COUNCIL COMMUNICATION

DATE: 04 / 01 / 2002	SUBJECT: FINAL READING/ ORDINANCE # 2002-O-071 Amending the City of Laredo FY 2001-2002 Annual Budget in the amount of $677,337 to fund the Laredo Financial Disruption Task Force from the Office of the National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) at no cost to the City. Funds will be used to pay for personnel salaries, travel and operational expenses beginning January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002; and accepting grant in the same amount.
INITIATED BY: STAFF SOURCE: Larry Dovalina, City Manager Agustin Dovalina, III, Chief of Police
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: None.
BACKGROUND: The City of Laredo has been the Grantee agency for the past eleven years for the South Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (ST HIDTA) Laredo Police Multi-Agency Financial Disruption Task Force. The Task Force works together with other Local, State and Federal Agencies, with its main focus being the identification and disruption/dismantling of Major Drug Trafficking Organizations. Funds under the original grant pay for personnel salaries, overtime, fringe benefits, travel and operating expenses. The grant is 100% federally funded by the Office of the National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). Supplemental funds in the grant will pay for personnel salaries, overtime and fringe benefits for one Laredo Police Sergeant assigned to the DEA Task Force, as well as, two Laredo Police Investigator’s overtime, travel and operating expenses assigned to the FBI Task Force.
FINANCIAL SECTION: See attachment.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: N/A		STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval of this Ordinance.

ORDINANCE NO. 2002-O-071

Amending the City of Laredo FY 2001-2002 Annual Budget in the amount of $677,337 to fund the Laredo Financial Disruption Task Force from the Office of the National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) at no cost to the City. Funds will be used to pay for personnel salaries, travel and operational expenses beginning January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002; and accepting grant in the same amount.

Whereas, the City Council previously adopted the budget for fiscal year 2001-2002; and

Whereas, 100% of the grant funds are federally funded by the Office of the National Drug Control Policy through the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area; and

Whereas, funds will be used to pay personnel salaries for one (1) Sergeant, six (6) Investigators, one (1) full-time Administrative Assistant II, one (1) part-time Secretary, and travel and operating expenses for the above, plus two (2) additional Investigators (DPS); and

Whereas, the described transfer below are done pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.08 of the City Charter.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAREDO THAT:

Section 1: the Laredo Financial Disruption Task Force grant be accepted in the amount of $677,337.

Section 2: the City of Laredo FY 2001-2002 Annual Budget be amended in the amount of $677,337 to fund the Laredo Financial Disruption Task Force from the Office of the National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) at no cost to the City. Funds will be used to pay for personnel salaries, travel and operational expenses beginning January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002.

Section 3: the City Manager be authorized to transfer the following full-time equivalents (FTEs) to General Fund in the event this grant is no longer funded: one (1) Sergeant, one (1) Investigator, one (1) Officer, one (1) Administrative Assistant II.

PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND APPROVED BY THE MAYOR ON THIS THE _______ DAY OF _________________, 2002.

_____________________

ELIZABETH G. FLORES

MAYOR

ATTEST:

_____________________

GUSTAVO GUEVARA, JR.

CITY SECRETARY

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

_____________________

JAIME FLORES

CITY ATTORNEY