Council Communication Office of the City Manager	Date	July 14, 2008
	Agenda Item No. 48 Roll Call No. 08- Communication No. 08-409 Submitted by: Judy A. Bradshaw, Chief of Police

AGENDA HEADING:

Approval of 2008 Justice Assistance Grant Application and Memorandum of Understanding with the County of Polk

SYNOPSIS:

Recommend approval of the 2008 Justice Assistance Grant application for enhanced voice communications capability and of the Memorandum of Understanding with Polk County identifying the City of Des Moines as the official applicant and fiscal agent.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Amount: $79,719. There is no match requirement for this grant.

Funding Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance deposited to the FY09 Operating Budget, Police Department Special Revenue Funds – SP751, Page 284.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The City of Des Moines and Polk County are applying for $79,719 from the Justice Assistance Grant. A requirement in receiving these funds is that the City and County sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that states the City is the official applicant and fiscal agent for this grant. Although Polk County is ineligible for direct funding this year, a portion of this year’s grant will be used to improve voice communications capability at the Polk County Sheriff’s Communications Center. The City will receive approximately $79,719 to be focused on digital darkroom upgrades and voice communications enhancements.

The floods of 2008 showed weaknesses in public safety voice communications. Additional Power911 phones will be added to the police department’s alternate dispatch site located at Fire Station #1, 900 Mulberry. Two complete computer aided dispatch workstations will be ordered to augment Site #1 and two more to provide space at the Polk County Sheriff’s Communications Center for use as an alternate resource for the City of Des Moines should the need arise. Radio communication capacity will be increased at Polk County to provide for the additional radio traffic caused by a joint Des Moines-Polk County operation.

The Office of Justice Programs has deemed that our grant award is contingent on the City and Polk County having a Memorandum of Understanding. The City of Des Moines has fulfilled the grant application requirements regarding Program Narrative, Budget Narrative and Review Narrative. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Polk County Board of Supervisors on July 8, 2008.

The grant period is from October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2011.

The Program Narrative for equipment and technology that may be funded with this grant is attached to the Roll Call.

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S):

Date: June 18, 2007

Roll Call Number: 07-1182

Action: 2007 Justice Assistance Grant Application and Memorandum of Understanding with Polk County.(Council Communication No.  07-355) Moved by Coleman to approve.  Motion Carried 6-1.

Date: February 20, 2006

Roll Call Number: 06-361

Action: Justice Assistance Grant award from the Office of Justice, $101,323.  (Council Communication No.  06-079)  Moved by Hensley to adopt.  Motion Carried 7-0.

Date: March 28, 2005

Roll Call Number: 05-742

Action: Justice Assistance Grant Memorandum of Understanding for grant period from October 1, 2004 – September 30, 2008, $211,816. (Council Communication No. 05-125) Moved by Hensley to adopt. Motion Carried 7-0

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S): NONE

ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS:

City Council approval and signature by the Mayor will be required when the grant award is received.

For more information on this and other agenda items, please call the City Clerk’s Office at 515-283-4209 or visit the Clerk’s Office on the second floor of City Hall, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive. Council agendas are available to the public at the City Clerk’s Office on Thursday afternoon preceding Monday’s Council meeting. Citizens can also request to receive meeting notices and agendas by email by calling the Clerk’s Office or sending their request via email to cityclerk@dmgov.org.