AgdaPkt 2009-04-13 clsd and jnt - Laserfiche WebLink

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, '.' , ,. ..,. , R' "E"''''P'''' 0';,; 'R' 'T'!" " !li', ,:' ' ': ',', ' . . .. " " .. '.. . .. " '... ,', ", : ' April 13, 2009 SUBJECT 2008 Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) grant funds for the Redwood City Police Department. RECOMMENDATION Conduct a Public Hearing, and by resolution, authorize the expenditure of up to $123,205 in Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Funds (COPS). BACKGROUND For the thirteenth consecutive year, the Redwood City Police Department has received a State COPS grant. The 2008 grant award is anticipated to be between $100,000 and $123,205. At present the California Department of Finance can only provide a fange for the grant funds and the final amount will not be known until after May 19, 2009 when additional State budget issues are resolved. These funds may only be used for IIfront 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 half of this year's award, up to $61,602.50, be allocated to the salaries and benefits of police officer positions. The Police Chief recommends that the remaining funds, up to $61,602.50, be dedicated to the acquisition of equipment and supplies needed by the police department. ALTERNATIVES City Council may choose not to accept this grant funding. FISCAL IMPACT Approval of this resolution will have no fiscal impact. City staff anticipated receipt of the 2008 COPS grant award and the City Council appropriated sufficient funds in the FY2008-09 budget to expend this grant. 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 approximately $100,000 to $123,205.