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I <br /> <br />I AUTHORIZATION TO MAKE APPLICATION FOR <br /> PATROL OFFICERS THROUGH <br /> UNIVERSAL HIRING GRANT (FAST/COPS) <br />I By: David Gustafson, Police Chief <br /> James E. Norman, City Administrator <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />The City has received, from the United States Department of Justice, the 1999 Universal <br />Hiring Program Additional Officer Request Form. Ramsey has utilized this program to <br />hire three patrol officers over the past four years. <br /> <br />The Federal Government authorizes a grant of $75,000 to help defray wage costs for each <br />officer hired under this program. Each grant is spread over a three-year period from the <br />date of hire. Making application for officers under this program in no way obligates the <br />agency to hire that number of officers but, rather if approved by the Federal Government, <br />secures funds for the officers requested until the anticipated date or hire, at which time <br />the funds may be allocated to another agency if the requesting agency does not hire. <br /> <br />Ramsey's 1999 budget has no identifiable funding sources for additional officers. A <br />pending family leave of perhaps several months duration will occur in the department <br />during 1999, leaving it short one officer for whatever period of time that officer is absent. <br />Making application for two additional officers for 1999, one on April 1, 1999, and the <br />other on December 31, 1999, would secure the grant funds and allow time to identify <br />potential funding sources necessary to offset the difference between the allowable yearly <br />grant fund draw and actual expenses. A combination of delayed capital item purchases <br />and the financing of another large capital purchase through a County bond might <br />accomplish this. As stated herein, the application does not obligate the City to hire the <br />requested persons. <br /> <br />Committee Action: <br /> <br />Motion to recommend Council authorize the Police Chief and the City Administrator to <br />make application for officers per the above schedule/time table. <br /> <br />Reviewed by: <br /> <br />Copies also distributed to: <br /> <br />Police Chief <br />City Administrator <br /> <br />Finance Officer <br /> <br />FC: 12/15/98 <br /> <br />Jo/CopsFast. doc <br /> <br /> <br />