Consent Item 4l
STAFF REPORT
City Council Consent Item
DATE: April 17, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
FROM: Casey J. Day, Chief of Police
THROUGH: Merritt Perry, City Manager
SUBJECT: Approve the Chief of Police to Pursue the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Loan and Grant Assistance Program Applications for Upgrades Associated with the Body Worn Camera (BWC) Program.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Approve submission authority for future grant applications to the USDA’s Rural Development Loan and Grant Assistance program for improvements and/or replacement of the Body Worn Camera (BWC) program.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The current body worn camera (BWC) program utilized by the Fortuna Police Department was implemented in January of 2017. Initially, the equipment was purchased utilizing funds from capital outlay, however, no budget line was created to fund the continuation of the program once technologies became obsolete and/or equipment reached end of life. The warranty for the department’s current Watch Guard (Motorola) brand Body Worn Camera (BWC) program expired in 2022. Representatives with Motorola have advised police administrators that our current equipment is at end of its useful life and that they will not extend a service agreement for our current equipment and/or technology. Service warranties are generally capped at 5 years for existing equipment. Additionally, the police department does not have enough Body Worn Cameras (BWC) for all of its sworn officers, and additional cameras are needed, and it doesn’t make sense to purchase cameras that are obsolete and unsupported (even if they are available).
The USDA has federal grants available to government entities for project upgrades and/or replacement through their Rural Development Loan and Grant Assistance program that will cover up to 55% of the total project costs, with a maximum grant request of $50,000.00 per project. The total estimated project cost is approximately $300,000 to $350,000.
The USDA now requires approval from governing bodies in order to proceed with application submittals. If approved by the City Council, The Chief of Police will submit one application for Body Worn Camera (BWC) grant funding to reduce the overall cost of the purchase of new cameras to the City.
Consent Item 4l
FISCAL IMPACT:
If the grant is awarded by the USDA, the cost/responsibility of the City will be to provide at least 45% of the total project cost. It is recommended that the City’s required contribution come from Measure E funding. Asset Forfeiture and AB 109 budget lines are also possible funding sources that could be used if necessary. If the grant is awarded, the Chief of Police will provide the Council with a Supplemental Budget Request for the total amount of the grant and required matching funds.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve application submittal authority to the Chief of Police for a grant submission to the USDA’s Rural Development Loan and Grant Assistance program for upgrades associated with the police department’s Body Worn Camera (BWC) program. Consent agenda vote.