HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR 23615: APPLYING FOR FY25 PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT City t>f
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Texas
www.PortArthurTx.gov
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
Date: February 7, 2024
To: The Honorable Mayor and City Council
Through: Ronald Burton, City Manager e4.2// (i3P
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From: Timothy Duriso, Chief of Polic
RE: P.R. 23615 - Applying for FY25 Project Safe Neighborhood Grant
Introduction:
The intent of this Agenda Item is to ratify the City Manager's decision to apply for the FY25
Project Safe Neighborhood Grant, which was due on February 8, 2024.
Background:
The US Department of Justice has made available funding to support FY25 Project Safe
Neighborhood Block Grant Program. The grant allows for funds to be utilized to foster and
improve existing partnerships between Federal, State and local agencies, including the United
States Attorney's Office in each Federal judicial district, entities representing members of the
community affected by increased violence, victim's advocates, and researchers to create safer
neighborhoods through sustained reductions in violent crimes.
Budget Impact:
The grant is 100% funded with no grant match requirement.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that City Council ratify the City Manager's decision to apply for the FY25
Project Safe Neighborhood Block Grant Program, as discussed and/or outline above.
"Remember,we are here to serve the Citizens of Port Arthur"
P.O.Box 1089 X Port Arthur,Texas 77641-1089 X 409.983.8101 X FAX 409.982.6743
P.R. No. 23615
02/7/2024 srh
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE CITY MANAGER' S DECISION
TO ALLOW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO APPLY FOR THE
FY2025 PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS GRANT PROGRAM,
WITH NO CASH MATCH.
WHEREAS, Project Safe Neighborhood Grant was developed
to improve existing partnerships between Federal, State and
Local agencies, including the US Attorney' s Office in each
Federal Judicial District, entities representing members of
the community affected by increased violence, victims'
advocates, and researchers to create safer neighborhoods
through sustained reductions in violent crimes; and
WHEREAS, the program awards funding to develop and
execute comprehensive strategic plans to reduce violent
crimes, including enforcement of gun laws, and prioritizing
efforts focused on identified subsets of individuals or
organizations responsible for increasing violence in a
particular geographic area; and
WHEREAS, the program develops evidence-based and data-
driven intervention and prevention initiatives, including
juvenile justice projects and activities which may include
street-level outreach, conflict mediation, provision of
treatment and social services, and the changing of community
norms, in order to reduce violence; and
WHEREAS, the program also collects data on outcomes
achieved through the Program, including the effect on the
violent crime rate, incarceration rate, and recidivism rate;
and
WHEREAS, the Police Department feels that it would be in
the best interest of the citizens of Port Arthur to apply for
the said grant; and
WHEREAS, there is no match requirement for the grant .
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PORT ARTHUR:
P.R. No. 23615
02/7/2024srh
Section 1. That the facts and opinions in the preamble
are true and correct.
Section 2 . The City Council ratifies the City Manager' s
decision to allow the Police Department to apply for the FY25
Project Safe Neighborhood Grant.
Section 3. That a copy of the caption of this resolution
shall be spread upon the Minutes of the City Council.
READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this day of
A.D. , 2024, at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the
City of Port Arthur, Texas, by the following vote: AYES:
Mayor:
Councilmembers:
NOES:
Thurman Bill Bartie
Mayor
ATTEST:
Sherri Bellard
City Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
124,,i/
Val Tizeno
City Attorney
P.R. No. 23615
02/7/2024 srh
APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION:
Ronald Burton, CPM Timothy W. Duriso
City Manager Chief of Police
Lynda Boswell
Director of Finance
P.R. No. 23615
02/7/2024 srh
EXHIBIT "A"
Home Contact Us Login .•
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eGrants
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Name: Available
Project Safe 12/11/2023
Neighborhoods
Grant Program, Due Date
02/08/2024
FY2025
Purpose:
The purpose of this announcement is to solicit applications for
projects that are designed to create and foster safer neighborhoods
through a sustained reduction in violent crime, including, but not
limited to, addressing criminal gangs and felonious possession and
use of firearms.
Available Funding:
Federal funds are authorized under 34 U.S.C. §60702 Project Safe
Neighborhoods Block Grant Program (PSN). PSN funds are made
available through a Congressional appropriation to the U.S.
Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance. All awards are
subject to the availability of appropriated federal funds and any
modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by
law.
Eligible Organizations:
Applications may be submitted by public and private institutions of
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corporations (including hospitals and faith-based organizations), and
units of local government, which are defined as a non-statewide
governmental body with the authority to establish a budget and
impose taxes.
All applications submitted by local law enforcement
agencies/offices must be submitted by a unit of government
affiliated with the agency, including an authorizing resolution from
that unit of government. For example, police departments must
apply under their municipal government, and community supervision
and corrections departments, district attorneys, and judicial districts
must apply through their affiliated county government (or one of the
counties, in the case of agencies that serve more than one county).
Application Process:
Applicants must access the PSO's eGrants grant management
website at https://eGrants.gov.texas.gov to register and apply for
funding.
Key Dates:
Action Date
Funding Announcement 12/11/2023
Release
Online System Opening Date 12/11/2023
Final Date to Submit and 02/08/2024 at 5:00PM CST
Certify an Application
Earliest Project Start Date 10/01/2024
Project Period:
Projects must begin on or after 10/01/2024 and may not exceed a
12-month project period.
Funding Levels
Minimum: None
Maximum: None
Match Requirement: None
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Standards
Grantees must comply with standards applicable to this fund source
cited in the Texas Grant
Management Standards (TxGMS), Federal Uniform Grant Guidance,
and all statutes, requirements, and guidelines applicable to this
funding.
Eligible Activities and Costs
Funds may only be used to foster and improve existing partnerships
between federal, state, local,tribal, and territorial law enforcement
officials, including the United States Attorney in each Federal judicial
district, prosecutors, and community-based partners representing
members of the community affected by increased violence,victims'
advocates, and researchers to create safer neighborhoods through
sustained reductions in violent crimes by:
1. Developing and executing comprehensive strategic plans to
reduce violent crimes, including the enforcement of gun laws,
and prioritizing efforts focused on identified subsets of
individuals or organizations responsible for increasing violence
in a particular geographic area;
2. Developing evidence-based and data-driven intervention and
prevention initiatives, including juvenile justice projects and
activities which may include street-level outreach, conflict
mediation, provision of treatment and social services, and the
changing of community norms, in order to reduce violence; and
3. Collecting data on outcomes achieved through the Program,
including the effect on the violent crime rate, incarceration rate,
and recidivism rate of the jurisdiction.
Eligible Costs:
1. Salary,wage, and fringe benefits of individuals supporting the
PSN project;
2. Overtime compensation of individuals supporting the PSN
project;
3. Workshops and events associated with the support of the PSN
project (pending approval by Office of Justice Programs, Bureau
of Justice Assistance);
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4. Travel associated with implementation and evaluation of the
PSN project;
5. Equipment purchased to support the execution of the PSN
project; and
b. Printing, publication, and duplication of materials that support
the PSN project.
Program-Specific Requirements
Project Safe Neighborhoods Design Features
Applications must address 1 of 4 PSN design features:
Community Engagement. The main focus of this PSN design feature
is programs that foster meaningful engagement between and among
communities, law enforcement, prosecutors,and other stakeholders
as an essential component of an effective violence reduction
strategy. Ongoing engagement involves open communication and
builds relationships,trust, and shared public safety values between
community members and law enforcement.
Focused and Strategic Enforcement.To address violent crime, PSN
initiatives often focus strategic enforcement on a limited number of
problem places and the individuals driving violent crime. Violent
crime is often driven by a small number of prolific offenders;they are
often involved in gangs, neighborhood crews, and violent street
groups and are typically concentrated in hotspots and small "micro-
places" (e.g., a street segment with abandoned homes; a problem
bar, gas station, or convenience store; or an open-air drug market). In
some jurisdictions, intimate partner violence is the main violent
crime concern. Critical elements of strategic enforcement include:
1. Understanding the most significant drivers of violence and
resources;
2. Leveraging technology and analytics;
3. Developing and implementing enforcement strategies; and
4. Deterring others from engaging in violence (which could also be
through public awareness about enforcement actions and
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Prevention and Intervention. Effective PSN Teams engage in
problem-solving approaches that address the reduction of violent
crime using all the tools at their disposal. Applicants should utilize
strategies to address risk and protective factors,which often
involves building relationships with representatives of agencies and
organizations most suited to provide education, social services,job
training and placement, reentry programs, or similar resources to
those in need. Program should include prevention and intervention
activities that can provide individuals and families with skills,
opportunities,and alternatives that can ultimately help to reduce
violent crime in communities.
Accountability. The ultimate goal of PSN is to reduce the level of
violence in our communities. Analyzing and assessing information
about the incidence of violence and the effectiveness of strategies
to address it are important for PSN's success and credibility.
Applicants addressing this PSN design feature are required to collect
and analyze relevant data that focus on outcomes—i.e. reduced
violent crime. Applicants must monitor crime data over time as
related to their local PSN Task Force's targeted problems and/or
targeted areas.
Gang Task Forces
The PSN program requires that 30 percent of funding be allocated to
support gang task forces in the United States regions experiencing a
significant or increased presence of criminal or transnational
organizations engaging in high levels of violent crime,firearms
offenses, human trafficking, and drug trafficking. Applications
seeking to support gang task forces will be required to provide
information on the gang task force as well as list of participating
agencies.
Eligibility Requirements
1. Local units of governments must comply with the Cybersecurity
Training requirements described in Section 772.012 and Section
7flS4 R191 of the TPYac r;nvernment (.nrie I nnal nnvernmentc
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requirements required by Section 2054.5191 of the Texas
Government Code are ineligible for OOG grant funds until the second
anniversary of the date the local government is determined ineligible.
Government entities must annually certify their compliance with the
training requirements using the Cybersecurity Training Certification
for State and Local Governments. A copy of the Training Certification
must be uploaded to your eGrants application. For more information
or to access available training programs,visit the Texas Department
of Information Resources Statewide Cybersecurity Awareness
Training_page.
2. Entities receiving funds from PSO must be located in a county that
has an average of 90%or above on both adult and juvenile
dispositions entered into the computerized criminal history database
maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) as
directed in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 66. The
disposition completeness percentage is defined as the percentage
of arrest charges a county reports to DPS for which a disposition has
been subsequently reported and entered into the computerized
criminal history system.
Counties applying for grant awards from the Office of the Governor
must commit that the county will report at least 90%of convictions
within five business days to the Criminal Justice Information System
at the Department of Public Safety.
3. Eligible applicants operating a law enforcement agency must be
current on reporting complete UCR data and the Texas specific
reporting mandated by 411.042 TGC,to the Texas Department of
Public Safety(DPS)for inclusion in the annual Crime in Texas (CIT)
publication. To be considered eligible for funding, applicants must
have submitted a full twelve months of accurate data to DPS for the
most recent calendar year by the deadline(s) established by DPS.
Due to the importance of timely reporting, applicants are required to
submit complete and accurate UCR data, as well as the Texas-
mandated reporting, on a no less than monthly basis and respond
promptly to requests from DPS related to the data submitted.
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4. Local units of government, including cities, counties and other
general purpose political subdivisions, as appropriate, and
institutions of higher education that operate a law enforcement
agency, must comply with all aspects of the programs and
procedures utilized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
("DHS")to: (1) notify DHS of all information requested by DHS
related to illegal aliens in Agency's custody; and (2) detain such
illegal aliens in accordance with requests by DHS. Additionally,
counties and municipalities may NOT have in effect, purport to have
in effect, or make themselves subject to or bound by, any law, rule,
policy, or practice (written or unwritten)that would: (1) require or
authorize the public disclosure of federal law enforcement
information in order to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection
fugitives from justice or aliens illegally in the United States; or (2)
impede federal officers from exercising authority under 8 U.S.C. §
1226(a), § 1226(c), §1231(a), § 1357(a), § 1366(1), or§ 1366(3).
Lastly, eligible applicants must comply with all provisions, policies,
and penalties found in Chapter 752, Subchapter C of the Texas
Government Code.
Each local unit of government, and institution of higher education
that operates a law enforcement agency, must download,complete
and then upload into eGrants the CEO/Law Enforcement
Certifications and Assurances Form certifying compliance with
federal and state immigration enforcement requirements. This Form
is required for each application submitted to OOG and is active until
August 31, 2025 or the end of the grant period, whichever is later.
5. In accordance with Texas Government Code, Section 420.034, any
facility or entity that collects evidence for sexual assault or other sex
offenses or investigates or prosecutes a sexual assault or other sex
offense for which evidence has been collected, must participate in
the statewide electronic tracking system developed and
implemented by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Visit DPS's
Sexual Assault Evidence Tracking Program website for more
information or to set up an account to begin participating.
Additionally. Der Section 420.042 "A law enforcement aaencv that
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submit that evidence to a public accredited crime laboratory for
analysis no later than the 30th day after the date on which that
evidence was received."A law enforcement agency in possession of
a significant number of Sexual Assault Evidence Kits (SAEK) where
the 30-day window has passed may be considered noncompliant.
6. Eligible applicants must be registered in the federal System for
Award Management (SAM) database and have an UEI (Unique Entity
ID) number assigned to its agency (to get registered in the SAM
database and request an UEI number, go to https:l/sam.gov/).
Failure to comply with program eligibility requirements may cause
funds to be withheld and/or suspension or termination of grant
funds.
Prohibitions
Grant funds may not be used to support the unallowable costs listed
in the Guide to Grants or any of the following unallowable costs:
1. Construction, renovation,or remodeling;
2. Medical services;
3. Law enforcement equipment that is standard department issue;
4. Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including unmanned aircraft
vehicles (UAV) and/or any accompanying accessories to
support UAS or UAV devices/systems; and
5. Any other prohibition imposed by federal, state or local law or
regulation.
Selection Process
Projects will be reviewed by a panel appointed by the respective
regional PSN Taskforce in an effort to prioritize funding. Panelists
must not be federal employees or employees of any applicant for
a subaward. The merit review panel will assess and score each
application and then report its findings to the executive director.
Scores will be based on standard criteria that include objective
eligibility criteria and application requirements. The Office of the
Governor will make all final funding decisions based on eligibility,
reasonableness, availability of funding, cost-effectiveness, state
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Contact Information
For more information, contact the eGrants help desk at
eGrants@gov.texas.gov or (512) 463-1919.
Total Funds
$TBD
Contact the Office of the Governor (OOG)
Physical Address :
1100 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, Texas 78701
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 12428, Austin, Texas 7E
Pubic; Safety Office (PSO) Texas Music Office (MC,
(512) 463-1919 (512) 46
Help Desk
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Send Email
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