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Report Number 09-086 Agenda Section VI -5 WRPWOKIfIoly Council Meeting Date March 24, 2009 the city that works for you -10- .- - - - - - - - - - - - - REQUEST FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEM DESCRIPTION: Approval of Application Process for the 2009 COPS Hiring Recove Program '-` DEPARTMENT HEAD'S APPROVAL: Robert J. Jacobson, Director of Public Safe CITY MANAGER'S APPROVAL: No comments to sumlement this Comments attached Recommendation: `.' Approval of the application process for the 2009 COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP) offered through the United States Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Legislative History: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed into law by President Obarna on February 17th, 2009 provided $1 billion in funding for the hiring and rehiring of law enforcement officers under the COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP). Financial Impact: CHRP grants will provide 100 percent funding for approved entry-level salaries and fringe benefits of full-time officers for 36 months of grant funding. CHRP grants may be used to hire new officer positions, including filling existing officer vacancies that are no longer funded in an agency's budget. Explanation: Since August 2007, the Police Division has been operating one sworn peace officer short of its authorized full-strength staffing of 29 licensed police officers. This vacancy remains in effect due to current budget circumstances. In addition, New Brighton has one of the lowest police officer per population ratios of the City's established group of comparison suburban communities. Staff believes that the CHRP program presents a unique opportunity to hire the currently vacant position and bring our policing levels up to levels already present in comparable metro area communities. Costs and Funding: The City would be requesting $453,887.40 in federal funding through this grant. At the conclusion of federal funding, the City must retain the sworn officer positions awarded under the CHRP grant for a minimum of 12 months following the 36 -month grant period. The retained CHRP-funded positions should be added to the City's budget with local funds, over and above the number of locally -funded positions that would have existed in the absence of the grant. Tony Paet ick Crime Free Multi -Housing Liaison / Crime Prevention Officer I:\COUNCIL\REPORTS\2009\Public Safety\2009 COPS Grant Application.doc