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Councilors approve $128,500 UASI target-hardening grant for police HQ amid civil-liberties questions
Summary
The finance committee recommended a $128,500 Urban Area Security Initiative grant to fund target-hardening measures at police headquarters (cameras, card access, bollards) after asking whether the work would restrict public access and whether federal funding would impose immigration-enforcement obligations; police said the FY23 grant follows the FY23 funding guidelines and will not retroactively adopt new FY25 conditions.
The finance committee on Sept. 9 recommended acceptance of a $128,500 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant for a target-hardening project at the police department headquarters. Director Wisdom said the funds would be used for measures such as security cameras, card-access systems and vehicle access controls near areas where critical equipment is stored.
Councilor Burnley raised concerns about whether federal homeland-security grants could be used to pressure municipalities into increased cooperation with federal immigration authorities. "I've been told that those new requirements are not in this particular grant because it is of a previous funding round," the councilor said, asking for the assurance to be placed on the record. Director Wisdom replied: "So this is an FY '23 funded, grant year project...any changes...in future years of funding...do not go back and change the funding, the notice of funding guidelines that were given for previous years."
Other councilors asked what "target hardening" would mean for public access to the police station. Wisdom said the project is not intended to prevent the public from entering the building or parking for normal uses; rather, it would secure specific lots where cruisers and critical equipment are stored and might include bollards, barriers or a controlled access arm for vehicle entry. The committee voted to recommend approval.
