TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute an agreement, any subsequent amendments, and sub-contracts in the amount of $175,000, for a period of one year, with the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Program, to provide Weed and Seed Community services in Police Beats 4 and 5; and increase appropriations in the Health Fund (SR 130) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HE) by $175,000. (Districts 1,6,7)
DISCUSSION
The Weed and Seed program furthers the Department of Justice mission to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity. The Weed and Seed initiative is a community-based, comprehensive multi-agency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention, and neighborhood restoration. It is designed for neighborhoods with persistent high levels of serious violent crime and corresponding social problems. Weed and Seed Communities (WSC) must be developed in partnership with many local organizations-including the United States Attorney's Office to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in a community primarily through the redeployment of existing public and private resources into the community. WSC also helps to address related social problems that, without proper intervention, often lead to violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity.
The primary partners in this collaboration, which comprise the Weed and Seed Steering Committee, are the City of Long Beach Departments of Health and Human Services, Community Development, Parks, Recreation and Marine, City Manager, Library, Planning and Building, and Police, the Office of the City Prosecutor, the United States Attorney, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the State of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the County of Los Angeles Department of Probation, social service agencies, faith-based and community-based organizations and residents. The Co-chairs of the Steering Committee are Dr. Lydia Hollie of the Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Task Force and Mr. Ted Marquez, Acting Law Enforcement Manager, United States Attorney's Office.
Below is the list of agencies to be funded in year one of the grant award:
Long Beach Police Department $ 63,125
State of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 7,500
County of Los Angeles Department of Probation 7,500
Peace Partners, Inc. 5,400
California Conference on Equality and Justice 4,800
Tony Ostos, Consultant (Gang Resistance Is Paramount Training) 2,000
Sullivan International, Inc. 18,750
$ 109,075
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Lori A. Conway on September 4, 2007 and by Budget and Performance Management Bureau Manager David Wodynski on September 7,2007.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on September 18, 2007 to contract with the Department of Justice to ensure the grant can begin by October 1,2007.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding is for a period of one year in the amount of $175,000. A minimal requirement of 25% of the total project cost is a required match and must come from state, local or private sources (non-Federal). The first year match is $58,333 and will come from existing funding and in-kind resources from each of the primary collaborators. Funding will be made available through the Department of Justice and will be expended through the Health Fund (SR 130) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HE). Current appropriations do not exist to expend these grant funds; therefore, an appropriations increase of $175,000 is included in the recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
RONALD R. ARIAS
DIRECTOR HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
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APPROVED: |
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ANTHONY W. BATTS |
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CITY MANAGER |