DATE: December 4, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Margaret Mims, Sheriff-Coroner
SUBJECT: Retroactive State of California Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Award/Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize Chairman to execute retroactive Off-Highway Project Grant Award/Agreement with the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation for the period of July 8, 2018, through July 7, 2019 ($126,204.00); and
2. Approve Budget Resolution increasing the FY 2018-19 appropriations and estimated revenues in the Sheriff-Coroner’s Org 3111 in the amount of $71,679 (4/5 vote).
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The State of California Department of Parks and Recreation has awarded the Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office a $126,204 grant to fund Deputy Sheriff overtime costs and for the purchase of a vehicle. The grant provides funding to assist in the enforcement of off-road vehicle laws and meet bi-annually with U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) enforcement staff to discuss Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) concerns and issues. Overtime is recommended because the grant does not fund a full-time Deputy Sheriff position, and it would be more costly to hire and train an extra-help Deputy Sheriff. The second recommended action appropriates the difference in the grant award and the funding included in the department’s current year budget. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved, the grant award will be withdrawn, which will result in a reduction in enforcement of off-road vehicle laws.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended agreement was received from the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation on August 7, 2018 and is retroactive to July 8, 2018. Subsequent time for processing delayed this item from being placed on an earlier agenda date.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The total OHV program cost of $168,269 (as approved by the State) is funded with $126,204 in grant funds and a required 25% match of $42,065. The FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget for Org 3111 includes $96,590 in appropriations and estimated revenues for the OHV program. The second recommended action will appropriate the difference of $71,679 in the Sheriff-Coroner’s Org 3111 for FY 2018-19 for program costs and for the purchase of one Ford-250 truck. Maintenance costs for the vehicle are included in the department’s current year budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
DISCUSSION:
On May 8, 2018, your Board approved and authorized the Sheriff-Coroner to submit an application to the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation for Off-Highway Vehicle Grant funds. The Sheriff-Coroner’s Office has been awarded a total of $126,204.
Most Fresno County off-road vehicle activity is located in the eastern part of the County where the U.S. Forest Service maintains trails in the mountain areas for snowmobiles and other off-road vehicles. The Sheriff-Coroner’s Off-Road Safety team has the ability to resolve many off-road related problems that are otherwise difficult for deputies to address. These grant monies will enhance the off-road enforcement efforts by dedicating additional staff through the use of overtime.
If approved by your Board, the first recommended action authorizes the Chairman to execute the agreement by signing the Project Agreement. Once the Grant Award is executed by the Chairman and the State of California, the documents become the final Agreement between the County and the State of California effective July 8, 2018.
Approval of the second recommended action will increase the FY 2018-19 appropriations and revenues in the Sheriff-Coroner Org 3111 in the amount of $71,679 to fund program costs and purchase a new Ford F-250 Crew Cab 4x4. Currently, the Fresno County OHV unit operates two 2001 Ford F-250 XL V10 Crew Cab trucks. These trucks have operated well for OHV operations over the last 17 years. However, over the years, the maintenance and upkeep on these two vehicles has increased due primarily to age.
Under the terms of the Project Agreement, in the event that there is an at-fault breach on the part of the Sheriff-Coroner, the Sheriff-Coroner will be required to perform as originally agreed. Monetary reimbursement to the State, for a breach of the Project Agreement, is only available to the Sheriff-Coroner if the breach was not the fault of, and was beyond the control of, the Sheriff-Coroner. The Department understands this obligation and wishes to move forward with the Project Agreement.
It should be noted that the Sheriff-Coroner’s Office is identified as the grant recipient. As per instructions from the State Department of Parks and Recreation, the County of Fresno cannot be the grantee recipient unless they apply for the grant. The Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office applied for this grant, and therefore is the grantee recipient.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #27, May 8, 2018
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk Award/Agreement with Off-Highway Vehicle
On file with Clerk - Resolution (Org 3111)
CAO ANALYST:
Jeannie Z. Figueroa