Subject:
Title
Funding recommendations for the 2021 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant-Countywide and related grant administration documents.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of funding recommendations by the Substance Abuse Advisory Board (SAAB) documents for the 2021 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Countywide (JAG-C) and execution of the funding distribution letter, and approval and execution of the letter for delegation of authority to the County Administrator for JAG-C for the remaining grant items
• The JAG-C is a formula-based U.S. Department of Justice pass-through grant administered by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). It supports projects that help reduce crime and improve the criminal justice system.
• Based on crime and population statistics, FDLE has allocated $237,081.00 for Pinellas County. This is a slight increase over last year ($236,358.00). No local match is required.
• The SAAB reviewed applications for projects to be funded by JAG-C. The selected projects were voted on and recommended by the SAAB on July 26, 2022.
• The JAG-C will provide $237,081.00 in funding to support six projects in Pinellas County.
• There were a total of 9 applications requesting $516,223.80 in funding, this does not include the Human Services Planning Position which automatically is awarded 10% of the grant funding.
• This item was deferred from the September 8, 2022 agenda (revising Legistar item #22-1284A). Following JAG award recommendation, one of the recipients opted to not move forward with accepting their award. In alignment with the SAAB recommendations at the July review meeting, declined funding was reallocated equally across the remaining recommended awardees, up to their full funding request.
A delegation letter is requested for FDLE to allow the County Administrator to complete the application process.
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure
community
2.2 Be a facilitator, convener, and purchaser of services for those in need
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
Summary:
Summary
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Countywide (JAG-C), is a formula-based pass-through grant of federal funds awarded to Pinellas County by the FDLE through the Bureau of Justice Assistance. JAG-C applications were received through a competitive solicitation and reviewed by the Substance Abuse Advisory Board (SAAB). On July 26, 2022, the SAAB approved the recommendation of six (6) projects for funding.
JAG-C has a multistep process that requires a Certificate of Participation, coordination of 51% letters from the community, facilitation of award recommendations and application submissions, acceptance of awards, and award administration. The delegation letter provides documentation to FDLE regarding the authority to sign JAG-C-related documents that do not require Board approval.
This item was deferred from the September 8, 2022 agenda (revising Legistar item #22-1284A). Following JAG award recommendation, one of the recipients opted to not move forward with accepting their award at $60,000.00. During the July 2022 SAAB review meeting, it was recommended that, in the event of a declined award, the funding would reallocate to the remaining recommended programs up to each program’s full funding request. In alignment with the SAAB recommendations the $60,000 was reallocated across programs that were not already fully funded. With the reallocation, four of the six programs are now fully funded and the remaining two received equal increases towards their award request.
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Background Information:
The JAG-C is a recurring DOJ pass-through grant administered by FDLE. JAG-C Projects must fall within a specific federal purpose area that reduces crime and/or improves the criminal justice system.
Florida’s JAG-C program represents 60% of the state’s total federal Justice Assistance Grant award. The program is governed by Rule 11D-9 of the Florida Administrative Code (Code 11D-9) and funds are allocated to the County based partially on population and crime statistics.
The SAAB was established in 1989 to comply with Code 11D-9, stating Florida counties should appoint a substance abuse policy board that represents all components of the criminal justice system. The SAAB serves in an advisory capacity to the Board of County Commissioners and one of its primary duties is to review applications and recommend projects to be funded by JAG-C.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding in an amount not to exceed $237,081.00 is provided by the JAG-C to support six (6) projects in Pinellas County. Of these projects, five (5) will be administered by Human Services. These projects have a combined total of $196,208.00.
The City of Tarpon Springs will administer its own project directly with FDLE. This project total is $40,873.00.
Funding to support this agreement was partially anticipated and $150,650.00 is included in the FY23 Budget. The remaining $45,558.00 was not anticipated in the development of the FY23 Budget and a future resolution may be needed to recognize and appropriate the remaining funds.
Staff Member Responsible:
Karen Yatchum, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Directions for Mental Health, Inc. DBA Directions for Living
MORE Health, Inc.
Suncoast Center, Inc.
City of Tarpon Springs
WestCare
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement
U.S. Department of Justice
Attachments:
JAG-C Funding Recommendations
Letter Delegating Authority to County Administrator
JAG-C 51% Approval Letter
Lobbying Debarment and Drug-Free Certificate
Subaward Management Questionnaire