Placement: Consent Agenda
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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Approve FY 2025-2026 Use of Police Forfeiture Funds
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Submitted By: Leo Niemczyk, Chief of Police
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Mission to utilize fiscal responsibility.
Executive Summary (General Business): The Port St. Lucie Police Department is requesting approval to expend the not-to-exceed amount of $24,000 of forfeiture funds in accordance with F.S.S. 932.7055(5) on a contract with Cole Pro Media Corp to provide services as a Transparency Engagement Advisor to the Port St. Lucie Police Department. This advisor will provide guidance on the best ways to handle difficult high-profile/critical incidents topics with the community with a focus on transparency in the area of news releases, social media posts, press questions, etc. This will be for a period of one year.
Presentation Information: Staff will be available to answer any questions.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council approve the forfeiture request.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council amend the recommendation and approve the forfeiture request.
2. Move that the Council not approve and/or provide staff direction on the forfeiture request.
Background: This is an additional request to the previously approved FY 25/26 request to expend Fund # 603 Forfeitures.
Issues/Analysis: Section 932.7055, Florida Statutes provides for the disposition of forfeited property seized by the police department in the normal course of performing law enforcement duties. The statute provides for the sale and disposition of such property.
As it relates to the agenda item, the expenditure of the proceeds from sold forfeitures generally follows one of two paths - expenditures by the police department and expenditures by agencies/organizations who request proceeds from the City to expend them in strict accordance with the statute. In either case, the City Council is required to review and approve such requests to appropriate...
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