AGENDA MEMORANDUM

Meeting Date: March 23, 2009

From:                          Chief William Chrisman

Subject:                      Resolution authorizing the Leesburg Police Department to apply for, and if awarded, accept a grant for 52,885.00 from the Florida Department of Transportation

Staff Recommendation:

Staff recommends approving the Police Department to submit an application, and if awarded accept, the Florida Department of Transportation grant funding of  $52,885.00.  These funds will be used to purchase a vehicle primarily for DUI enforcement and to help meet our DUI training needs.

Analysis:

This grant will provide budgetary relief to purchase a fully equipped police vehicle and address DUI training needs.  Driving under the influence of alcohol continues to be a problem within the city.  The annual report shows there were 135 DUI arrests made in 2008.  Although we have had a 13 percent reduction over last year, the data shows that we have more work to do in terms of ridding our highways of impaired drivers.  Due to funding shortfalls, officers are receiving a reduced amount of training in this specialty area, which adversely affects our ability to detect, apprehend, and process suspected offenders.  Cost of a new specialized Patrol Vehicle is approximately $37,885.00. The remaining $15,000.00 will be used for in-service DUI training

Options:

1. Accept the grant to reduce our out of pocket expenses.

2.   Such alternative action as the Commission may deem appropriate

Fiscal Impact:

The City is not required to provide matching funds for this grant.  The vehicle and training will essentially be free.  However, our internal fleet leasing program requires that if the grant is awarded, the Police Department will have to budget for a lease and maintenance payment in the 2009-10 budget.  The lease payment will begin to fund the vehicle’s eventual replacement.

Department: ______________________ Prepared by:  ______________________                      Attachments:         Yes____   No ______ Advertised:   ____Not Required ______ Dates:   __________________________                      Attorney Review :       Yes___  No ____ _________________________________            Revised 6/10/04

Reviewed by: Dept. Head ________ Finance  Dept. ___________JB_____                                    Deputy C.M. ______EFS__________                                          Submitted by: City Manager ___________________

Account No. _________________ Project No. ___________________ WF No. ______________________ Budget  ______________________ Available _____________________

RESOLUTION NO._______________

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LEESBURG, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE LEESBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT, TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT, IF AWARDED, A GRANT FOR $52,885.00 FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO  BE USED TO FUND THE COST OF A NEW FULLY EQUIPPED PATROL VEHICLE AND NEEDED DUI TRAINING; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LEESBURG, FLORIDA:

            THAT the Leesburg Police Department is hereby authorized to apply for and accept if awarded, a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation for $52,885.00 to purchase a patrol vehicle and fund DUI training.

 THAT this resolution shall become effective immediately.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Leesburg, Florida, at a regular meeting held the __23rd___ day of _March__ 2009.

                                                                            __________________________

                                                                             Mayor

ATTEST:

__________________________

City Clerk