Authorize application to the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance for the FY 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant for $498,002 to assist the Portland-Metropolitan area law enforcement and criminal justice community to prevent and reduce crime and violence
The City of Portland ordains.
Section 1. The Council finds:
- The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) will provide grant funding to assist local law enforcement efforts to prevent or reduce crime and violence by supporting the purpose areas of law enforcement programs, prosecution programs, prevention and education programs, and technology improvement programs (see Exhibit A).
- The City of Portland will apply for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant on behalf of the jurisdictions certified as disparate — the cities of Portland and Gresham and the county of Multnomah on October 22, 2024.
- The solicitation requires the City, as lead applicant and fiscal agent, to submit a joint applicationon behalf of the disparate municipalities. Multnomah County will receive $197,959 the City of Gresham, $48,096, and the City of Portland, $251,947.
- Separate Intergovernmental Agreements will be executed with the City of Gresham and Multnomah County at the time of the grant award to obligate agency roles and responsibilities.
- The grant period is October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2027.
- No match is required by this grant.
- Pursuant to the JAG statute (34 U.S.C. § 10153(a)(2)), a JAG application must be made available for review by the governing body of the applicant jurisdiction at least 30 days prior to that application being submitted to the awarding agency for funding. The application must also be made available for public comment to the extent applicable law or established procedures make such opportunity available (see Exhibit B).
- The City may submit the FY 2024 application prior to the governing body review period, then submit certification to BJA at the time of the grant award, which occurs after the two Readings occur and the 30-day wait period has concluded. This process meets with BJA’s approval.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:
- The interim City Administrator is authorized to apply for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant and to provide public notice and the opportunity for public comment on the City's application.
Official Record (Efiles)
An ordinance when passed by the Council shall be signed by the Auditor. It shall be carefully filed and preserved
in the custody of the Auditor (City Charter Chapter 2 Article 1 Section 2-122)
Passed by Council
Auditor of the City of Portland
Simone Rede
Impact Statement
Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Fiscal Year 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program solicitation requires a minimum of 30-day review of the application by the governing body of the unit of local government designated as the lead applicant and fiscal agent, Portland, and the subawardees, Gresham and Multnomah County.
The DOJ certification process requires the City Administrator to certify, at the time of the grant award, that the review took place and citizens were provided an opportunity to comment on the application to the extent applicable law or established procedures make such opportunity available. The City will submit the joint application on or by October 22, 2024.
Multnomah County’s share of federal funding is $197,959. Multnomah County will fund a 0.54 FTE Deputy District Attorney Level 4 for the Justice Integrity Unit (JIU). The JIU brings intention and priority to post-conviction relief hearings, parole hearings, reviewing clemency petitions, reviewing Ramos[1]cases, and investigating claims of actual innocence, or instances where prosecutorial or law enforcement misconduct is alleged that is uncovered post-conviction.
The Gresham Police Department’s (GPD) share of federal funding is $48,096. Gresham will use this funding to purchase equipment and materials for their Crime Scene Investigations laboratory and to support expand GPD’s officer wellness program. GPD’s CSI team serves as the Department’s central hub for evidence collection, handling, processing, and analysis. High demands for the team’s services necessitates upgrading several key items to meet community needs. Funds for GPD’s officer wellness program will be used to update supplies and equipment for the department’s on-site gym, an integral part of the officer wellness program.
[1] Evangelisto Ramos, Petitioner v. Louisiana; Holding:The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution requires that guilty verdicts for criminal trials be unanimous.
Financial and Budgetary Impacts
There are no financial or budgetary impacts with this legislation. Separate Intergovernmental Agreements with Multnomah County and the City of Gresham will be executed at the time of the award to obligate agency roles and responsibilities.
Economic and Real Estate Development Impacts
Not applicable
Community Impacts and Community Involvement
There are no legal or controversial issues. There is no voluntary citizen participation. There are no links to current City policies.
100% Renewable Goal
Not applicable
Financial and Budget Analysis
Analysis provided by City Budget Office
This ordinance will appropriate $251,947 of federal grant revenue to the Portland Police Bureau to purchase bicycles for officers to increase bike patrols in the City’s downtown core. No match is required.