TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager and City Prosecutor, or their designees, to execute all documents necessary, including any amendments, to receive and expend grant funding from Downtown Long Beach Alliance in the amount of $18,000, and increase appropriations in the General Grants Fund Group in the City Prosecutor Department by $18,000, offset by grant revenue.
DISCUSSION
In 2015, the City Prosecutor's Office and the Downtown Long Beach Associates (now named Downtown Long Beach Alliance, or "DLBA") initiated a pilot program for a Neighborhood Impact Prosecutor. This agenda item, if approved by the City Council, would provide for a continuation of the Neighborhood Impact Prosecutor Program with services specifically focused on Downtown Long Beach.
The Long Beach City Prosecutor handles all misdemeanor violations of state and local law arising within the City, including Downtown Long Beach. Among the crimes prosecuted by the City Prosecutor are petty theft, vandalism, drug possession, gang court order violations, code enforcement, chronic truancy, drinking in public, camping in parks, trespass, loitering, and disorderly conduct.
From 2000-2009, the City Prosecutor's Office had various "Community Prosecution" programs designed to reduce crime in specific areas of the City that might benefit from special case handling. In general, the concept of Community Prosecution is complementary to Community Policing. Both Community Prosecution and Community Policing have been shown to empower residential groups wishing to reduce crime in their neighborhood, increase community awareness of crime trends, and help coordinate public safety responses to blighted properties. As a result of budget cuts and loss of grant funding in 2007 and 2008, all community prosecution programs in Long Beach were eliminated.
The DLBA is a nonprofit organization serving the tenants and commercial and residential property owners located in the Downtown Long Beach Business Improvement District. The DLBA serves an important role in the City by coordinating security in and cleaning up the Downtown area.
The Neighborhood Impact Prosecutor will interact with DLBA staff, law enforcement officers (including LBPD's Quality of Life Team), and others, to address persistent problems in the Downtown area. The Neighborhood Impact Prosecutor will attend monthly meetings of the DLBA to give reports and critical information to residents and business owners about recent crime trends, vertically handle some of the criminal cases that arise in the Downtown Long Beach area, and coordinate with other public safety partners in an effort to reduce crime and blight in the affected area.
Although the Neighborhood Impact Prosecutor will be partly funded by the DLBA, this position will remain solely under the direction and supervision of the City Prosecutor. A written memorandum of understanding will be executed by the parties to ensure all cases will be handled appropriately and not directed by any person other than the City Prosecutor, who retains prosecutorial discretion over the filing of criminal charges and handling of criminal cases. This grant will be the third time the DLBA has funded the Neighborhood Impact Prosecutor.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Monica J. Kilaita on May 10, 2019, and Budget Management Officer Rhutu Amin Gharib on May 10, 2019.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on May 21, 2019 to ensure continuity in the Neighborhood Impact Prosecutor Program in Downtown Long Beach.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total grant funds received will be $18,000 for a period ending December 31,2019, or later upon agreement of the parties. An appropriation increase in the amount of $18,000 is requested in the General Grants Fund Group in the City Prosecutor's Office, offset by grant funds. This recommendation has minimal staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
DOUGLAS P. HAUBERT
CITY PROSECUTOR