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Committee weighs small forfeiture-fund contribution to family safety center planning
Summary
Committee members debated using restricted forfeiture funds to support initial planning for the proposed Family Safety Center; staff recommended a $3,000 contribution from the city's special law enforcement trust while members asked for written conditions and clearer follow-up.
City staff brought forward a proposed allocation from the city's special law enforcement trust fund to support planning for the Johnson County Family Safety Center after the district attorney requested municipal donations to cover a consultant engagement.
"We put a number of $3,000 to come out of our special law enforcement trust fund," the police chief said, adding that the trust held roughly $43,000. The chief described permissible uses of the fund and gave examples of earlier purchases financed through forfeiture dollars.
Committee members generally expressed support for a modest initial contribution but pressed for conditions. Several members said they would be comfortable with $3,000 to test the planning process but wanted explicit expectations that any further requests be supported by consultant findings and clearer commitments on operational funding and site selection. One member suggested deferring a decision to gather more information; others argued that a small seed investment would allow the consultant to produce those answers sooner.
The committee did not finalize a full multi-year commitment; members instructed staff to follow up with the DA and chief about a written statement of conditions and next steps for any additional funding requests.
