Subject:
Title
Grant application and Memorandum of Understanding with the City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Fiscal Year 2026 Local Solicitation.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the grant application, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and any related grant documents by the County Administrator, and execution of the Certifications and Assurances by the Chief Executive of the Applicant Government form by the Board Chairman for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Local Solicitation (JAG Local).
• JAG Local is a formula grant program that provides recurring federal funding from the Bureau for Justice Assistance to the City of St. Petersburg (St. Pete) and Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
• The County, PCSO, and St. Pete will enter a MOU and submit a joint application to allow for an equal division of the $169,535.00 award allocation for a 48-month period of performance from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2029, with PCSO serving as the fiscal administrator.
• PCSO will utilize the funding to renew the Axon AI Assistant software contract, while St. Pete will use its allocation to support and continue several crime-prevention and law enforcement initiatives
• The Certifications and Assurances by the Chief Executive of the Applicant Government form required for the grant application is within the delegated authority of the County Administrator to approve grant-related items; however, DOJ requires the execution from the Board Chairman.
• Authority for the County Administrator to sign the Memorandum of Understanding is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1) and 2-62 (a)(4).
• Revenue from this grant is included in PCSO’s FY27 General Fund Budget. No match is required.
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Strategic Priorities:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve Public Health.
2.2 Enhance Community Safety.
Summary:
Summary
The JAG Local provides recurring federal criminal justice funding allocated to St. Pete and PCSO, through the County. PCSO will utilize grant to renew its Axon AI Assistant software contract improving real-time translation and communication, streamlining body-camera review and documentation, and enhancing transparency, efficiency, and service to the community. St. Pete will its allocation to support and continue several crime-prevention and law enforcement initiatives.
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Background Information:
BJA has determined that the County and St. Pete have a disparate allocation of JAG funds. St. Pete is allocated 1.5 times more funding than the County, but the County bears more than 50% of the costs of incarceration and court security than for Part 1 violent crimes reported by St. Pete. Due to this disparate allocation, the County, PCSO and St. Pete will enter an MOU and submit a joint application to combine and equally divide the total funds allocated to the entities. The MOU designated PCSO as the fiscal agent for financial and performance reporting. Allowable expenses include technical assistance, training, and personnel, equipment, supplies contractual support, and information systems from criminal justice to aid in planning, evaluation, and technology improvement.
Historically this funding has allowed for increases in technology such as tactical surveillance units, rental vehicles, barcode reader equipment, training, and overtime for cold case investigations, and crime prevention activities.
Fiscal Impact:
Federal funding in an amount not to exceed $169,535.00 is provided by the FY2026 JAG Local grant program for a 48-month period from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2029. PCSO and St. Pete will each receive $84,767.50, with PCSO serving as the applicant and fiscal agent for grant administration. This total does not include potential rollover funds. No match is required. The funding is included in the FY27 General Fund Budget.
Staff Member Responsible:
Karen Yatchum, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
City of St. Petersburg
Attachments:
JAG Local FY26 MOU
Certifications and Assurances by the Chief Executive of the Applicant Government
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
Financial Management Questionnaire
Proposal Abstract
Intent to Apply Approval
FY26 JAG Local Grant Solicitation