Sponsor: Sheriff's Office
Title
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Fiscal Agent Agreement for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program Grant.
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Recommendation
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1. Approve the Fiscal Agent Agreement with the cities of New Brighton, Roseville, Saint Paul, Maplewood, Mounds View and White Bear Lake for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program Grant for the term beginning July 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022.
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the Fiscal Agent Agreement.
3. Authorize the County Manager to approve and execute amendments to the Fiscal Agent Agreement including amendments to renew the term of the agreements with all other terms and conditions remaining the same, in a form approved by the County Attorney’s Office.
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Background and Rationale
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On September 12, 2017, the County Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) and accepted the HIDTA program grant from the United States Office of National Drug Control Policy (Resolution B2017-220). On April 14, 2020, the County Board reauthorized the HIDTA program grant (Resolution B2020-102). With the ongoing continuation of the HIDTA grant program, an updated Fiscal Agent Agreement is now required to include the City of Mounds View. A Fiscal Agent Agreement is required when a county department or elected office provides financial management, accounting, and reporting services on behalf of one or more public organizations.
The United States Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) administers the HIDTA grant program. Congress established this program to operate under the direction of the ONDCP by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. Under this program, a coalition of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies from a specific geographic area join together to apply for, and to receive, federal grants to facilitate specific drug control goals. A HIDTA coalition does not possess its own law enforcement authority. The agencies that participate in HIDTA carry out activities to accomplish a set of specific measurable goals. There are presently 33 HIDTAs in all 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.
The purpose of HIDTA is to reduce drug trafficking and production by:
• Facilitating cooperation among federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to share information and implement coordinated enforcement activities
• Enhancing law enforcement intelligence sharing among federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies
• Providing reliable law enforcement intelligence to law enforcement agencies to facilitate the design of effective enforcement strategies and operations
• Supporting coordinated law enforcement strategies that make the most of available resources to reduce the supply of illegal drugs in designated areas of the United States
In Ramsey County, HIDTA operates within the Violent Crime Enforcement Team (VCET). VCET is an east metro multi-agency law enforcement task force comprised of deputies from the Sheriff's Office along with officers from the Saint Paul, Roseville, Mounds View, Maplewood, White Bear Lake, and New Brighton Police Departments and agents from the Department of Homeland Security Investigations. VCET collaborates with the United Stated Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF). Additional partners include the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office and the Minnesota National Guard Counter-Drug Task Force. VCET focuses enforcement efforts to identify, arrest, and prosecute upper level narcotics distributors, violent offenders, gang members, and career criminals to stop the flow of narcotics and weapons into the region. VCET also collaborates with other local state and federal agencies and offers public education and awareness to communities on drugs, gangs, and violent offenders.
This Fiscal Agent Agreement is between the county, through the Sheriff’s Office, with the City of New Brighton, the City of Roseville, the City of Saint Paul, the City of Maplewood, the City of Mounds View, and the City of White Bear Lake. This agreement has been approved by the County Attorney’s Office.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☐ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
While there is no direct racial impact associated with this administrative item, the Sheriff’s Office remains committed to reviewing program outcomes for any racial disparities.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Information about this action is available through County Board documentation that is published on the County’s website at www.ramseycounty.us/your-government/leadership/board-commissioners/board-meetings-information <http://www.ramseycounty.us/your-government/leadership/board-commissioners/board-meetings-information>.
☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
There is no financial impact due to the Fiscal Agent Agreement related to this action.
County Manager Comments
County Board approval is required for the issuance of a Fiscal Agent Agreement and is consistent with the County Board’s policies and procedures.
Last Previous Action
On April 14, 2020, the County Board reauthorized the HIDTA program grant (Resolution B2020-102).
On September 12, 2017, the County Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the North Central HIDTA and accepted the HIDTA program grant from the United States Office of National Drug Control Policy (Resolution B2017-220).
Attachments
1. Fiscal Agent Agreement