Resolution 2023-32690 RESOLUTION NO. 2023-32690
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER, OR HER DESIGNEE, TO APPLY FOR AND
ACCEPT FUNDING (INCLUDING MATCHING FUNDS AND ANY
RELATED CITY EXPENSES), FROM THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE, OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
2023 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT
(JAG) PROGRAM, IN THE APPROXIMATE AMOUNT OF $73,600; AND
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HER DESIGNEE,
TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS IN
CONNECTION WITH THE GRANT APPLICATION.
WHEREAS, the City Administration applies for grants and external funding from
outside organizations; and
WHEREAS, the City Administration requests approval to apply for a grant in the
approximate amount of $73,600 from U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice
Programs, for the Fiscal Year 2023 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
("JAG") Program, the details of which are as follows:
• The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant ( JAG) Program is the
primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local
jurisdictions, providing states and units of local governments with critical
funding necessary to support a range of program areas. JAG funds may be
used for local initiatives such as additional personnel, equipment, supplies,
contractual support, training, technical assistance and information systems for
criminal justice, including any one or more of the following: Law enforcement
programs; Prosecution and court programs; Prevention and education
programs; Corrections and community corrections programs; Drug treatment
and enforcement programs;Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement
programs; Crime victim and witness programs ( other than compensation);
Mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections
programs.
• As such, the purpose of this agenda item is to make information regarding the
Fiscal Year 2023 JAG application available to the public. In addition to this
agenda item, information regarding this grant and the grant application are
available on the City's website at: https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-
hall/finance/grants-management/under"Related Resources". The website also
provides an opportunity for comment. The proposed use of these funds is for
the following:
Handheld Narcotics Identification Devices
The Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD), with 459 officers and 98
civilians, strives to prevent crime, enhance public safety and support victims
of crimes. MBPD works to provide a competent and well-trained police
force, heightened visibility and community-focused policing, mutually
beneficial community partnerships and the strategic deployment of
advanced technological resources. The City's allocation is approximately
$73,600, matching funds are not required for this grant, and MBPD will
cover the difference between the allocation awarded and the total costs of
the 3 devices.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby approve and authorize the City Manager, or her designee, to apply
for and accept funding, execute any and all documents or agreements, and appropriate
funding received by the City of Miami Beach in connection with a grant from the U. S.
Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, for the Fiscal Year 2023 Edward Byrne
Memorial Justice Assistance Grant ("JAG") Program, in the approximate amount of
$73,600; and further authorize the City Manager, or her designee, to execute any and all
documents or agreements in connection with the grant application.
PASSED and ADOPTED this aka day of Jut , 2023.
ATTEST:
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Dan Gelber, Mayor
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk P ►,,
INCORPORATED.:
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APPROVED AS TO
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Resolutions-C7 M
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
DATE: July 26, 2023
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROPRIATING FUNDING, AND
APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HER
DESIGNEE, TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT FUNDING (INCLUDING
MATCHING FUNDS AND ANY RELATED CITY EXPENSES), FROM THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, FOR
THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE
ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) PROGRAM, IN THE APPROXIMATE AMOUNT
OF $73,600;AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HER
DESIGNEE, TO EXECUTE ANYAND ALL DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS
IN CONNECTION WITH THE GRANTAPPLICATION.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the Resolution.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
The City of Miami Beach intends to apply to the U.S. Department of Justice for Fiscal Year
2023 Justice Assistance Grant funds.
ANALYSIS
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant(JAG) Program is the primary provider
of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. The JAG Program provides
states and units of local governments with critical funding necessary to support a range of
program areas. JAG funds may be used for local initiatives such as additional personnel,
equipment, supplies, contractual support, training, technical assistance and information
systems for criminal justice, including any one or more of the following:
-Law enforcement programs.
- Prosecution and court programs.
-Prevention and education programs.
-Corrections and community corrections programs.
-Drug treatment and enforcement programs. •
-Planning, evaluation,and technology programs.
-Crime victim and witness programs
-Mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs.
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The Department of Justice requires that the applicant agency accepts certain Certifications
and Assurances. These Certifications and Assurances include, but are not limited to the
following three items which are summarized as follows: 1) JAG funds may not be used to
supplant state or local funds but must be used to increase the amounts of such funds, that
would, in the absence of federal funds, be made available for law enforcement activities; 2)
The application must be made available for review by the governing body; and, 3) The
application must be made public and an opportunity to comment on the application provided to
citizens and to neighborhood or community-based organizations.
As such, the purpose of this agenda item is to make information regarding the Fiscal Year
2023 JAG application available to the public. In addition to this agenda item, information
regarding this grant and the grant application are available on the City's website at:
https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/finance/grants-management/ under "Related
Resources". The website also provides an opportunity for comment. The proposed use of
these funds is for the following:
Handheld Narcotics Identification Devices
The Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD), with 459 officers and 98 civilians, strives to
prevent crime, enhance public safety and support victims of crimes. MBPD works to provide a
competent and well-trained police force, heightened visibility and community-focused policing,
mutually beneficial community partnerships and the strategic deployment of advanced
technological resources.
According to a recent National Institute of Health (NI H) article, more than 106,000 persons in
the U.S. died from drug-involved overdose in 2021, including illicit drugs and prescription
opioids. This is the highest point compared to every single year between 1999 and 2021.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), most of these deaths are
related to Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid so dangerous that it is involved in more deaths of
Americans under 50, including heart disease, cancer, homicide, suicide, and other accidents
and so dangerous because only two milligrams, about the size of 5 grains of salt, can be a
lethal dose. Florida is not immune to this crisis. According to the Florida Department of
Health, in 2020, more than more than 6,150 people died from overdoses involving fentanyl
and fentanyl analogs in Florida. This poses several challenges for officers, including:
1. Field officers and property and evidence employees exposure to fentanyl. In 2021,
Miami-Dade County(MDC)exhibits included 211 ones testing postitive for Fentanyl.
2. Delayed results as seized narcotics currently have to be sent to a lab for testing. As a
result, officers confiscating narcotics do not know which narcotics they are seizing and
can therefore not charge the defendants properly.
3. Costs of field-testing kits that the department could or would have to purchase to get
faster results than lab tests.
Right now, the MBPD has no means to test drugs in the field. Increasing technological
resources is critical to the MBPD's success in reducing crime, enhancing officer safety, and
strengthening community safety, well-being and confidence. The MBPD is therefore
requesting JAG funding to purchase 3 handheld narcotics identification devices that would
help with the three mentioned challenges. The handheld narcotics identification devices
currently available are specifically designed for law enforcement non-contact forensic analysis
of narcotics, pharmaceutical drugs, cutting agents and precursors. Featuring an intuitive
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workflow and touchscreen, samples can be nondestructively analyzed through opaque and
transparent packaging, with sample threat level displayed prominently for first responders,
safety personnel, law enforcement, patrol, and hazmat team to act quickly with minimal sample
contact. Utilizing laboratory-proven Raman spectroscopy, which is an analytical technique
where scattered light is used to measure the vibrational energy modes of a sample, the
handheld device allows users to obtain actionable identification of illicit substances without
ever compromising the integrity of the sample or the chain of evidence. Purchasing 3 devices
would therefore allow MBPD to fight the distribution and consumption of narcotics more
efficiently and in a safer way for officers and employees handling confiscated evidence.
The City's allocation is approximately$73,600, matching funds are not required for this grant,
and MBPD will cover the difference of $16,000 between the allocation awarded and the total
costs of the 3 devices.
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
In the 2022 Resident Survey, respondents rated "quality of police services" in the second top
response for City services they"think are the most important to them".
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
CONCLUSION
Based on the stated analysis, the Administration recommends that the Mayor and City
Commission adopt the Resolution appropriating funding and approving and authorizing the
City Manager or his designee to apply for and accept funds and execute all documents or
agreements in connection with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice
Programs for the.Fiscal Year 2023 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant(JAG).
Applicable Area
Citywide
Is this a"Residents Right Does this item utilize G.O.
to Know" item,pursuant to Bond Funds?
City Code Section 2-14?
Yes No
Strategic Connection
Neighborhoods- Prevent and solve crime for residents and visitors.
Legislative Tracking
Finance
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