REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
January 5, 2021
FROM
JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator
SUBJECT
Title v
Grant Application for the 2020 Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Program Grant
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve and authorize the submission of the grant application to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) for funding in the amount of $66,146 under the 2020 Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Program to provide training to the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s Crime Lab personnel and for overtime costs from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021.
2. Find that the grant application and usage is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act, 14 California Code of Regulations §15321(b) and 15061(b)(3) and direct the Clerk of the Board to file and post the Notice of Exemption.
3. Designate the Chief Executive Officer as the official authorized to execute the grant application documents and any subsequent non-substantive amendments necessary on behalf of the County, as required by Cal OES, subject to review by County Counsel.
4. Direct the Chief Executive Officer to transmit all documents and amendments in relation to this application to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: John Ades, Captain, 387-0640)
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.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The 2020 Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Program Grant (Grant), in the amount of $66,146, will provide funding for tuition, transportation, meals, and lodging for Crime Lab personnel to attend specified training, and overtime costs. The Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator (Department) will return to the Board of Supervisors (Board) for acceptance of the grant award and may request budget adjustments, if necessary, as part of a future quarterly budget report presented to the Board for approval. No matching funds are required.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Cal OES has been allocated approximately $1,918,010 in federal Grant funds to improve the quality, timeliness and credibility of forensic science and medical examiner services. Funds are allocated to the State’s 26 accredited forensic laboratories based on established criteria.
The Department is requesting $66,146 to supplement the Crime Lab’s operational training budget. This Grant will fund training in six disciplines: 1) firearms 2) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN)), 3) trace evidence, 4) blood alcohol, 5) controlled substances and 6) crime scene investigations. The additional training will increase the knowledge of the lab’s staff with the goal of increased efficiency and faster turn-around time in analyzing evidence. This grant will also provide overtime for backlog reduction in four areas: firearms, NIBIN, controlled substances and blood alcohol.
The application is legally binding and requires the County to designate an “Authorized Official” to sign the application. The Department’s application lists the County’s Chief Executive Officer as the Authorized Official. The Certification of Assurance of Compliance further requires a County official to confirm the individual listed on the application is the Authorized Official. The Chair, on behalf of the Board, will make the confirmation that the Chief Executive Officer is the Authorized Official.
The Grant term is from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021. The Department received the Request for Application from the State on October 30, 2020. The application is being submitted for Board approval at the first available Board date upon completion of the grant application and legal review.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Richard D. Luczak, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on December 4, 2020; Finance (Carolina Mendoza, Administrative Analyst, 387-0294) on December 9, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Kelly Welty, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on December 10, 2020.