COUNCIL COMMUNICATION

DATE:

 

 

   07  / 1   /  2002

 

 

SUBJECT:    Final Reading 2002-O-135

 Accepting a grant awarded from the United States Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services in the amount of $3,000,000 and amending the City of Laredo’s FY2001-2002 annual budget in the amount of $5,308,520 to fund the COPS program, and amending the City of Laredo FY 2001-2002 Full Time Equivalent Positions by adding 40 Patrol Officers Cadets.  The United States Department of Justice will be designating $3,000,000 and the City of Laredo will be designating $2,308,520 in matching funds for a total of $5,308,520 for a three year funding period of the “Universal Hiring” program beginning March 1, 2002 through February 28, 2005. (As Amended)

INITIATED BY:                                                STAFF SOURCE:

 Larry Dovalina                                                Agustin Dovalina,III                                         

City Manager                                                   Chief of Police                                                 

 

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:

  Public Hearing was passed on June 17, 2002.

 

ACTION PROPOSED:

 That this Ordinance be passed and approved.

 

BACKGROUND: 

The “Universal Program is a grant established by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Service “COPS” within the U.S. Department of Justice under the provisions of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, signed into law by president Clinton on September 13, 1994.  This grant authorizes law enforcement agencies to hire additional sworn law enforcement officers as part of an overall plan to address crime and related problems through community policing.  The U.S. Department of Justice has authorized the City to hire fourty (40) additional police officers under this program.  The grant funds only salaries and fringe benefits for a three year period. 

 

FINANCIAL:                         ORIGINAL               PROPOSED                   PROPOSED   

                                             BUDGET                 AMENDED                     BUDGET

                                                                             BUDGET                      AMENDMENT

REVENUES:                                       

Universal Hiring 02-05       $           -                    $ 3,000,000                    $3,000,000

Reimbursement/Other       $     567,135              $             -                       $  (567,135)      

Transfer In from G/F          $    189,045               $    189,045                    $              -

Total Revenues                 $     756,180              $ 3,189,045                     $2,432,865

 

EXPENDITURES: 

Universal Hiring 02-05       $                                 $ 3,189,045                    $ 3,189,045

Total Expenditures             $    756,180                $             -                      $   (756,180)

                                           $    756,180                $ 3,189,045                   $  2,432,865

 

Note:  Transfer in from general fund of $189,045 was appropriated during the 2001-2002  

           budget.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

 

 

STAFF:

 

That this Ordinance be approved.

 

 Ordinance 2002-O-134

 

Accepting a grant awarded by the United States Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services the amount of $3,000,000 and amending the City of Laredo’s FY2001-2002 annual budget in the amount of $5,308,520 to fund the COPS program, and amend the City of Laredo FY 2001-2002 Full Time Equivalent Positions by adding 40 Patrol Officers Cadets.  The United States Department of Justice will be designating $3,000,000 and the City of Laredo will be designating $2,308,520 in matching funds for a total of $5,308,520 for a three year funding period of the “Universal Hiring” program beginning March 1, 2002 through February 28, 2005. (As Amended)

                      

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

 

Whereas,  the City of Laredo FY 2001/2002 Full Time Equivalent Positions be amended to reflect the new FTE’s for 40 Patrol Officers Cadets funded by the U. S. Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Service.

 

Whereas,  the Chief of Police recommends the authorization to accept a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice for funding of the “Universal Hiring” program to pay the salaries and fringe benefits of forty (40) newly hired police officers; and

 

Whereas,  the participating agency is the Laredo Police Department; and

 

             Whereas,  the total funding requested for this project is approximately 65% federally funded and 35% City of Laredo; and

 

             Whereas,  the City of Laredo recognizes that there is a required retention plan with this program which involves that City of Laredo continue the employment of these forty (40) newly hired police officers upon the completion of the three year grant period and that the many years in the general fund must be increased by these forty (40) newly hired police officers; and 

                                                         

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

 

Section 1:  Accepting a grant awarded by the United States Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services the amount of $3,000,000 and the City of Laredo’s FY2001-2002 annual budget is hereby amended in the amount of $5,308,520 to fund the COPS program.  The United States Department of Justice will be designating $3,000,000 and the City of Laredo will be designating $2,308,520 in matching funds for a total of $5,308,520 for a three year funding period of the “Universal Hiring” program beginning March 1, 2002 through February 28, 2005.  (As Amended)

 

 

Section 2:  The City Manager is hereby authorized to create (40) Full Time Equivalent Positions for 40 new Patrol Officers Cadets funded by the U. S. Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Service.  The City of Laredo will transfer forty (40) Police Officer position to the general fund at the end of the grant period and that the 40 Full Time Equivalent (FTE’s) positions be added to the general fund man years division 101-2310. 

 

Section 3:  It authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to achieve said grant and to effectuate its terms.

 

 

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