PRESENTER: Presenter
Jennifer Gates, Grants Coordinator
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a contract with The Levy Company, Inc. to perform sitework required to install license plate readers for the New Braunfels Police Department using grant funds awarded by the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, Fiscal Year 2024 SB 224 Catalytic Converter Grant Program.
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DEPARTMENT: Police
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City’s adopted 2024-2029 Strategic Plan includes objectives pertaining to public safety and fiscal sustainability. As such, on March 25, 2024, the City Council ratified an application, including an accompanying resolution, submitted by staff to the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA), Fiscal Year 2024 SB 224 Catalytic Converter Grant Program to request funding on behalf of the New Braunfels Police Department (NBPD) for costs associated with the detection and prevention of catalytic converter theft in Texas.
On June 27, 2024, the City received notification of a grant award for a total of $913,399 to support personnel, equipment, and additional costs, including contracted costs to install three City-owned fixed automatic license plate readers (LPRs) for the detection and prevention of catalytic converter theft. Use of this technology will alert NBPD and law enforcement partners when a target vehicle enters and leaves the city, allowing them to be more efficient and effective in the response to, and deterrence of, crime.
With a portion of this funding, Staff is requesting approval of a contract with The Levy Company, Inc. for all sitework, including traffic control, required to install City-owned LPRs in several locations on IH-35 in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation and Texas Department of Public Safety who have reviewed and approved the project. Utilizing a current City-awarded contract, the total cost of the project is $138,790 of which MVCPA will reimburse 100% of the cost; there is no City-match requirement.
As applicable, any additional MVCPA grant-supported expenditures will be brought to Council for future consideration and approval.
ISSUE:
The contract 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 contracted sitework.
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 abovementioned contract.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of a contract with The Levy Company, Inc. to perform sitework required to install license plate readers for the New Braunfels Police Department using grant funds awarded by the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, Fiscal Year 2024 SB 224 Catalytic Converter Grant Program.