TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file a report on the Innovation Team (i-team) Public Safety research and accomplishments. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On February 3, 2015, the City Council accepted the Bloomberg Philanthropies (Bloomberg) Innovation Team Grant (grant), which is a private foundation grant designed to advance the capacity of City Halls to effectively design and implement new approaches that improve the lives of residents. The grant provides cities with dedicated in-house Innovation Team (i-team) members to identify and design solutions to pressing issues.
The first i-team priority was focused on Economic Development, which continues to drive investments of City departments and its partners. After a detailed examination of the challenge area, the solutions proposed included BizPort, Inspector Gadget, Hubs and Spaces, Business Navigators and the Economic Development Blueprint. These and other solutions are at various stages of implementation now by the Economic and Property Development Department.
In January 2017, the Long Beach i-team shifted its efforts from Economic Development to Public Safety. With a focus on supporting the Long Beach Police Department, the i-team researched the deployment of resources with a lens toward data-driven solutions around high frequency offenders. High frequency offenders are individuals cited or booked 11 or more times over a five-year period. The primary objective of this research effort is to better understand the experience of high frequency offenders with the Public Safety Continuum. The entire Long Beach community benefits from the City’s Public Safety Continuum, which includes Police, Fire, Health, Development Services, City Prosecutor’s Office, and other key departments, all contributing to make Long Beach a better, and safer city.
The i-team research will inform the development of solutions to reduce crime and better connect high frequency offenders to all the services available in the Public Safety Continuum. The development of the approach is people-focused, involving 26 in-depth interviews with high frequency offenders, discussions with 21 subject matter experts, 12 observational visits of service providers and City services, 12 data landscaping analyses, and over 65 participants in co-creating solutions. The i-team will continue to host co-creation solution sessions with City departments, community partners, neighborhood organizations, nonprofits, other government agencies, and high frequency offenders in the months ahead. These solutions will then inform potential pilots the City and partners can implement to triage around this population.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy R. Webber on July 28, 2017 and by Budget Analysis Officer Julissa José-Murray on August 2, 2017.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action on this matter is not time critical.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will continue to utilize existing grant resources to support the i-team. There is no fiscal or local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER