AgdaPkt 2008-02-11 Clsd and Reg - Laserfiche WebLink

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REPOR,T 8C Page 1 February 11 J 2008 SUBJECT 2007 Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) grant funds for the Redwood City Police Department. RECOMMENDATION 1. Conduct a Public Hearing, and by resolution, authorize the expenditure of $148,112 in Fiscal Year 2007-2008 Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Funds (COPS). 2. Appropriate unused COPS funds from FY2006-07 in the amount of $3,036 to the approved FY2007 -08 Police Department Operating Budget. BACKGROUND For the twelfth consecutive year, the Redwood City Police Department has received a State COPS grant. These funds may only be used for "front line" municipal police services, such as personnel, equipment, and programs necessary to meet police service needs within Redwood City. The money must be used to supplement existing services and may not be used to supplant any existing funding for law enforcement services. Additionally, the requests from the Chief of Police for expenditure of COPS funds must be considered separate and apart from the process applicable to proposed allocations of the City's general fund, i.e., separately from the general budgetary process. State law requires that the City Council hold a public hearing to consider written requests by the Police Chief for the expenditure of COPS funds. It is the Police Chiefs recommendation that $72,822 of this year's award be allocated to the salaries and benefits of police officer positions approved by City Council pursuant to the 1997 staffing study. The Police Chief recommends that the remaining funds, $75,290, be dedicated to internal service charges and the acquisition of equipment and supplies needed by the police department. The Police Chief is also asking Council to appropriate $3,036 in additional funds that were not included in the FY2007-08 budget. Funds totaling $2,924 from the 2006 COPS grant award were unused during FY2006-07 and the Department received $112 more than anticipated for the 2007,COPS grant award. AL TERNA TIVES The grant funds may be used for any "front line" municipal police services. FISCAL IMPACT Approval of this resolution will have no fiscal impact. City staff anticipated receipt of the 2007 COPS grant award and the City Council appropriated sufficient funds in the FY2007 -08 budget to expend this grant. The unused funds from the 2006 COPS grant award only require appropriation into the FY2007 -08 budget. The COPS grant has no requirement that the recipient agency provide matching funds. Disapproval of the resolution would result in a net loss to the General Fund of $148,112.