TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary documents, subcontracts and subsequent amendments, including amending the award amount, with the Board of State and Community Corrections, California Violence Intervention and Prevention Cohort 4, to accept and expend grant funding in the amount of $3,919,232, for the Long Beach Activating Safe Communities Program from July 1, 2022 to December 31, 2025, with the option to extend the agreement for an additional one-year period at the discretion of the City Manager; and
Increase appropriations in the Health Fund Group in the Health and Human Services Department by $3,919,232, offset by grant revenue. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC), California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) Cohort 4 award allows the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (LBDHHS) to expand the Long Beach Activating Safe Communities Program (LB-ASC) citywide. Currently piloted in the Washington Neighborhood, this additional funding enables the LB-ASC to interrupt the cycle of violence and improve safety and well-being in 13 additional neighborhoods. Anchored in the City of Long Beach’s (City’s) violence prevention collective impact approach and Cure the Violence Model, the LB-ASC seeks to reduce street gun violence by focusing on neighborhoods with the highest prevalence of gun violence and working with youth ages 13-25 who are the most at risk for engaging in or becoming victims of violence through evidence-based street outreach, life coaching, and a case management neighborhood strategy.
LBDHHS will serve as the lead agency and collaborate with the City’s Departments of Parks, Recreation, and Marine, Police, and the Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network (PGWIN) to implement the LB-ASC program. The LB-ASC strives to: reduce shootings and gun-related deaths within high impact neighborhood clusters in North and Central Long Beach by expanding the Gun Violence Response Protocol citywide; increase engagement with peacekeepers (crisis intervention workers), supportive services, and economic opportunities for youth and families impacted by gun violence; and implement a collective efficacy strategy to change social norms around gun violence by activating spaces through neighborhood engagement efforts.
The awarded funding will provide financial resources to the City’s Parks, Recreation, and Marine Department to organize and offer new and expanded evening activities for Be Safe, leverage PGWIN and LBDHHS resources to provide opportunities for youth and at-risk youth with employment pathways and provide additional resources to expand contracted services for case management and peacekeepers (crisis interventionist workers) in Long Beach.
The LBDHHS currently serves as the backbone entity for the Citywide violence prevention initiative driven by a cross-sector group of committed, inclusive, and diverse system leaders and community stakeholders working together with a shared safety approach to improve the safety and well-being for everyone in Long Beach. This grant directly supports the neighborhood-level violence prevention goals and strategies in the City.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Taylor M. Anderson on July 13, 2022 and by Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on July 25, 2022.
EQUITY LENS
The City has incorporated the Equity Toolkit in this recommendation, as requested by the City Council on April 21, 2020. The services derived from this contract were completed in accordance with procurement procedures. Efforts to utilize an equity lens will include deliberate engagement of communities who have historically faced barriers to accessing early identification and intervention services.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on August 9, 2022 to allow the LBDHHS to begin the program as soon as possible.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will receive grant funding in the amount of $3,919,232 from July 1, 2022 to December 31, 2025. An appropriation increase in the amount of $3,919,232 is being requested in the Health Fund Group in the Health and Human Services Department, offset by grant revenue. The grant has a match requirement of $3,919,232, of which $3,594,569 will be met through existing City services. The remaining amount of $324,663 will be provided by community partner organizations as part of their contractual agreement with the City. The City’s portion of the match requirement is currently appropriated in the following fund groups and departments:
Department Fund Group Total
Health and Human Services Health Fund $460,306
Health and Human Services General Fund $392,431
Health and Human Services General Fund/LBRA $866,048
Police General Fund $1,286,100
Economic Development Community Development Grant $218,484
Economic Development General Fund/LBRA $101,200
Parks, Recreation and Marine General Fund $80,000
Parks, Recreation and Marine General Fund/LBRA $190,000
Total…………………………………………………………………………………$3,594,569
This recommendation is anticipated to have a minimal impact on staff hours beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. Any indirect costs that might not ultimately be eligible for grant funds will be funded by the Health Operating Fund, General Fund, or other eligible grant funds. Due to grant requirements and objectives, two full-time additional staff members will be requested in the Health and Human Services Departments to carry out the duties outlined by the grant, funded by grant revenues.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
KELLY COLOPY
DIRECTOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER