HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-17-2005-5hORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: May 17, 2005
Action Agenda
Item No. __~_
SUBJECT: Authorize Application for U.S. Department of Justice, COPS Program
Technology Grant and Accept Grant Award
DEPARTMENT: Emergency Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Grant Application Packet
(under separate cover)
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jack Ball, ext 3030
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To authorize the Department of Emergency Management to submit an application
for earmarked funding from the U,S, Department of Justice Office of Community Policing
Services (COPS) Technology grant program and accept the grant award once it is approved,
BACKGROUND: In Spring 2004, the County Commissioners requested assistance from
Congressman David Price in trying to obtain federal funding for priority County projects
including water and wastewater treatment systems and 9-1-1 communications infrastructure
upgrades, The County received notice in November 2004 that the County would receive nearly
$500,000 in EPA fianding for water/wastewater assistance and nearly $150,000 in Community
Oriented Policing Services (COPS) funding towards 911 console replacements, The United
States Department of .Justice Office of Community Policing Services annually awards funding to
entities far the purpose of assisting law enforcement operations throughout the country. The
funding is now awarded through congressional earmarks. U,S. Representative David Price (D-
4th District) was able to secure funding for upgrades to the 9-1-1 Center during the FY 2005
Consolidated Appropriations Bill,
The legal applicant for the grant is the Orange County Sheriffs Office due to the nature of the
fiscal programming of the Department of Justice, However, because the 9-1-1 Center is housed
within the Department of Emergency Management, an agreement has been reached between
the two departments that Emergency Management will be the applying agency and the Sheriffs
Office will support the application as needed during the grant process, Staff have been
developing the grant application package (under separate cover) for the past several months,
The grant earmark is for $150,000 that will be used to upgrade communications equipment that
will be compatible with the 800 MHz partnership system being implemented by the State, Even
through Orange County has this allotment dedicated to it, a formal application must be filed to
receive the funding,
It is likely that the grant will be approved during the Board's summer break, and acceptance of
the grant will require the submission of further paperwork. That deadline is currently unknown,
FINANCIAL IMPACT: It is staffs understanding that there is no County match required for the
receipt of the reimbursable Federal grant, The County will seek reimbursement from the federal
government pursuant to the terms of the grant. There may be some incidental use of existing
staff time; however, no additional County casts should be expected,
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board authorize the Department
of Emergency Management to submit the application for the grant program, accept the
earmarked grant award, and execute all additional administrative and logistic actions related to
fially carrying out the grant agreement,