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• <br /> August 26, 2020 <br /> response to homelessness, and the need to conduct additional benchmarking <br /> across all City departments. <br /> Council Member Bader echoed comments made earlier by Council Member <br /> Moore. <br /> Council Member Murphy noted the first paragraph of the Department of Justice <br /> award letter seemed to indicate that grant funding could be used at a future date <br /> to rehire officers who may have been laid off due to budget reductions. While the <br /> City has not had any such layoffs to date, he stated the award letter seems to <br /> conflict with information provided earlier by Chief Templeman. <br /> Chief Templeman stated the Police Department did contact the COPS office and <br /> asked if officer positions were eliminated due to financial challenges in the future, <br /> could the funding be used to rehire. He stated the answer from the COPS grant <br /> administrator was a clear no. <br /> • <br /> Council Member Murphy also commented that while receipt of a grant to hire <br /> additional officers is a positive outcome, he is concerned about the overall cost to <br /> City. He stated that the grant requires the City to spend an additional $14 million <br /> over the next five years, and while there is an offset of$6 million from the grant, <br /> it would leave an $8.5 million net additional cost to the City when the latest budget <br /> projections show large deficits for the next five years. Council Member Murphy <br /> expressed concern that by approving the grant, the City would potentially be <br /> writing a check that it might not be able to cash in the future. <br /> Chief Templeman acknowledged the significant financial commitment by the City. <br /> He noted the costs are primarily associated with start-up costs to hire new <br /> officers, and the COPS office did waive any required matching from the City. He <br /> also commented on future opportunities the grant would provide as the City <br /> grows. <br /> Council Member Roberts also expressed concern about the budget <br /> considerations. He noted that the award letter provides information about an <br /> extension that might provide time to have to have a more thoughtful discussion <br /> to set a course on budget options. <br /> • <br /> 256 <br />