TITLE:
title
ACCEPTANCE OF PROPOSITION 69 FUNDS
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DEPARTMENT: Police Department
PRESENTED BY: Ed Everett, Lieutenant
CONTACT INFORMATION: Ed Everett (714) 754-5395
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Adopt Resolution 2022-xx, authorizing the acceptance of the 2021 Proposition 69 funds and authorizing the City Manager or designee to accept the funds in the amount of $101,361.
2. Authorize revenue and expense appropriations in the amount of $101,361 respectively, for the 2021 Proposition 69 funds.
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BACKGROUND:
In November 2004, California voters passed Proposition (Prop) 69, the “DNA Fingerprint, Unsolved Crime and Innocence Protection Act,” to expand and modify state law regarding the collection and use of criminal offender DNA samples and palm print impressions. As a result, Government Code 76104.6 was enacted, which levied additional penalty upon every fine, penalty, or forfeiture imposed and collected by the courts for criminal offenses. The additional penalty is deposited into the DNA Identification Fund.
Prop 69 established a guaranteed funding source for costs associated with the collection, verification, and/or management of DNA evidence and/or samples. In addition, the statute provided for each County to determine the methodology or eligibility criteria for the disbursement of their funds. An established Prop 69 Committee administers the Prop 69 funding received by the County. The Committee is comprised of two local Chiefs of Police, members from the County Executive Office, District Attorney’s Office, Probation Department, Sheriff’s Department, and the Orange County Crime Lab. Collectively, the Committee recognizes the funding is limited and has chosen to utilize the funds to promote innovation to enhance or strengthen DNA programs in Orange County with its public safety partners. The committee voted to allocate one-time funding requests to enhance the DNA programs for local law enforcement entities and county departments.
ANALYSIS:
In November of 2021, the Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) submitted a funding request for $252,095 to fund equipment for the Crime Scene and Property Units. The Committee approved $101,361 in funding for the purchase of a mobile storage system for cold case evidence ($61,125) and Crime-lite AUTO camera ($40,236).
On January 25, 2022, the Orange County Board of Supervisors authorized the allocation of the Prop 69 funds to local and county agencies.
The Prop 69 allocation approved for the City of Costa Mesa will allow the Police Department to purchase the above named equipment, which will improve and enhance CMPD’s ability to identify, collect, process, and store DNA evidence.
ALTERNATIVES:
The alternative consideration is not to accept the Prop 69 funds. However, the Department does not recommend this alternative because alternative funding sources, such as the City’s General Fund, would need to be used to purchase the required equipment.
FISCAL REVIEW:
Upon acceptance of the 2021 Proposition 69 funds, revenue and expense appropriations in the amount of $101,361 respectively, will be established.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed this report and approved it as to form.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES:
This item supports the City Council Goal: Strengthen the public’s safety and improve the quality of life.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends City Council:
1. Adopt Resolution 2022-xx, which authorizes the acceptance of the 2021 Proposition 69 funds and authorizes the City Manager or designee to accept the funds in the amount of $101,361.
2. Authorize revenue and expense appropriations in the amount of $101,361, respectively, for the 2021 Proposition 69 funds.