AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Consider approval of Resolution 2026-50R, authorizing the resubmission of a taskforce grant application to the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority to fund one full-time sworn officer position and continuation of Berla software for vehicle infotainment data; authorizing matching funds in the amount of $32,524.00; authorizing the City Manager, or her designee, to execute any and all documents as needed to apply for, accept, implement, decline, modify, or cancel the grant, if awarded; and declaring an effective date.
Body
Meeting date: April 7, 2026
Department: Police Department
Amount & Source of Funding
Funds Required: $32,524
Account or Project Number (C = CIP funds): 10002141 - Police Operations
Funds Available: Yes
Account Name: Police Operations
Fiscal Note:
Prior Council Action: Council authorized the submission of this same grant on December 3, 2024. The grant requires renewal each year.
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Background Information:
In 2024, the Police Department applied for and received a grant from the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA). The MVCPA awards grants to agencies to raise awareness of vehicle theft and burglary and implement education and prevention initiatives. It was created by the 72nd Texas Legislature and became the first statewide effort to reduce auto theft.
The Police Department received the MVCPA grant in 2025 to stand up an auto theft taskforce to reduce thefts and burglaries, thus necessitating (1) sworn position. Detective Casey Tennant currently serves in the role of the sworn position.
The grant requirements include an annual re-submission and award process. The Department seeks the approval of the City Council to continue the (1) FTE position. Vehicle burglaries have increased significantly in San Marcos in recent years, with thieves specifically targeting firearms and other valuables left in unattended vehicles. The San Marcos Police Department has identified this crime type as a primary focus area, noting that stolen firearms in particular contribute to downstream violent offenses including assaults, robberies, and homicides. The commercial parking lots that serve San Marcos’s retail corridor, hospitality properties, and dining district present the highest concentrations of unattended vehicles and, correspondingly, the greatest vulnerability to this offense pattern.
The rapid evolution of in-vehicle infotainment and telematics systems has created a significant new source of digital evidence that is increasingly critical to modern criminal and traffic investigations. These systems routinely store navigation data, historical locations, vehicle events, call logs, connected-device identifiers, and other information that can corroborate statements, reconstruct timelines, locate missing persons, or identify suspects. However, this data cannot be accessed or interpreted using standard forensic tools.
The Berla iVe Ecosystem used by the San Marcos Police Department provides a forensically sound, court-accepted method for acquiring, processing, and analyzing digital evidence stored within vehicle systems. Without this capability, investigators face substantial delays and potential evidence loss when relying on external agencies or when vehicle data becomes unavailable due to manufacturer changes or system resets.
Investment in the Berla iVe platform directly supports the goals of this grant by enhancing investigative capacity, improving case solvability, and strengthening data-driven public safety outcomes.
The grant requires a 20% match, so the total General Fund impact would be $32,524, which the Finance Department has included in the Proposed FY 2027 budget.
Council Committee, Board/Commission Action:
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Alternatives:
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Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of a written resolution to approve the grant submission. Another resolution would be brought before Council if the MVCPA grant is awarded, thereby giving Council another opportunity to fully consider the grant.