nd
November 13, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Finance Committee
FROM: Police Department
SUBJECT: AMEND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2024
OPERA TING BUDGET BY RECOGNIZING REVENUE AND
APPROPRIATING $43,334 IN GRANT FUNDS FROM THE EDWARD
BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Find that the project proposed herein is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3), the "Common Sense" exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that may have an effect on the environment;
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute all grant-related documents pertaining to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) award in the amount of $43,334; and
3. Amend the Police Department's Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Operating Budget by recognizing revenue and appropriating $43,334 in the General Fund (101 ).
BACKGROUND:
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), for the fiscal Year 2023-2024, was accepting solicitation offers for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) award for a maximum of $43,334.
Named after Edward "Eddie" R. Byrne, an officer in the New York City Police Department who was murdered while protecting a witness in a drug case, the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program is the leading federal source MEETING OF 11/13/2023 AGENDA ITEM NO. _z_. __ _
Recognition and Appropriation of Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Funds November 13, 2023
of criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. Administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the JAG Program provides states, territories, tribes, and local governments with critical funding necessary to support a range of programs. Some of these programs include, but are not limited to, de-escalation training for law enforcement.
On August 9th, 2023, The Pasadena Police Department (PPD) submitted an application requesting grant funding for $43,334 to purchase training equipment for the Pasadena Police Department range facility. The intent is to use this equipment for de-escalation training.
PPD has placed a high value on providing de-escalation training to our officers. Further, there has been an increased call by the community for a change in the way police respond to situations such as domestic violence calls, uncooperative or armed suspects, or people having a mental health crisis. At times, these types of incidents result in the use of force that can result in injury or death to the officer or individual(s) involved.
Pasadena officers are being asked to use de-escalation techniques to resolve volatile situations peacefully. De-escalation training teaches police officers to slow things down, create space, ask open-ended questions, and build a rapport with subjects. PPD has achieved this by providing regular scenario-based training using trainers/actors, modified training firearms, and simunitions. Simunitions are special cartridges that fire colored paint-filled plastic projectiles. Simunitions are designed to cycle the actions in specially modified handguns. These are great tools for officers to train in well-thought out scenarios based on real-life situations.
The primary issue training staff has with organizing such scenarios is that they do not have a proper training facility. Currently, most of these training scenarios are held outside in an open area. Simunitions cannot be used indoors because the projectiles are powerful enough to damage and mark interior walls with paint. PPD needs a facility to conduct this de-escalation training.
The PPD wants to utilize the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funds to purchase and use a shoot house. The shoot house panels are extremely durable and can be easily cleaned. The shoot house can be assembled and disassembled by two individuals. Further the shoot house can be installed into different configurations, allowing the training staff the flexibility to change the training scenarios frequently.
The Edward J. Byrne grant that has been awarded will enable the department to purchase equipment that will be used for de-escalation training.
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
The proposed action is consistent with the City Council's Strategic Plan Goals to ensure public safety. The Bureau of Justice Assistance ("BJA") recognizes that many state and Recognition and Appropriation of Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Funds November 13, 2023
local criminal justice systems currently face challenging fiscal environments and cost effective way to relieve those pressures is to share or leverage resources through cooperation among federal, state, and local law enforcement.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
The proposed grant has been determined to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section15061 (b )(3), the "Common Sense" exemption that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Such is the case with the proposed grant from the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This action will amend the Police Department's FY 2024 Operating Budget in the General Fund (101) by recognizing revenue and appropriations of $43,334. Funding from the Department of Justice will be used for the purchase of a shoot house. There are no anticipated indirect or support costs such as maintenance and IT support.
Prepared by:
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Sanine=iylva
Lieutenant
Approved by:
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MIGUE~RQUEZ
City Manager
Respectfully Submitted,
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EU~NE HARRIS ~
Chief of Police
Pasadena Police Department