TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary documents, and any amendments, to accept and expend grant funding from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, in the amount of $491,211 over a three-year period, to implement a feasibility study and randomized controlled trial to evaluate the Long Beach Justice Lab Multi-Disciplinary Team, beginning April 1, 2018 through March 31, 2021; and
Increase appropriations in the General Grants Fund (SR 120) in the City Manager Department (CM) by $491,211, offset by grant revenue. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
In January 2017, the Long Beach Innovation Team (i-team) shifted its efforts from Economic Development to Public Safety. To support the Long Beach Police Department, the i-team researched data-driven solutions pertaining to 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 and develop solutions 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 safer city.
In November 2017, the City Council authorized the City Manager to expend $557,124 in grant funds from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation for implementation of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) and Data Mart. With the new grant funding, the i-team, in collaboration with California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), will conduct a feasibility study to evaluate the effectiveness of the MDT’s team-based method of service planning and care management targeting high frequency offenders.
In January 2018, the City launched a first-of-its-kind Justice Lab to provide new tools to first responders to divert offenders out of the criminal justice system and toward treatment, care, and other resources. The Justice Lab includes several initiatives designed to help break the cycle of incarceration. Prominent among them is the MDT, which convenes City and County service providers to better coordinate and reduce the burden on individuals accessing and navigating services such as mental health, substance abuse, and homeless services. Other initiatives include Clinician in Jail, Long Beach GUIDES (Government User Integrated Diversion Enhancement System), Data Sharing Agreement, Data Mart, and CSULB Rising Scholars Education Lab.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy R. Webber on February 26, 2018 and by Budget Analysis Officer Julissa José-Murray on February 20, 2018.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on March 13, 2018, to allow timely implementation of the feasibility study to evaluate the Long Beach Justice Lab MDT.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will receive up to $491,211 for the period of April 1, 2018 through March 31, 2021 from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation. An appropriation increase, offset by the grant revenue, is requested in the amount of $491,211 in the General Grants Fund (SR 120) in the City Manager Department (CM). This grant will support a three-year feasibility study and randomized controlled trial that includes a Research Manager position and two sub-contracts with university-based partners. Sub-contractors include CSULB and UCLA. No match or in-kind service is required. The local job impact associated with this recommendation includes hiring one part-time Research Manager.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER