Fiscal Note
This grant will be accounted for in a segregated fund (SG50). There is no effect on the Expenditure Restraint Program or the levy.
Title
Authorizing the Mayor, City Clerk and Chief of Police to accept a Project Safe Neighborhoods award from the State of Wisconsin, Office of Justice Assistance in the amount of $121,771 and to utilize these funds toward anti-gang prevention and enforcement efforts.
Body
WHEREAS, the U.S. Dept. of Justice has developed a nationwide Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative to reduce the incidents of gun violence, by linking together federal, state, and local law enforcement, prosecutors, and community leaders, to provide a multifaceted approach to deterring and punishing gun crime; and,
WHEREAS, the PSN initiative has been expanded to include anti-gang prevention and enforcement efforts; and,
WHEREAS, this new effort will allow local law enforcement to combat gangs by building on the effective strategies and partnerships developed under PSN; and,
WHEREAS, the Dane County Youth Gang Prevention Task Force Community Response Plan has outlined information regarding how Dane County has moved into the ranks of communities with full fledged generational gangs that have an active entrepreneurial drug trade resulting in a number of violent gang-related acts such as shootings, graffiti and rival group conflicts; and,
WHEREAS, in January 2006, Madison Police Chief Noble Wray announced that dealing with community gang related issues would be one of the Madison Police Departments top priorities in the coming year and beyond; and,
WHEREAS, although this is a long-term problem that must be dealt with using a variety of methods, the Madison Police Department has pledged to proactively respond to emerging illegal gang related activity through education, information sharing, and enforcement; and,
WHEREAS Madison Police Department has been awarded a PSN grant of $121,771 for the purposes of reducing gang-related violence; and,
WHEREAS, the PSN grant will allow police to accomplish these tasks utilizing the basic strategies of prevention, intervention and suppression; and,
WHEREAS, funds would be utilized to provide additional patrols in challenged neighborhoods and areas that see increased levels of gang activity and associated violence; and,
WHEREAS, these same funds would provide opportunities for officers to continue the outreach and educational campaign aimed at youth and the general community; and,
WHEREAS, PSN funds will also be utilized to purchase software and computer mapping supplies that would allow the Madison Police Department to function more efficiently in the gathering and sharing of gang intelligence both internally and externally; and,
WHEREAS, funding will also purchase consulting services for additional crime analysis, improved data collection, and other problem-solving technology efforts; and,
WHEREAS, training in understanding, investigating and effectively reducing gang activity, as well as utilization of software applications for effective problem analysis, will be provided; and,
WHEREAS, a new community-based initiative known as DART (Developing Alternatives to Re-Direct Teens), formed with a mission of providing support services to juveniles currently in gangs, as well as those youth being recruited into gangs, will be utilized in the intervention process; and,
WHEREAS, part of the prevention effort will include a youth program to provide direct services to youth in an effort to educate and prevent involvement with gang activity.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Madison, through the Madison Police Department (MPD), is authorized to accept a Project Safe Neighborhoods award from the State of Wisconsin, Office of Justice Assistance in the amount of $121,771.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor and Common Council authorizes the expenditure of grant funds in accordance with the grant application, with modifications upon appropriate approvals from the Office of Justice Assistance, as follows:
1) Overtime and benefits associated with increased enforcement efforts and additional crime analysis related to gang activity in the amount of $44,209. (SG50-51300-712000 = $34,796; SG50-52000-712000 = $9,413)
2) Purchase of computer software essential in developing link analysis of criminal activity and crime trends, as well as the supplies, text charts, and reporting software utilized to outline information at a cost of $11,281. (SG50-55156-712000 = $8,500; SG50-55150-712000 = $781)
3) Training and travel costs in regards to gang investigations, gang seminars, crime analysis, and utilization of analysis software in the amount of $13,510. (SG50-54650-712000)
4) Contract with various consultants to provide additional crime analysis, improved data collection, and other problem-solving technology efforts at a cost of $12,771. (SG50-54950-712000)
5) Funding for the new community-based initiative known as DART (Developing Alternatives to Re-Direct Teens) in the amount of $20,000. (SG50-54901-712000)
6) Funding for direct services to youth programs that educate and prevent involvement in gang activity in the amount of $20,000. (SG50-54901-712000)
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Comptroller and the Madison Police Department are authorized to establish and/or maintain accounts as required for the administration of the grant funds.