HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-10-13 - AGENDA REPORTS - CITIZENS OPTION GRANT (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
DATE: October 13, 1998
City Manager Approval
Item to be presented by:
SUBJECT: RENEWAL OF CITIZEN'S OPTION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY GRANT
DEPARTMENT: Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Establish estimated revenues of $324,338.52 in account number 211-5211,
Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund.
2. Approve the request from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, Santa Clarita
Station, to use the Citizen's Option for Public Safety Funds to continue the City's Youth
Intervention Team.
3. Appropriate $1,500 to account number 7441-7011 for Grant Administration and
$322,838.52 to account number 7441-8001 for program implementation.
4. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute any contracts, agreements, or
change orders. arising out of this program.
BACKGROUND
In July 1996, Senate approved Assembly Bill 3229, Citizen's Option for Public Safety
(COPS) which allocates funding for public safety programs. The City received $302,182 in
funding in 1996. for the establishment of a Youth Intervention Team, an umbrella entity
overseeing all youth -related law enforcement efforts and crime prevention. The City also
received $302,219 in the 1997-98 fiscal year to continue services.
According to the grant, City Council shall appropriate the funds in accordance with
written request submitted by the Chief Administrator of the local law enforcement agency.
The City is eligible for $324,338.52 in funding for the 1998-99 fiscal year. The County of
Los Angeles Sheriffs Department, Santa Clarita Station, has proposed continued funding of
the Youth Invention Team.
COPS funding has been used for a Youth Probation Officer, Youth Investigator,
Crime/Gang Prevention Officer, clerical support, and equipment. As a result of this
funding, more time has ,been devoted to juvenile cases resulting in more through
investigations and follow-up leading to an increase in arrests. Additional staff has also
APPROVEl Agenda Item:—*
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allowed for more time in the field, resulting in increased intelligence gathering about new
gangs and trends.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
1. Decline the Citizen's Option for Public Safety Grant at this time.
2. Other action as determined by City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
The anticipated cost of this program is estimated to be $324,338.52, to be offset completely
by grant revenue.
ATTACHMENTS
Letter of Request from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Santa Clarita
Station.
PM:ks
council \ citopgtr. doc
SHERMAN BLOCK, SHERIFF
September 16, 1998
TauntE of Too'Att'grlru
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1�heriff'o Department 39ratrquartero
4700 Ramona Nouiebarb
Axintereg Parh, Taiifornia 91754-2169
(805)255-1121
Jan Heidt, Mayor
City of Santa Clarita
23920 Valencia Boulevard, #300
Santa Clarita, California 91355-2196
Dear Mayor Heidt:
For the past two. years, the City of Santa Clarita has received a significant criminal justice
grant that has aided us in our efforts to make the City of Santa Clarita a safer place in which
to live and work. This grant was structured under Assembly Bill 3229 and provided
$302,182 from the State of California for a Citizen's Option for Public Safety (COPS)
Program. This grant funding is available again this year.
The COPS grant was used to enhance our efforts to curb youth crime in Santa Clarita.
Funding has enabled us to hire four additional personnel, a dedicated Probation Officer, a
Youth Crime Investigator, and additional Deputy Sheriff on the COBRA Team to deliver an
anti -gang message in the schools, and a Station Clerk to assist with the paperwork and case
filings generated by our increased activities. We also reorganized our Community Relations
and Detective Bureau to form the Youth Intervention Team. As an additional bonus, monies
not dedicated for personnel use were used to provide additional directed patrols to address
pressing issues dealing with vandalism.
Some highlights from this year's activities included:
• Assisted Homicide directly with the arrest of four suspects in a drive-by shooting
murder.
• Implemented.a Gang Education Program for all seventh grade students in Santa Clarita.
3radlion ocSeruice
Mayor Jan Heidt -2= September 16, 1998
• Solved a felony assault case against city volunteers within hours. Four arrests were
made through informants and past identification of gang members.
• Solved a felony assault drive-by shooting incident within hours. Five arrests were made.
• Arrested a mother, her adult son, and probationer juvenile son for possession of a pipe
bomb.
• The COBRA Team has handled 1,160 juvenile cases from January -September 1998.
I am encouraged by the continuing results of COPS funded activities. We have made ,
quarterly reports to the Prevention Policy Board who oversees the grant and have received a
favorable response. I am asking for your approval to use the 1998-99 COPS Grant funds to
continue these programs.
Sincerely,
S14ERMAN BLOCK, SHERIFF
r.
Carl H. Deeley,
Santa Clarita Valley Station
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cc: City Councilmembers