PRESENTER: Presenter
Jennifer Gates, Grants Coordinator
Body
SUBJECT: Title
Approval for a budget amendment to the Grant Fund, and approval of a purchase from Loadometer Corporation for drive over scales for commercial motor vehicles for the New Braunfels Police Department using funds provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program for Program Year 2025.
Header
DEPARTMENT: Police
Body
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City’s adopted 2024-2029 Strategic Plan includes an objective addressing continuation of diversifying revenue streams to support long-term fiscal sustainability of the Organization.
As such, on February 26, 2024, the City Council ratified an application, including an accompanying resolution, submitted by staff to the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program for Program Year 2025, as administered by the Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office, to request funding on behalf of the New Braunfels Police Department (NBPD) in the amount of $75,000 for the purchase of drive over scales for commercial motor vehicles and associated storage containers.
The City subsequently received notification from the granting agency in December of their full approval of the requested funding, and in accordance with City Council’s prior approval, the City Manager has acted as the authorized official on behalf of the City in all matters related to this grant, including acceptance of its award.
As such, the following budget amendment to the City’s FY 2025 Budget is recommended for City Council approval to incorporate the increased revenue and expenditures associated with the awarded grant.
Budget Amendment - Grant Fund
Increase Revenue
• Federal: $75,000
Increase Expenditures
• Safety Equipment: $75,000
With a portion of these funds, NBPD is requesting the purchase of portable drive over scales that will support the enforcement of vehicle weight limitations for commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), such as dump trucks and semi-trucks with trailers, by NBPD’s Traffic Division. In accordance with Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, a CMV must be operated within required weight regulations for the protection of motorists and roadway surfaces as there is a dangerous increase in risk of crashes resulting in fatalities, injuries, and property damage when a CMV exceeds its allowable payload. The requested purchase will allow NBPD to obtain the equipment necessary to initiate and implement commercial vehicle enforcement (CVE).
If approved, the equipment will be purchased from Loadometer Corporation, a sole-source vendor, for a total cost of $64,740. The granting agency provides funds for 100% of the total amount; there is no City-match requirement. All additional funding available from this grant will be used for other eligible costs associated with this purchase, such as rugged storage containers for the scales that will be installed within select NBPD vehicles, prior to September 30, 2025.
ISSUE:
The City’s adopted 2024-2029 Strategic Plan includes objectives pertaining to public safety and fiscal sustainability. Therefore, the purchase described within this agenda item will support the use of awarded grant funds for eligible costs incurred by the New Braunfels Police Department during the City’s Fiscal Year 2025, including the cost of the requested equipment.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☐Economic Mobility ☐Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☒Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
(Organizational Excellence) Considering statutory and market-based factors, continue to diversify revenue streams to support long-term fiscal sustainability of the Organization. (Community Well-Being) Continue to develop alternative public safety deployment strategies that align to call type and statutory requirements to allow for efficient use of current and future staff resources.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The granting agency will provide reimbursement of all eligible costs; there is no City-match requirement. Therefore, there are sufficient funds for the requested procurement.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval for a budget amendment to the Grant Fund, and approval of a purchase from Loadometer Corporation for drive over scales for commercial motor vehicles for the New Braunfels Police Department using funds provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program for Program Year 2025.