HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-08-25 - AGENDA REPORTS - BUREAU JUSTICE ASSISTANCE (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
DATE: August 25, 1998
City Managepproval
Item to be presented by: Adele Macpherson
SUBJECT: BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
BLOCK GRANT
DEPARTMENT: Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Approve and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute any contracts,
agreements, or change orders arising out of the Bureau of Justice Assistance Local Law
Enforcement Block Grant.
2. - Establish estimated revenues in the Bureau of Justice Assistance Local Law
Enforcement Grant III account number 108-5262.
3. Authorize $20,182 to be transferred from Sheriffs Department contract savings in
account number 6100-8071 to account number 108-5262 for the required cash match.
4. Appropriate $2,000 to account number 7497-7011 and $199,855 to account number
7497-8001.
BACKGROUND
In June 1998, the Bureau of Justice Assistance announced the availability of funding for
the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant. The City of Santa Clarita was notified that it was
eligible to apply for a direct award of $181,637. The grant requires a cash match by the
City of $20,182.
The purpose of the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant is to provide local jurisdictions with
opportunities to reduce crime and improve public safety. This is done through the
implementation of diverse strategies ranging from addressing the issue of violent juvenile
crime to establishing crime preventionprograms involving cooperation between community
residents and law enforcement personnel.
In an effort to expand the City's youth crime prevention efforts, the City applied for funding
from the Bureau of Justice Assistance Local Law Enforcement Block Grant. This funding
will be used for law enforcement activities focusing on youth crime prevention and
continuing activities funded by a previous grant. The activities to be funded are as follows:
N PROUEin
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Park/Paseo/Trails Bike Patrol: A team consisting of six officers will be on bike patrol at
park sites and on paseos and trails identified as key areas of criminal activity. The bike
team will be used during June, July, August, and September when the facilities are used
the most and students are on summer break. The purpose of the bike patrol is to reduce
the use of illegal substances at the parks and on the paseos and trails; enforce the curfew;
and reduce criminal activity. During the first three weeks of bike patrol this year, 11
patrols were conducted, resulting in:
51
Misdemeanor Juvenile Arrests
20
Juvenile Citations
37
Misdemeanor Adult Arrests
7
Misdemeanor Adult Citations
2
Felony Juvenile Arrests
DUI Checkpoints: Additional DUI checkpoints will be conducted to coincide with local
high school proms and graduations: These checkpoints will focus on areas where teenage
celebrations occur. The purpose of the additional checkpoints is to reduce the number of
under -age drunk drivers and inform the public of the laws regarding drinking and driving,
and to encourage them to drive sober.
Truancy Sweeps: The Truancy Team will conduct community -wide sting operations to
apprehend truants and return them to school. The purpose of the Truancy Team is to
detain truants; encourage students to stay in school, and reduce the number of truants and
crimes committed during the day.
Alcohol Stings: The purpose of the alcohol stings is to eliminate alcohol sales to youth.
Deputies will cite store clerks caught.selling alcohol to minors.
The grant stipulates that the funding cannot be used to supplant existing funds. Another
grant requirement is the formation of an advisory board that includes representation of
groups with recognized interest in criminal justice and crime, or substance abuse,
prevention, and treatment. The Prevention Policy Board, an existing oversight committee
would be used to serve for this grant.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Other direction as determined by City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
The anticipated costs of this program are estimated to be $201,819. The grant award of
$181,637 requires a match of $20,182, which will come from contract savings with the
Sheriff's Department.
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council\loclawbg.doc