2017 JAG grant, in the amount of $25,280, to be used for security
system equipment expansion, updates and improvements (estimate of $12,537), as well as the initial purchase of Dragonspeak software which provides speech to text dictation functionality to increase efficiencies and
ergonomics of report writing for officers in the field ($12,743).
The 2018 JAG grant, in the amount of $28,707, to be used to improve radio
transmission performance within the Springfield Justice Center and/or Springfield Municipal Jail.
The 2019 JAG grant, in the amount of $24,712, to be used for the purchase of communication equipment for the negotiations team ($12,899), mobile traffic speed displays for use in school zones and other key traffic safety areas ($9,692), and 3-4 mobile printers to evaluate future mobile printer replacement ($2,115).
The Department has requested this public hearing to inform the Council and the public of the grant opportunities, the intended use of the funds, and to meet an application requirement for a review by the local governing body and for a public
hearing.
Program Narrative
2017 Local Justice Assistance Grant Initiative
Revised 11/4/19
Funds received by the City of Springfield from the 2017 Local Justice Assistance Grant will be
used to support two department objectives.
Approximately half of the grant funds will be used to update or expand select security system
solutions supporting the Springfield Justice Center and Springfield Municipal Jail. Desired
security system updates include adding additional security cameras in areas of the facility
determined to be lacking sufficient camera views. Additional cameras may be added to the
existing security camera system, which will require additional licensing and storage
considerations.
The Police Department has budgeted funding to replace the existing security camera system, as
well as funding for ongoing support of the entire security system (cameras, door locks,
intercoms, etc.). However, funding has not been identified for potential expansion of the new
camera system or other security system features.
The remaining grant funds will be used for the initial purchase of Dragonspeak software, which
provides speech to text dictation functionality. A pilot of Dragonspeak noted the software
provides distinct efficiency and ergonomic benefits, plus allowing officer to verbally access their
MDC’s while driving. Thirteen officers expressed interest in utilizing the software while on
patrol to take advantage of the demonstrated advantages the software provides, for an initial
cost of $12,742.93. The Police Department had no plans to fund for this type of software,
however has determined the potential benefit to both employee and department productivity
is worth the investment. The grant funding will allow for the initial purchase and training for the
software.
Purchases supported by the grant award are above and beyond what would be possible within
the Department’s current budget.
Attachment 1, Page 1 of 1
Program Narrative
2018 Local Justice Assistance Grant Initiative
Revised 11/4/19
Funds received by the City of Springfield from the 2018 Local Justice Assistance Grant will be
used to improve radio transmission performance within the Springfield Justice Center and/or
Springfield Municipal Jail facilities.
There are areas within the Springfield Justice Center and Springfield Municipal Jail that
experience connectivity issues when attempting to connect with the regional radio system.
Changes in portable radio equipment, updated computer systems creating radio interference,
and other potential external factors have increased the frequency of the radio transmission
issues within the facilities.
The Police Department will be evaluating recommended solutions from radio professionals to
identify the best system to improve radio transmissions within the facilities. Possible solutions
include installation of a distributed antenna system or a passive antenna system.
The Police Department had no plans to dedicate funds toward a radio transmission
performance solution within our facilities. Purchases supported by the grant award are above
and beyond what would be possible within the Department’s current budget.
Attachment 2, Page 1 of 1
Program Narrative
2019 Local Justice Assistance Grant
Funds received by the City of Springfield from the 2019 Local Justice Assistance Grant will be
used to purchase negotiations equipment, two portable speed display with data collection
functionality, and mobile printers.
The Springfield Police Department negotiations team is in need of newer updated negotiations
equipment. The current equipment has been in use for over (30) thirty years and is deficient in
compatibility with cell phones requiring workarounds that are not as reliable. The new systems
provide various tactical features that improve intelligence gathering and officer safety.
Procurement of the negotiations equipment has been an ongoing, yet unfunded need due to
budgetary constraints.
The Springfield Police Department patrol division intend to purchase two portable speed
displays with data collection functionality to provide tools that can increase traffic safety,
especially in school zones. The patrol division will also replace a limited number of mobile
thermal printers to facilitate printing e-citations, accident exchange information, and other in
the field. Purchase of new mobile printers was recently identified as a need by City IT staff, but
has not budgeted or anticipated by the department.
Purchases supported by the grant award are above and beyond what is budgeted within the
Department’s current fund budget.
Attachment 3, Page 1 of 1