HomeMy WebLinkAboutA011 - Resolution approving Memorandum of Understanding with Story County to apply for grant funding under the 2025 Bureau of Justice Assistance Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) ProgramITEM #:16
DATE:04-14-26
DEPT:POLICE
SUBJECT:2025 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS
BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL
JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) PROGRAM
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
In March 2026, the Police Department received notice that it is eligible for grant funds through
the 2025 Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program.
Grant funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training,
personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal
justice, as well as research and evaluation activities that will improve or enhance law
enforcement programs related to criminal justice.
Because the Story County Sheriff provides jail services for the county, the grant conditions
require that the Sheriff participate in the grant application for funding under this JAG program.
Therefore, it would be appropriate for the City enter into a Memorandum of
Understanding with the Story County for acquisition and use of the funds.
Total funding potentially available to the Ames Police Department and the Story County
Sheriff’s Office through this grant offering is $17,525. There is no match required with
this grant. If awarded, grant funds will be used to:
1. Send staff to a Crisis Intervention Team conference and provide supplemental mental
health and officer wellness training to staff.
2. Purchase smart sequential road flares for traffic direction and safety.
3. Purchase two high quality binoculars for patrol and investigative purposes.
4. Purchase two pole cameras.
(Note: Pole cameras are video cameras placed temporarily at a location for investigative
purposes. They are always in public areas and subject to our policy. We currently have
two that are quite old and no longer work very well.)
The grant requires that the Mayor sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Story County as
well as a certifications and assurances document indicating that the City will abide by the grant
terms and conditions. These documents have been reviewed and approved by City’s Legal
Department.
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ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve the Memorandum of Understanding with Story County to apply for grant funding
under the 2024 Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice
Assistance Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program and
authorize application for that grant.
2. Do not approve the agreement with the Story County or the Edward Byrne Memorial
Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program grant application.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
JAG funds have been used productively during the past few years to purchase
equipment and provide training. The program has proven to be a valuable source of
funds for special purchases and programs. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City
Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative No. 1, as described above.
ATTACHMENT(S):
2025_Byrne_Grant_MOU.pdf
local-jag-ce-certification.pdf
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THE STATE OF IOWA
KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENT
COUNTY OF STORY
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF AMES, IOWA, AND STORY COUNTY, IOWA
JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) PROGRAM AWARD
This Agreement is made and entered into this____day of________, 2026, by and between the
Story County, Iowa, acting by and through the Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors as
an authorized agent for the county, hereinafter referred to as COUNTY, and the City of Ames,
acting by and through the Mayor as an authorized agent for the city, hereinafter referred to as
AMES, both of Story County, State of Iowa, witnesseth:
WHEREAS, under the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice
Assistance 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Formula Program, Local
Solicitation, hereinafter referred to as GRANT, funds have become available to the parties for use
in improving law enforcement programs; and
WHEREAS, the GRANT requires that the COUNTY and AMES agree on process for filing an
application for the acquisition, administration and expenditure of those funds; and,
WHEREAS, each governing body finds that the performance of this Agreement is in the best
interests of all parties, that the undertaking will benefit the public, and that the division of funds
and costs is equitable;
NOW THEREFORE, AMES and COUNTY agree as follows:
Section 1.
The parties are eligible for funding through the GRANT of up to $17,525.00. The parties agree
that AMES will file a single application on behalf of both parties that provides for distribution of
funds as follows:
To AMES - $17,525.00 to support the participation of select personnel in specialized mental
health and crisis intervention training, and to purchase critical safety and investigative equipment.
The funds will be used to purchase smart sequential road flares, covert pole cameras, and high
quality binoculars.
Section 2.
AMES shall be designated as the fiscal agent for the purposes of this GRANT and shall be
responsible for all administrative support to meet the requirements of the GRANT. COUNTY
shall not be responsible for any costs associated with the administration of the GRANT.
Section 3.
Each party to this agreement will be responsible for its own actions in providing services under
this agreement and shall not be liable for any civil liability that may arise from the furnishing of the
services by the other party.
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Section 4.
The parties to this Agreement do not intend for any third party to obtain a right by virtue of this
Agreement.
Section 5.
By entering into this Agreement, the parties do not intend to create any obligations express or
implied other than those set out herein; nor do they intend to create a separate legal entity for the
purposes of this GRANT, specifically they do not intend to create a legal entity authorized by
Chapter 28E of the Code of Iowa; further, this Agreement shall not create any rights in any party
not a signatory hereto.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed by their
authorized representatives.
Story County
By: Latifah Faisal, Chair _____________________________________
Story County Board of Supervisors Signature
City of Ames
By: John Haila, Mayor _____________________________________
City of Ames Signature
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2025 Local Solicitation
Certifications and Assurances by the Chief Executive of the Applicant Government
On behalf of the applicant unit of local government named below, in support of that locality’s application for an award
under the FY 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (“JAG”) Program, and further to
34 U.S.C. § 10153(a), I certify to the Office of Justice Programs (“OJP”), U.S. Department of Justice (“USDOJ”), that
all of the following are true and correct:
1.I am the chief executive of the applicant unit of local government named below, and I have the authority to make
the following representations on my own behalf as chief executive and on behalf of the applicant unit of local
government. I understand that these representations will be relied upon as material in any OJP decision to make an
award, under the application described above, to the applicant unit of local government.
2.I certify that no federal funds made available by the award (if any) that OJP makes based on the application
described above will be used to supplant local funds but will be used to increase the amounts of such funds that
would, in the absence of federal funds, be made available for law enforcement activities.
3.I assure that the application described above (and any amendment to that application) was submitted for review
to the governing body of the unit of local government (e.g., city council or county commission), or to an organization
designated by that governing body, not less than 30 days before the date of this certification.
4.I assure that, before the date of this certification— (a) the application described above (and any amendment to
that application) was made public; and (b) an opportunity to comment on that application (or amendment) was
provided to citizens and to neighborhood or community-based organizations, to the extent applicable law or
established procedure made such an opportunity available.
5.I assure that, for each fiscal year of the award (if any) that OJP makes based on the application described above,
the applicant unit of local government will maintain and report such data, records, and information
(programmatic and financial), as OJP may reasonably require.
6.I have carefully reviewed 34 U.S.C. § 10153(a)(5), and, with respect to the programs to be funded by the award
(if any), I hereby make the certification required by section 10153(a)(5), as to each of the items specified therein.
7.If the applicant named below is not the unit of local government itself, I certify that it is an instrumentality of the
unit of local government and is approved to serve as the applicant and recipient of FY 2025 JAG funding
on behalf of the unit of local government.
_
Signature of Chief Executive of the Applicant Unit of
Local Government
_
Printed Name of Chief Executive
_
Rev. March 2026 5