To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): District Attorney
Staff Name and Phone Number: Renate Amantite 565-3150
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a resolution authorizing the County Administrator, Sheryl Bratton, to sign an agreement with the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, and to execute Justice Assistance Grant Program award documents for the acceptance of $140,146 currently allocated to County of Sonoma for two years beginning January 20, 2020.
end
Executive Summary:
Board approval and authorization is requested to grant the County Administrator authority to accept $140,146 in Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program funds from the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Upon approval of this grant funding, the District Attorney and Public Defender’s Offices will begin upgrading department technology to support flexibility for both departments in meeting the demands of post-COVID court operations and closely follows the grantor’s specified allowable use of funds under this grant program.
Discussion:
On March 30, 2020, the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance released a solicitation for federal funding through the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program to assist local governments to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus. A total allocation of $140,146 is available to the County of Sonoma. This award represents one-time funding and there is no match requirement. The grant term begins January 20, 2020 and goes through January 31, 2022.
With the Board’s approval to accept the Bureau of Justice Assistance grant funds, the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office and Sonoma County Public Defender’s Office will use the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding to help meet technology needs to improve the ability to provide essential services, ensuring due process for justice, and help balance the safety needs of employees and the public throughout this coronavirus pandemic. Court proceedings, by nature, require court staff, litigants, attorneys, witnesses, and juries to gather in facilities ill-equipped for physical distancing. As a result, enhancing technology is of the utmost importance at this time. Laptops with functional cameras will allow attorneys to conduct court proceedings from their offices. The availability of laptops, portable scanners, and printers for support staff use will improve department operational flexibility to help ensure continuity of critical legal support work. Each department will assess technology requirements and will prioritize the purchase of equipment that will allow for effective participation in court proceedings affected by social distancing and other post-COVID requirements. Tentative plans are to purchase 35 laptops, 20 scanners and two mobile scanner/printers.
Prior Board Actions:
The release of this grant in March 2020 was an emergency response to the coronavirus. Therefore, there are no prior Board actions.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 19-20 Adopted |
FY20-21 Projected |
FY 21-22 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
0 |
$140,146 |
0 |
|
Total Expenditures |
0 |
$140,146 |
0 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
0 |
$140,146 |
0 |
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
0 |
$140,146 |
0 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The District Attorney’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office plan to expend these funds in FY20-21, $70,073 for each department. Budget appropriations adjustments associated with this grant award will presented to the Board for approval during September 2020 budget hearings.
|
DISTRICT ATTORNEY CRIMINAL DIVISION |
FY20-21 Projected |
PUBLIC DEFENDER DIVISION |
FY20-21 Projected |
|
Expenditure Increase |
$70,073 |
Expenditure Increase |
$70,073 |
|
18010100 52142 |
|
28010100 52142 |
|
|
Computer Equipment/Accessories |
|
Computer Equipment/Accessories |
|
|
Funding Source Increase |
$70,073 |
Funding Source Increase |
$70,073 |
|
18010100 42473 |
|
28010100 42473 |
|
|
Federal Department of Justice |
|
Federal Department of Justice |
|
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
No staffing impacts.
Attachments:
Program Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Grant Award Document
Certifications
Standard Assurances