AGENDA MEMORANDUM

Meeting Date: October 26, 2009

From:                          Capt. Max Parker, Leesburg Police Department

Subject:                      Resolution Approving a Memorandum of Agreement with Partners Investing in People (PIP) for the Leesburg Weed and Seed Program

Staff Recommendation:

Staff recommends approval of the agreement with Partners Investing in People for the Leesburg Weed and Seed program.

Analysis:

The Weed and Seed program is a United States Department of Justice program that assists local  governments, neighborhoods, and community-based organizations in developing Weed and Seed strategies under the authority of the Omnibus Crime and Control Safe Streets Act of 1968 (OCCSSA).  The OCCSSA aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in neighborhoods with persistent high levels of serious violent crime and corresponding social problems.  The operative strategy of this initiative incorporates a community-based, comprehensive multi-agency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention, and neighborhood restoration.

This program recognizes that the redeployment of existing community resources can achieve significant and sustainable change in consistently high crime neighborhoods.  The City of Leesburg has partnered with a number of community groups and individuals with the common goal of significantly reducing violent crime and narcotics activity in the following two communities:  

East Service Area – Located within the corporate limits of the City of Leesburg, this area is an irregularly shaped area bounded on the North by Lake Griffin; on the East by Dixie Avenue/Newell Hill Road; on the South by Dixie Avenue; and on the West by Palmetto Street. 

West Service Area – Located within the corporate limits of the City of Leesburg, this area is an irregularly shaped area bounded on the North by the City Limits; on the East by Citrus Boulevard; on the South by West Main Street; and on the West by the City Limits west of County Road 466. 

This initiative will consist of law enforcement operations and strong community engagement to suppress criminal activities, empower residents to build safer neighborhoods, and facilitate the implementation of highly-effective, sustainable restorative strategies.  In addition to these Weed and Seed activities, the City will also provide education and services, currently being offered citywide, in a specifically targeted manner within the two service areas.

Options:

1.  Approve the resolution; or

2.  Such alternative action as the Commission may deem appropriate

Fiscal Impact: 

There is no direct fiscal impact above what is already budgeted by the supporting departments as a part of their normal operations.

Submission Date and Time:    10/23/2009 3:25 PM____

Department: ______________________ Prepared by:  ______________________                      Attachments:         Yes____   No ______ Advertised:   ____Not Required ______ Dates:   __________________________                      Attorney Review :       Yes___  No ____ _________________________________            Revised 6/10/04

Reviewed by: Dept. Head ________ Finance  Dept. _______JB_________                                    Deputy C.M. ___________________                                          Submitted by: City Manager ___________________

Account No. _________________ Project No. ___________________ WF No. ______________________ Budget  ______________________ Available _____________________

RESOLUTION NO._______________

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LEESBURG, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH PARTNERS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, FOR THE LEESBURG WEED AND SEED PROGRAM; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LEESBURG, FLORIDA:

            THAT the Mayor and City Clerk are hereby authorized to execute a Memorandum of Agreement  with Partners Investing in People, for the Leesburg Weed and Seed Program, whose address is  715 E. Magnolia St, Leesburg, Florida 34748 .

             THAT this resolution shall become effective immediately.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Leesburg, Florida, at a regular meeting held the   26^th day of October, 2009.

                                                                            __________________________

                                                                             Mayor

ATTEST:

__________________________

City Clerk