Issue Statement:  The City of Oakland Park, through the Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO), is eligible for grants in the amount of $20,714 under the Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program for FY 21 and $ 21,491 for FY22.

The MOU and Subgrant Award Agreement for FY21 and FY22 grants independently, require approval by the City and County.

Recommended Action:  The City Commission adopt resolutions A &
B approving the applications and award funding available through the FY21 and FY22 Justice Assistance Grants.

AGENCY:  Broward Sheriff's Office - City of Oakland Park District

PROJECT NAME:  Youth and Community Outreach, Safety and Crime Prevention Program.

GOALS:

• Deter youth crime through interaction, mentoring, and education.

• For the implementation of community action plans for the purpose of crime prevention, community relations safety programs, promoting safety in the neighborhoods, parks and business areas.

• Increase the visibility and working relationship with the City recreation facilities, with community action plans targeting youth.

• Expand law enforcement’s positive / role model interaction with the City’s youth who may already be offenders in the justice system. Focus on at risk youth who are believed to be capable of turning around their criminal behavior and getting back on the right track to becoming positive and productive citizens.

OBJECTIVES / STRATEGIES:

• Increase patrol and community interaction with deputies and CSA/CSIAs at parks and community events.

   

• Implement crime prevention strategies.

• Deter our youth from criminal activity, educate public on crime trends and drug awareness/education and distribute poster, brochures and other educational material at parks, homeowner’s meetings and at schools.

IDENTIFIERS:

• Overtime
• Crime Prevention
• Community Policing
• Prevention – Delinquency

   

The City of Oakland Park is one of the older municipalities in Broward County and was originally chartered as the Town of Floranada, in December 1925. In August 2000, the City of Oakland Park contracted with the Broward Sheriff’s Office to provide law enforcement services for its residents. The City has undergone several changes as a result of hurricanes, property booms and residents relocating in search of better opportunities and prosperity within the City, and boasts of a notable recreation program, its own excellent library and expansive parks.  The City currently has a population of 45,576 full time residents. The proposed expenditures of this grant would be for the purpose of crime prevention, crime reduction initiatives, youth and community education and enforcement in the City of Oakland Park.

PROJECT NARRATIVE:

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: (Description of the Issue)

JAG funding would be utilized by the Broward Sheriff’s Office Oakland Park District (BSO) in accordance with the City’s contract with BSO. Specifically, Broward Sheriff’s Office Oakland Park District intends to use this grant to fund crime prevention and youth safety education and operations through overtime and purchase of crime prevention and youth and community safety education materials (pamphlets, coloring books, etc). Like many municipalities, Oakland Park requires assistance to combat criminal activity within its borders and preventing the various crime trends from impacting residents and visitors quality of life.  The primary focus will be on public safety and crime prevention education, as well as efforts to increase interaction with the community’s youth to reduce youth delinquency.

PROJECT DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION:

The JAG funding will be utilized to: increase patrol; increase youth and community interaction with law enforcement at parks; attend homeowner’s meetings and other community events; implement crime prevention strategies; deter our youth from criminal activity; educate the public on crime trends; promote drug awareness/education; distribute safety and crime prevention educational materials at parks, homeowner’s meetings, schools and other community events and gatherings. Additionally, resources will be dedicated to creating positive circumstances where youth may interact with law enforcement in a non-confrontational and collegial manner.

CAPABILITIES and COMPETENCIES:

Law enforcement partnerships with Broward County School Board, Juvenile Justice, Juvenile SOA, Juvenile Probation, Juvenile Judges, BSO Juvenile Services, Homeowner associations, as well as the City’s Parks and Leisure Department are all fundamentals to ensuring success of meeting the programs goals. Overtime will be utilized to pay law enforcement (deputies, CSAs/CSIAs) to leverage opportunities to interact with the community and its youth in a positive manner by  conveying messages that promote crime prevention, community safety and youth guidance.

PLAN for COLLECTING the DATA:

Broward County will serve as the lead agency and grant administrator for the Participating Agencies for the JAG Grant. Pursuant to the JAG Grant guidelines, funding for the JAG Grant will be provided to the County, and the County will disperse the funds to the Participating Agencies in the amounts determined by County and submitted to the Department of Justice (“DOJ”).

For the FY21 JAG Grant, the County will retain 10% of the JAG Grant total award amount for administrative services associated with implementing the JAG Grant.

For the FY22 JAG Grant, the County will retain 7.02% of the JAG Grant total award amount for administrative services associated with implementing the JAG Grant.

At no additional cost to the City, JAG funding will be utilized for increased patrol and community interaction with deputies and CSA/CSIAs at parks and community events; implement crime prevention strategies; deter our youth from criminal activity, educate public on crime trends and drug awareness/education and secure and distribute posters and brochures at parks, homeowner's meetings and schools.

The total FY 21 grant funding awarded to the City of Oakland Park is $23,016. The County will 10% for administrative expenses; leaving $20,714. in grant funds to be utilized for the benefit of the City of Oakland Park.

The total FY 22 grant funding awarded to the City of Oakland Park is $23,114. The County will retain 7.02% for administrative expenses leaving $21,491 in grant funds to be utilized for the benefit of the City of Oakland Park.

The City Commission adopt two resolutions:

Resolution A) Approving the application and award funding available through the FY21 Justice Assistance Grant, and;

Resolution B) Approving the application and award funding available through the FY22 Justice Assistance Grant.