City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: OCTOBER 4, 2022
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: DON HAYES, CHIEF OF POLICE
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration for the Application for the FY 2023 Combating Hate Crimes Grant Program through the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice.
BODY
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ISSUE: Should the City submit a new competitive grant application of up to $150,000 to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice to combat hate crimes?
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve the grant application; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute all the necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is soliciting applications to localities within the Commonwealth that have established partnerships with institutions and/or nonprofit organizations that have been targets or are at risk of being targets of hate crimes. The City, through the Police Department, has long-standing relationships with several institutions within the City’s jurisdiction and intends to collaborate with them if this grant is awarded.
Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis for an approximate 9-month period beginning January 1, 2023 to September 30, 2023. The maximum amount that may be awarded is $150,000 per locality. This will be the first time the City has applied for this funding opportunity. Priority may be given to localities that were not recipients of this during previous funding years.
DISCUSSION: If a grant is awarded, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be established between the Police Department and the institution (s) or nonprofit organization (s) with whom the City develops a partnership. The Police Department will be exclusively managing the grant funding and reporting. This funding will be used to enhance safety and security for this institution and or/ nonprofit organization.
The goal of this program is to minimize bias-motivated incidents by providing funding that supports institutions and/or nonprofit organizations that may be at risk based on race, religious conviction, color, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or nation origin.
Through this grant partnership, the funds can be used for security needs, including:
1. Target/facility hardening installations;
2. Contractual security services;
3. Critical technology and cybersecurity infrastructure, training or services;
4. Inspection and screening systems; and
5. Security-related and terrorism awareness training for employees and volunteers
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no required match from the City and, therefore, no additional fiscal impact from this grant other than staff time to manage. Staff estimates approximately 60-70 hours of administrative review will be needed. The maximum amount that may be awarded is $150,000 per locality.
STAFF:
Yon Lambert, Interim Deputy City Manager
Don Hayes, Chief of Police
Courtney Ballantine, Captain, Police Department
Brenda D’Sylva, Division Chief, Police Department
Jennifer Simon, Fiscal Officer I, Police Department
Jason North, Lieutenant, Police Department