PRESENTER: Presenter
Jennifer Gates, Grants Coordinator
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with Comal County to support their grant application for the FY 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program - Local Solicitation as administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, for the purchase of law enforcement equipment for the Comal County Sheriff’s Office.
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DEPARTMENT: Police
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program administered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), allows units of local government to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their local needs and conditions. Grant funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice or civil proceedings. Funds are allocated to local governments on a formula basis and may be shared by those designated by the granting agency as ‘disparate jurisdictions.’
As disparate jurisdictions, the City of New Braunfels and Comal County are entitled to a total of $15,497 for the FY 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program - Local Solicitation. Direct Allocations are listed for each entity by the granting agency in the notification of funding, but disparate jurisdictions are not required to abide by the listed individual amounts and are instead responsible for determining their individual amounts within the eligible Joint Allocation amount. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed by both parties, is required by the granting agency to formalize the mutually agreed upon distribution of funding.
In accordance with an MOU that has been mutually developed, the City agrees to release its claim on the City’s Individual Allocation of $15,497 so that it may be utilized in full by Comal County for the purchase of law enforcement equipment for the Comal County Sheriff’s Office.
The aforementioned MOU was approved by the Comal County Commissioner’s Court on October 17, 2024, and has been signed by the Comal County Judge. If subsequently approved by City Council, the agreement will be signed by the New Braunfels’ City Manager as the Authorizing Official and the fully executed document will be provided to Comal County staff to submit to the granting agency, thereby fulfilling a required condition of funding.
ISSUE:
Seeking Council approval of an MOU with Comal County that will allow the County to purchase law enforcement equipment for the Comal County Sheriff’s Office utilizing the full amount of the Joint Allocation ($15,497) provided by the FY2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program - Local Solicitation.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☐Economic Mobility ☐Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☐Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
Formalize the partnership with Police, Fire, and the City’s non-profit/social sector, to respond to critical issues, address non-emergency social services and evaluate holistic public health and safety needs.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact to City as the grant will support expenditures incurred by Comal County only.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with Comal County to support their grant application for the FY 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program - Local Solicitation as administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, for the purchase of law enforcement equipment for the Comal County Sheriff’s Office.