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TO: Mayor Thomas J. Weisner
FROM: Lt. Mike Abbs
DATE: June 25, 2015
SUBJECT:
Resolution authorizing the execution of a memorandum of understanding between the City of Aurora, Kane County, and the City of Elgin; the participation in the 2015 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program; and the use of the City of Aurora's portion toward the Aurora Police Department equipment purchases. (Public Hearing at City Council on July 28, 2015.)
PURPOSE:
To obtain the City Council’s approval of a proposed resolution that would authorize the following:
- the execution of a memorandum of understanding between the City of Aurora, Kane County, and the City of Elgin;
- the participation in the 2015 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program; and
- the use of the City of Aurora's portion toward the Aurora Police Department equipment purchases.
BACKGROUND:
The FY 2015 Edward Byrne Memorial Local JAG Program application has/had a due date of June 26, 2015. It is similar to the prior years’ Edward Byrne Local JAG Programs. This year an award of $65,758.00, as determined by the “JAG formula”, was allotted for the City of Aurora, the City of Elgin, and the County of Kane to share. More specifically, $45,824.00 of this was allocated for Aurora and the remaining $19,934.00 was earmarked for Elgin. Kane County was categorized as an agency that did not submit the level of violent crime data to qualify for a direct award, and as a result was listed as a disparate agency. As such, it was expected that Aurora and Elgin would share their portions of the award with Kane County. In fact, before an award could be given to Aurora or Elgin, a memorandum of understanding needed to be signed by a Kane County official, an Elgin official, and an Aurora official.
Historically, the City of Aurora and the City of Elgin have each shared 30% of their award with Kane County. Using that percentage, the amount of the award to be used by the City of Aurora is $32,076.80, the amount to be used by the City of Elgin is $13,953.80, and the amount to be used by Kane County is $19,727.40. To comply with grant requirements, the City of Aurora will not make any payments to Kane County or the City of Elgin prior to receiving proof that those agencies spent funds in accordance with grant requirements. The City of Aurora will reimburse those agencies and then be reimbursed by the Federal Government in accordance with the grant rules.
DISCUSSION:
The Aurora Police Department would like to purchase equipment items with these grant funds. The first project is the purchase of two computers, equipped with extra memory and video cards. These would be used to run a new crash reconstruction software program. The new computers and video cards are needed to handle the requirements of the program, which will allow better and more efficient reconstruction of Aurora crashes. This will help us reach our goals of public safety and community service. The cost of these computers is estimated at $3,463.72.
The second project is the purchase of approximately 100 sets of water rescue equipment. Due to the Fox River and other bodies of water in Aurora, It is not infrequent for citizen traffic crashes or other incidents to result in the need for life saving water rescue actions by Aurora police officers. Currently, there is no equipment provided for officers to conduct such rescues. It would be invaluable to have all of our marked patrol cars and some of our unmarked cars equipped with water rescue equipment, including a seventy-five foot rope bag, a flotation device that is able to be thrown to a victim, and a flotation device that could be used by the officer who may need to enter the water. Having this equipment readily available would surely help us reach our goals of public safety and community service. The cost of these sets of water rescue equipment is estimated at $28,613.08.
It should be noted that a requirement of the grant is for there to be a public hearing held by the governing body.
When the award is secured, it will be budgeted for in revenue account 101-3536-331.02-01 and expense account 101-3536-421.50-50.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The recommendation is that the City Council adopt the attached resolution that would authorize:
-- the execution of a memorandum of understanding between the City of Aurora, Kane County, and the City of Elgin;
- the participation in the 2015 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program; and
- the use of the City of Aurora's portion toward the Aurora Police Department equipment purchases
cc: Alderman O’Connor, Chairman
Alderman Mervine
Alderman Bohman
Alderman Mesiacos, Alternate
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution authorizing the execution of a memorandum of understanding between the City of Aurora, Kane County, and the City of Elgin; the participation in the 2015 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program; and the use of the City of Aurora's portion toward the Aurora Police Department equipment purchases. . (Public Hearing at City Council on July 28, 2015.)
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, (the City of Aurora is applying for the 2015 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program Award, the funds from which will be used towards Aurora Police Department equipment purchases; and
WHEREAS, a requirement of the grant program is that the City of Elgin and Kane County partner with and be signatory to a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Aurora; and
WHEREAS, the grant amount sought is $65,758.00 to be allocated to the City of Aurora, the City of Elgin, and Kane County per the attached budget detail worksheet; and
WHEREAS, when the City of Aurora's portion of the award is secured, it will be budgeted in revenue account 101-3536-331.02-01 and expense account 101-3536-421.50-50.)
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: authorizing the execution of a memorandum of understanding between the City of Aurora, Kane County, and the City of Elgin; the participation in the 2015 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program; and the use of the City of Aurora's portion toward the Aurora Police Department equipment purchases.