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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 07 Justice Assistance GrantsAGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 10/4/2021 Meeting Type: Regular Meeting Staff Contact/Dept.: Chief Shearer/Police Staff Phone No: 541-726-3729 Estimated Time: 5 Minutes SPRINGFIELD Council Goals: Provide Financially CITY COUNCIL Responsible and Innovative Government Services ITEM TITLE: JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANTS ACTION Hold a public hearing on the proposed uses of the 2020 and 2021 Justice Assistance REQUESTED: Grants ISSUE The Police Department proposes use of 2020 and 2021 Justice Assistance Grants to STATEMENT: support the modifications of a new CAHOOTS van servicing Springfield and unfunded training. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 1: 2020 Justice Assistance Grant Program Narrative Attachment 2: 2021 Justice Assistance Grant Program Narrative DISCUSSION/ The City of Springfield was awarded Department of Justice, Local Justice FINANCIAL Assistance Grants (JAG) for grant years 2020 and 2021. The JAG grants are an IMPACT: annual, non-competitive grant award designated to support public safety goals. The Police Department proposes use of the local JAG grant funds to support police managed program costs without a dedicated funding source. The 2020 JAG grant award is $18,685 and its proposed use will support a portion of the cost for vehicle modifications to a new CAHOOTS van servicing the Springfield community. CAHOOTS van reliability is a significant priority to support mobile mental health services. Replacement of the van was delayed from last fiscal year due to supply chain challenges. The CAHOOTS van modifications have an estimated cost of $45,000. The proposed purchase of the van and remaining modification costs are supported by Lane County managed OHA grant support and Fire and Police vehicle reserve funds. Fiscal year 2022 budgetary authority will be requested within an upcoming supplemental budget request. The 2021 JAG grant award is $21,416 and has a proposed use of supporting additional management level and specialized trainings that would not be possible within the department's annual training budget. The department's $40,000 training budget supports all department wide and individual trainings. Higher cost trainings benefiting one or few staff members are infrequently requested or approved due to the anticipated impact on the department's overall training budget. The grant award would support unbudgeted additional management level trainings emphasizing best practice policies and processes, risk reduction, and community policing principles. Additional specialized trainings would benefit programs such as computer forensic investigations, defensive tactics and de-escalation. The Department has requested this public hearing to inform the Council and the public of the grant opportunities, the proposed use of grant funds, and to fulfill an application requirement for review by the local governing body and opportunity for public comment. Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Fiscal Year 2020 Program Narrative The City of Springfield and Springfield Police Department, partners with White Bird Clinic's CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Street) to provide specialized response for persons experiencing a mental health crisis or in need of assistance due to minor medical issues or intoxication. The CAHOOTS program utilizes a dedicated van, with custom interior modification to best support and transport individuals, as needed. The current CAHOOTS van utilized to service the City of Springfield has 237,822 miles on it as of August 7, 2020 and based on recent mechanical issues has been identified as needing replacement. The CAHOOTS van replacement and new van interior upfit has not been budgeted by the City of Springfield. The proposed grant project will provide significant funding towards the CAHOOTS van upfit costs, which was estimated at approximately $30,000 in January 2020. Van upfit includes a custom storage system for medical kits, a jump kit, and other medical related equipment, as well as custom lighting, seating and secure partitions. Attachment 1, Page 1 of 1 BJA FY 2021 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Local Solicitation Proposal Narrative The City of Springfield Police Department proposes use of grant funding to support training opportunities beyond the existing training budget. The Department's training budget limits funding for higher cost training benefiting one or few staff members. Several management and specialized trainings have been identified as highly desirable, but potentially cost prohibitive without additional funding. The current training budget is primarily utilized to support certification requirements and/or prioritized trainings benefiting large numbers of staff. The grant funding would support additional management level training, with emphasis on best practice policies and processes, reduction of risk, and community policing principles. Additional specialized training would benefit program leads and trainers in key programs such as computer forensic investigations, defensive tactics and de-escalation. Attachment 2, Page 1 of 1