City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: NOVEMBER 21, 2023
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 of a Grant Application to the 2024 Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Combatting Hate Crimes Grant Program for the Alexandria Police Department.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of a Grant Application to the 2024 Combatting Hate Crimes Grant Program through the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice (DCJS).
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve submission of the grant application for up to $150,000 by December 1, 2023; 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 currently accepting applications from localities across the Commonwealth that have established partnerships with institutions and nonprofit organizations that have been or are at risk of being targets of hate crimes. The localities must have an established Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the institution and/or nonprofit organization. The Alexandria Police Department (APD) has forged a partnership with the Beth El Hebrew Congregation and proposes to work collaborate on this funding opportunity. This same grant opportunity was offered in FY 2023. At that time, the APD partnered with Agudas Achim Congregation who were recipients of the
FY 2023 award.
DISCUSSION: If awarded, the allocated funds will be directed towards enhancing target-hardening measures, particularly related to infrastructure improvements. This strategic investment aims to deter and prevent criminal activities at the facility.
The primary objective of this program is to reduce bias-motivated incidents by providing financial support to institutions and nonprofit organizations that may be vulnerable based on factors such as race, religious beliefs, ethnicity, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or nationality. 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.
To formalize this collaboration, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be established between APD and the Beth El Hebrew Congregation. APD will have exclusive oversight of the grant funding and reporting responsibilities, utilizing these funds to bolster safety and security.
FISCAL IMPACT: This grant does not necessitate a matching contribution from the City, resulting in no additional fiscal impact on our budget other than staff time to manage. Staff estimates approximately 10 hours of administrative review will be needed. However, this is already a part of the staff’s current work function. The grant offers a maximum award of $150,000 per locality, and the grant period spans approximately nine months, from January 1, 2024, to September 30, 2024.
STAFF:
Yon Lambert, Deputy City Manager
Brenda D’Sylva, Division Chief, Police Department
Jennifer Simon, Fiscal Officer I, Police Department
Jason North, Lieutenant, Police Department