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6.3 Add 911 Dispatchers CITY OF SALINA REQUEST FOR CITY COMMISSION ACTION DATE 10/21/02 TIME 4:00 P.M. AGENDA SECTION NO: ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: APPROVED FOR AGENDA: 6 ITEM NO, Page 1 Salina Police Department 3 BY: Chief James D. Hill BY:~ ITEM: Consider advisory board recommendations and public comment regarding proposed use of FY2002 Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program funds. BACKGROUND: The Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) Program, administered by the U.S. Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Assistance, provides funds to units of local government to underwrite projects to reduce crime and improve public safety. Awards to local units of government are proportionate to the local jurisdiction's average number of Part I violent crimes compared to the number for all local jurisdictions in the state for the three most recent calendar years. The City of Salina received a FY2002 grant award in the following amount: $18,966 Federal Award 2.107 Local Match $21,073 Total Project Funds Pursuant to LLEBG program requirements, an advisory board was appointed by the City Manager to make nonbinding recommendations to the City Commission for the proposed use of the LLEBG funds. The program requires that the advisory board membership comprise at least one member of each of the following: local law enforcement, the prosecutor's office, court system, school system, as well as a member of a nonprofit group active in crime prevention or drug use prevention. The following persons were asked to serve on the advisory board: Ellen Mitchell, Jane Eilers, Dr. Peg Dokken-Opat, Ann Ryan, Alan Jilka, Rod Franz, and Jim Hill. Advisory Board Recommendation: The advisory board and staff are recommending for your consideration that "personnel" be designated as the LLEBG program purpose area, and that grant funds be used to help defray the cost of adding two dispatchers to our 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Center. This additional staffing would enable three dispatchers to be on duty during the busiest times, thereby enhancing public safety in Salina and Saline County. Staff Recommendation: 1. Authorize staff to draw down federal funds, thereby accepting the grant award. 2. Adopt the advisory board recommendation, designating "personnel" as the LLEBG purpose area, and that grant funds be used to partially fund two dispatchers. RECOMMENDATION: Consider advisory board and staff recommendations listed above.