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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin and City Council
FROM: William Hull, Lieutenant at the Aurora Police Department
DATE: September 2, 2019
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 2019 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 and policy maintenance.
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 2019 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 2019 Edward Byrne Memorial Local JAG Program application has a due date of August 23, 2019. It is similar to the prior years' Edward Byrne Local JAG Programs. This year an award of 62,388.00, 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, $44,844.00 was allocated to Aurora and the remaining $17,544.00 allocated to the City of 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 the award could be given to Aurora and Elgin, a Memorandum of Understanding needed to be signed by a Kane County official, and 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 this percentage, the amount of the award to be used by the City of Aurora is $31,391.00, the amount used by the City of Elgin is $12,281.00 and the amount to be used by Kane County is $18,716.00. 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 of the 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 to purchase 136 patrol vehicle trauma kits with combat gauze estimated at a value of $25,789.00. These kits would be in all patrol vehicles and some specialized vehicle in APD's fleet. The purpose of these kits, is to make them available to our officers who may have to respond to calls for service involving victims of severe trauma; to include gunshot victims. These kits would be available, not only for citizens who have suffered severe physical trauma but to Aurora Police Officers as well. On February 15, 2019, Aurora experienced a workplace shooting that left 6 employees shot (5 fatally) and 5 Aurora Police Officers shot. While we certainly hope never to experience such a violent event again; we nevertheless must prepare for the worst. These kits will provide officers with first aid supplies, which are specifically designed for bullet and severe bleeding wounds.
The second project is the purchase of 5 LMT 40mm Less Lethal Launchers for our Patrol Supervisors. The Aurora Police Department utilizes a number of less lethal options to include less lethal impact munitions. WE use to employ 37mm munitions but have since made the decision to move from 37mm to 40mm (rifled) less lethal munition and projectiles. We have done this as our Special Response Team uses 40mm munitions and while we will not make all SRT munitions available to our patrol personnel; we will have the ability to use these launchers in dynamic scenarios, alongside SRT.
It should be noted that a requirement of the grant is for there to be a public hearing by the governing body.
When the award is secured, it will be budgeted for in revenue account 101-3536-331-02-01 and the expense account 101-3536-421-50-50.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Adding the rescue patrol vehicle trauma kits with combat gauze and LMT 40mm Rifled Barrel (Single) less lethal launcher would greatly increase the ability for the police department to save a life and equip Patrol Supervisors with additional equipment thus enhancing public safety and the efficiency of the Aurora Police Department.
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 2019 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program; and
- And the use of the City of Aurora's portion toward the Aurora Police Department equipment purchases.
cc: Public Health, Safety, and Transportation
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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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 2019 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program; and the use of the City of Aurora's portion toward the Aurora Police Department equipment purchase.
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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 2019 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 amount sought is $62,388.00 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 2019 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