TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Paul Joseph
Jim Shannon
SUBJECT: See Below DATE: January 6, 2025
Approved
Date:
1/13/25
COUNCIL DISTRICT: Citywide
SUBJECT: Actions Related to the 2024 California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Grant
RECOMMENDATION
(a) Adopt a resolution accepting the 2024 California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Grant in the amount of $950,000; and authorize the City Manager or her designee to execute any grant agreements, amendments, and all related documents, including online certifications at time of award acceptance and reimbursement requests, without further City Council action.
(b) Adopt the following 2024-2025 Appropriation Ordinance and the Funding Sources Resolution amendments in the General Fund:
1) Establish the Internet Crimes Against Children State Grant 2024-2025 City-Wide Expenses appropriation to the Police Department in the amount of $759,783; and
2) Increase the estimate for Revenue from the State of California by $759,783.
SUMMARY AND OUTCOME
The City Council’s approval of this recommendation will provide continued grant funding for the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force in the amount of $950,000 to investigate and for use in the prosecution of child predators.
COUNCIL AGENDA: 1/28/25
FILE: 25-056
ITEM: 2.18
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
January 6, 2025
Subject: Actions Related to the 2024 California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Grant
BACKGROUND
Since 1976, commercial child sexual abuse material has expanded greatly and become more sophisticated as the technology to reproduce and distribute the illicit material has rapidly developed. The internet has provided predators with easier access to children with greater anonymity. It has also enabled child predators to form clubs and other organizations to expand their exploitation of children.
In February 2003, the San José Police Department applied for and was awarded its first Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) grant from the United States Department of Justice. From that point forward, the Police Department has applied for and received numerous ICAC continuation grants. ICAC grants have provided funding for overtime, salaries and benefits for professional staff positions, equipment, vehicles for investigations, and for training (including national ICAC conferences). Funding has also provided equipment and training for investigators from 11 Bay Area counties participating in the Silicon Valley ICAC Task Force. Investigators from the Police Department Child Exploitation Detail were instrumental in developing the first series of nationwide investigative trainings for ICAC. The Police Department’s ICAC Task Force received the first California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) ICAC grant award in 2007 to aid in meeting the objectives of the Task Force.
In September 2024, Cal OES released a grant solicitation for the Fiscal Year 2024 ICAC Task Force Grant Program and the Police Department submitted a grant proposal. On December 5, 2024, the application was accepted and approved in the amount of $950,000. This is a one-year reimbursable grant, and the Police Department will be responsible for ensuring the expenditures are allowable as set forth by the Cal OES Financial Handbook and City of San José Policy and Procedures.
ANALYSIS
The Police Department has been awarded $950,000 for the 2024 ICAC Task Force Grant Program. The grant term is January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025. This grant will fund activities as they relate to the Silicon Valley ICAC program including personnel costs, operating supplies, software licenses, equipment, and the Vigilant Parent Initiative that provides online safety training for parents to be able to recognize the signs that indicate their child may potentially be in danger online and provides them with information for how to keep their children safe on the internet.
The following list provides information on the project budget for the 2024 ICAC Task Force Grant approved by Cal OES. These estimates are subject to reallocation and/or change over the course of the grant term; however, the total grant amount to the City will remain the same.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
January 6, 2025
Subject: Actions Related to the 2024 California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Grant
1. $399,346 of the funds will be used to fund temporary personal service costs to support the salary and benefits for a digital Forensic Analyst position, a Crime Prevention Specialist position, and funds for Community Service Officer overtime to assist in facilitating the Vigilant Parent Initiative. The Vigilant Parent Initiative is geared to educating parents on basic social media applications, providing prevention, awareness, and knowing how to talk to their child about protecting themselves online. It is an interactive training program that provides hands-on access to some social media applications and teaches parents how to use safety filters in the applications.
2. $550,654 of the funds will be used for operating costs that include, but are not limited to, forensic analytical tools, training, supplies for task force operations, and software license renewals.
The below table lists the funding amounts for personal and operating expenses for the term of the grant, January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025.
*Recommendations to recognize and appropriate $190,217 of this grant will be brought forward for City Council approval as part of the development of the 2025-2026 Operating Budget.
EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP
This memorandum will not require any staff follow-up.
COST SUMMARY/IMPLICATIONS
The recommended actions in this memorandum will recognize and appropriate $759,783 of the $950,000 ICAC state grant and will provide funding for temporary personal service costs, and operating costs. Forensic tools may have minor future maintenance, repair, or monthly service charges. These costs are expected to be absorbed into the Police Department’s existing non-personal/equipment budget.
Budget Category Fiscal Year:
2024-2025
Fiscal Year:
2025-2026 Total
A. Personal Expenses $209,129 $190,217 $399,346
B. Operating Expenses $550,654 $0 $550,654
Total City Appropriation
by Fiscal Year $759,783 $190,217* $950,000
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
January 6, 2025
Subject: Actions Related to the 2024 California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Grant
This project is being funded by Cal OES and there is no cash or in-kind match requirement with the grant. Should grant funding be discontinued, alternate funding for this program would need to be considered. Any request to the General Fund will be subject to the appropriation of funds taking into consideration the City’s overall fiscal condition, City Council priorities, and other departmental program needs.
BUDGET REFERENCE
The table below identifies the fund and appropriations recommended to be amended as part of this memorandum.
COORDINATION
This memorandum has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
This memorandum will be posted on the City’s Council Agenda website for the January 28, 2025 City Council meeting.
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION AND INPUT
No commission recommendation or input is associated with this action.
Fund
#
Appn.
#
Appropriation
Name
Total
Appropriation
Rec. Budget
Action
2024-2025
Adopted
Operating
Budget
Page
Last Budget
Action (Date,
Ord. No.)
001 R100 Revenue from
State of
California
$51,065,008 $759,783 133 10/22/24, 24-
368
001 New Internet
Crimes
Against
Children State
Grant 2024-
2025
$0 $759,783 N/A N/A
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
January 6, 2025
Subject: Actions Related to the 2024 California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Grant
CEQA
Not a Project, File No. PP17-004, Government Funding Mechanism or Fiscal Activity with no commitment to a specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment.
PUBLIC SUBSIDY REPORTING
This item does not include a public subsidy as defined in section 53083 or 53083.1 of the California Government Code or the City’s Open Government Resolution.
/s/
PAUL JOSEPH JIM SHANNON
Chief of Police Budget Director
I hereby certify that there will be available for appropriation in the General Fund in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 moneys in excess of those heretofore appropriated wherefrom, said excess being at least $759,783.
JIM SHANNON
Budget Director
For questions, please contact Jennifer Otani, Division Manager, Police Department at [email protected] or 408-537-1625 or Captain Jason Dwyer at (408) 277- 4002.