HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR 15168: COPS HIRING & RECOVERY PROGRAMMemorandum
To: Steve Fitzgibbons, City Manager
From: Mark Blanton, Chief of Police
Date: March 26, 2009
Re: PR 15168
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council authorize the Mayor and City Manager to apply
for the COPS Hiring and Recovery Program (CHRP) under the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Department of Justice has been allocated up to one
billion dollars for Fiscal Year 2009.
BACKGROUND:
On February 17, 2009 President Obama signed into law the landmark American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. As one of the many elements, the Recovery
Act provides funding for grants to assist local law enforcement. CHRP is a competitive
grant program that provides funding directly to law enforcement agencies having primary
law enforcement authority to create and preserve jobs and to increase their community
policing capacity and crime-prevention efforts.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL EFFECT:
None.
STAFFING/EMPLOYEE EFFECT:
None.
SUMMARY:
It is recommended that the City Council authorize the Mayor and City Manager to apply
for the COPS Hiring and Recovery Program (CHRP) under the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Department of Justice has been allocated up to one
billion dollars for Fiscal Year 2009.
JO:sz
P. R. NO. 15168
3/26/09 JO
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER TO
APPLY FOR THE COPS HIRING AND RECOVERY PROGRAM (CHRP)
UNDER THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS BEEN ALLOCATED UP TO ONE
BILLION DOLLARS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009
WHEREAS, On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the
Landmark American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; and
WHEREAS, the Recovery Act provides funding for grants to assist local law
enforcement; and
WHEREAS, CHRP is a competitive grant program that provides funding directly
to law enforcement agencies having primary ]aw enforcement authority to create and
preserve jobs and to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention
efforts.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR:
Section 1. That the facts and opinions in the preamble are true and correct.
Section 2. That the City Council of the City of Port Arthur authorizes the
Mayor and City Manager to apply for the COPS. Hiring and Recovery Program (CHRP)
under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, as delineated in Exhibit
.<A„
Section 3. That a copy of the caption of this Resolution be spread upon the
Minutes of the City Council.
READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED this day of ,
2009, at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, by the
following vote:
Mayor
Mayor Deloris Prince
ATTEST:
Terri Hanks, City Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
~~~ ~~
Mark Sokolow, City Attorney
APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION:
AYES:
Steve Fitzgibbons, City Manager
Exhibit "A"
''~~ U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
Oflrce of the Director
11 UU Ver'monr .-0renr<e. +V. W.
N'nshDrgton, OC 7 J53U
March 9, 2009
Dear Colleague,
On February 17, 2009, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS
OYtice) announced the availability of funding mtder the COPS Hiring Recovery Program
(CHRP). To remind you of this important opportunity, the COPS Office will receive the
funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to address the swom
officer personnel needs of state, local, and tribal law enforcement. Application materials are
scheduled to be available as of March ]6, 2009, and applications will be accepted during a
four-week timetrame.
CHRP is a competitive grant program that provides finnding directly to law
enforcement agencies having primary law enforcement authority to create and preserve jobs
and to increase their community policing capacity and crime-prevention efforts. Up to $1
billion in grant funding will be available for the hiring and rehiring of additional career law
enforcement officers. There is no local match requirement for CI3RP, but grant funding will
be based on cutrent entry-level salary and benefits packages, and therefore any additional
costs for higher salaries or benefits for particular individuals hired will be the responsibility
of the gr. :ae agency.
CHRP grants will provide 100 percent funding for approved enny-level salaries and
benefits fur 3 years (36 months) for uewly-hired, till-time sworn ot3icer positions (including
tilling existing unhtnded vacancies) or for rehired officers who have been laid off, or are
scheduled to be laid offon a future date, as a result of local budget cuts. In addition, there is
no cap at the number of positions an agency may request, but awards will be limited to
available funding.
Grantees must retain all swom officer positions awarded under the CHRP grant for a
period of one year (12 months) following the conclusion of grant finding. The retained
CHRP-fended position(s) should be added to the grantee's law enforcement budget with state
and/or local funds, over and above the number oflocally-funded positions that would have
existed in the absence of the grant.
In evaluating how many positions to request, please be mindfid of the initial 3-year
grant period and your agency s ability to fill the officer positions awarded, as well as to retain
the additional positions for 12 months following the conclusion of the grant, while following
your agency's established hiring policies and procedures.