SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Renew Financial Assistance Agreement between the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the City of Clearwater, necessary to facilitate a current mutual aid agreement between the two entities, effective upon execution through June 30, 2023, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
Body
SUMMARY:
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the City of Clearwater (City) have determined that they can make efficient use of their powers and resources, in certain criminal cases that may require specialized expertise and have the potential to cross jurisdictional lines, through coordination and sharing of specialized technical resources and personnel.
Chapter 23, Florida Statutes, authorizes law enforcement agencies to enter into mutual aid agreements for rendering voluntary assistance of a routine law enforcement nature to one another across jurisdictional lines and to enter into operational assistance agreements whereby each agency may request and render law enforcement assistance to the other law enforcement agencies during emergencies under Section 252.34, Florida Statutes.
Council previously approved the Electronic Surveillance Support Team Multi-Agency Voluntary Cooperation Mutual Aid Agreement with an expiration date of June 30, 2025. This agreement allows for the reimbursement of certain expenses incurred by the City.
The Financial Assistance Agreement between the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the City outlines the eligible costs available for reimbursement by the FDLE and the process to apply for reimbursement. This agreement must be renewed annually, and due to the nature of the agreement, it is required to come before Council for approval.
The agreement provides for reimbursement of overtime (salaries and benefits) and expense (travel and training).
Funds will be reimbursed up to an annual maximum of $12,500 per task force participant. Total reimbursement for all participating agencies for the ESST/CHT task force under FDLE’s appropriation shall not exceed $300,000.00
If the total monetary amount of the financial assistance provided to the City is equal to or exceeds $750,000 in any fiscal year, the participant must have a state single audit for such fiscal year in accordance with Section 215.97, Florida State Statutes.
There is no budgetary impact associated with the ESST Mutual Aid Agreement.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
N/A