REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 28, 2022
FROM
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator
SUBJECT
Title
Accept Grant Award for the 2021 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Program Grant
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Accept grant award from the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES Award No. CQ21 15 0360) in the amount of $74,899 for the 2021 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Program to provide training for the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator Crime Lab personnel from April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
2. Designate the Chief Executive Officer to execute the grant award documents and any subsequent non-substantive amendments necessary on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Chief Executive Officer to transmit all documents and amendments in relation to this grant award to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
4. Authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post the necessary budget adjustments to the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s 2021-22 budget, as detailed in the Financial Impact section (Four votes required).
(Presenter: John Ades, Deputy Chief, 387-3760)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). This grant award in the amount of $74,899 will provide funding for tuition, transportation, meals, and lodging for Crime Lab personnel to attend specified training. No matching funds are required.
The Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator (Department) requests the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector post the following adjustments to the Department’s 2021-22 budget in the amount of $74,899:
|
Fund Center |
Commitment Item |
Description |
Action |
Amount |
|
4438001000 |
52942941 |
Conf/Testing/Seminar Fees |
Increase |
$17,771 |
|
4438001000 |
52942942 |
Hotel - Non-Taxable |
Increase |
$34,100 |
|
4438001000 |
52942943 |
Meals - Non-Taxable |
Increase |
$7,728 |
|
4438001000 |
52942945 |
Air Travel |
Increase |
$9,322 |
|
4438001000 |
52942946 |
Other Travel - Non-Taxable |
Increase |
$5,978 |
|
4438001000 |
40509094 |
Federal-Grants |
Increase |
$74,899 |
This action is needed to ensure that there is sufficient appropriation available in 2021-22 for costs incurred by the Department pertaining to the 2021 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Program.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) received federal funds in the amount of $2,138,330 for the 2021 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Program (Grant) to improve the quality, timeliness and credibility of forensic science and medical examiner services. Funds are allocated to the State’s accredited forensic laboratories based upon established criteria. Cal OES requires the County to designate an “Authorized Official” to execute the grant award documents. The application submitted by the Department lists the Chief Executive Officer as the Authorized Official. The Certification of Assurance of Compliance further requires a County official to designate the Authorized Official. The Department’s application designated the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors (Board) to make this certification.
On February 8, 2022 (Item No. 55), the Board approved the submission of the Grant application to Cal OES. The award notification was received by the Department on April 29, 2022 and is being submitted to the Board for approval at the first available meeting date after completion of the fiscal, operational, and legal review process. The Grant term is April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. The allocation of $74,899 will be used to supplement the Department’s Crime Lab’s operational training budget. This grant will fund training in six disciplines: firearms, National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), trace evidence, blood alcohol, controlled substances, and crime scene investigation. This additional training will update and increase lab staff knowledge with the goal of increased efficiency and faster turn-around time in analyzing evidence. The Department can submit claims for reimbursement retroactively from April 1, 2022.
The grant award was reviewed pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and determined to be exempt from future environmental review in accordance with 14 California Code of Regulations §15061(b)(3), "it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment," and 14 California Code of Regulations §15321(b) “as law enforcement activities by peace officers acting under any law providing a criminal sanction”. The County made this finding on February 9, 2022, and fulfilled its obligation under CEQA for this project with the filing and posting of the Notice of Exemption by the Clerk of the Board.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Richard D. Luczak, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 31, 2022; Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (Charlene Huang, Manager, 382-7022) on May 27, 2022; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-5285) on June 7, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on June 8, 2022.