Fiscal Note
This grant will be accounted for in a segregated fund (SG50). The City is required to provide matching funds of $4,937 for the Wisconsin Retirement System fringe benefit costs associated with the overtime funded by this grant. Current projections indicate that Police Department expenditures will exceed the 2006 Adopted Budget. The Police Department expects to request an additional appropriation later in 2006, and the matching funds required for this grant will be included as part of that request.
Title
Authorizing the Mayor, City Clerk and Chief of Police to accept a supplemental Project Safe Neighborhoods grant award in the amount of $27,046 and to utilize these funds for additional law enforcement efforts to reduce gun-related crime and violence.
Body
WHEREAS the U.S. Dept. of Justice has developed a nationwide initiative to reduce the incidents of gun violence, with the goals of reducing the number of firearm related crimes, identifying and arresting those involved in gun violence, taking illegal guns off the streets and having an impact on the number of domestic deaths and serious injuries resulting from firearms; and,
WHEREAS the City of Madison has been experiencing an increase in gun violence, including increased reports of armed robberies and armed home burglaries in which guns have been used; and,
WHEREAS other firearm related incidents continue to significantly impact the safety and security of our neighborhoods; and,
WHEREAS the Madison Police Department was previously awarded a Project Safe Neighborhoods grant of $92,697 for the purposes of pursuing the initiative to reduce gun violence; and,
WHEREAS the previous award included funding to educate citizens regarding gun violence through the use of public service announcements, posters and brochures provided in both English and Spanish; and,
WHEREAS the previous award also included funding for computer hardware and software to analyze crime data, funding for a coordinated training effort with the U.S. Attorney's Office, the ATF, Probation and Parole, the District Attorney's Office and other Dane County Law Enforcement Agencies regarding federal gun statutes, and funding for additional enforcement related to violent crimes; and,
WHEREAS the supplemental funds have been awarded to provide for increased efforts to target, arrest and prosecute those who commit violent crimes with a firearm, convicted felons in possession of firearms, those who provide firearms to juveniles and those who obtain firearms with the intent to provide them to convicted criminals; and,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Madison, through the Madison Police Department (MPD), is authorized to accept supplemental funding as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods award from the State of Wisconsin, Office of Justice Assistance in the amount of $27,046.
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, for the purpose of overtime and benefits associated with increased enforcement efforts related to gun violence. (SG50-51300 $25,124; SG50-52750 $1,922; SG50-73212 $27,046)
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.