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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-01-13 - AGENDA REPORTS - PUBLIC SAFETY GRANT RENEWAL (2)CONSENT CALENDAR DATE: SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT: Agenda Item• CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approval: Item to be presented by: January 13, 2004 Adele Macpherson RENEWAL OF CITIZENS OPTION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY (COPS) GRANT Parks, Recreation & Community Services RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council approve the request from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Santa Clarita Valley Station, to use the Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) Funds, under Assembly Bill 3229, to continue the City's Youth Intervention Team. 2. Establish estimated revenue of $242,661 in account number 211-5211, Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund. 3. Appropriate $800 to account number 7441-7011 for grant administration, $1,000 to account number 7441-7302 for Travel and Training, and $200,865 to account number 7441-8110 for program implementation. 4. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute any contracts, agreements, or change orders arising out of this program. BACKGROUND Under Assembly Bill 3229, the Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) bill, funding is allocated to municipalities for public safety programs. Fiscal Year 2003-04 marks the eighth program year the City has been eligible to receive grant dollars from this program. According to grant requirements, City Council shall appropriate the funds in accordance with a written request submitted by the Chief Administrator of the local law enforcement agency. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, Santa Clarita Valley Station, has proposed continued nnnO funding of the Youth Intervention Team, an umbrella entity overseeing all youth -related law enforcement efforts and crime prevention. The COPS grant will continue to be used to fund the COBRA Team staff, a Youth Probation Officer, Station Clerk, and program -related expenses. As a result of past funding, the COBRA Team has been able to handle close to 1,500 juvenile cases, involving 1,632 suspects. The additional personnel have also been able to continue the Gang Education and Drug Education Programs for all 7th grade students as part of the Teen Issues curriculum, and the Teen Court Program. Funding has allowed for the expansion of the School Emergency Operations Response Plans in all schools, from elementary through high school. The personnel increase has also enabled the City to prosper from having a Youth Probation Officer who works closely with juvenile investigators to effectively address probation violators. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS 1. Determine alternate use for the COPS Grant. 2. Other action as determined by City Council. FISCAL IMPACT The anticipated cost of this program is estimated to be $242,661, to be offset completely by grant revenue. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A - Letter of Request from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, Santa Clarita Valley Station. LEROY D. BACA. SHERIFF December 16, 2003 Tauntg of Eioo AngeCes Oheriff'a ffiepartment'*eabquarters 4700 Hamann NouletiarD to terep JJarh, California 91754 - 2169 (661)255-1121 Bob Kellar, Mayor City of Santa Clarita 23920 Valencia Boulevard, #300 Santa Clarita, California 91355-2196 Dear Mayor Kellar: For the past several years, the City of Santa Clarita has received a significant criminal justice grant under Assembly Bill 3229 that has aided us in our efforts to make Santa Clarita a safer place in which to live and work. This year's grant provides $242,661 from the State of California for a Citizen's Option for Public Safety (COPS) Program. The COPS grant has been used to enhance our efforts to curb youth crime in Santa Clarita. Specifically, the funding has enabled us to maintain the COBRA Team staffing, and a dedicated Probation Officer and Station Clerk. As an additional bonus, monies not dedicated for personnel use were used to provide additional directed patrols that address pressing issues dealing with vandalism, assault -related gang activity, and auto burglaries. Some highlights from this year's activities included: • Continuation of the Gang Education and Drug Education Programs for all seventh -grade students in Santa Clarita, and the Teen Court Program. • Expanding the School Emergency Operations Response Plans by including all elementary schools, along with each high school and junior high school. � 7ra�lion of cSeruice Mayor Bob Kellar -2- December 16, 2003 • The COBRA Team continues to enhance their parent/youth counseling efforts. They have also increased the scope of their public presentations to groups of parents, school employees, community groups, and the business community. • The COBRA Team has handled 1,496 juvenile cases for the year 2003, involving 1,632 suspects. Insofar as accountability is concerned, you should know that we make quarterly reports to the Prevention Policy Board that oversees the grant and have received favorable responses. I am asking for your approval to use the 2003-2004 COPS Grant funds to continue these programs. Sincerely, LEROY D. BACA, SHERIFF Patti A. Ntinutello, Captain Santa Clarita Valley Station cc: City Councilmembers