TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary documents, including any amendments, to receive and expend grant funding from Downtown Long Beach Associates in the amount of $18,000 for a period ending December 31, 2017; and increase appropriation in the General Grants Fund (SR 120) in the City Prosecutor Department (CP) by $18,000. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Two years ago, the City Prosecutor’s Office and the Downtown Long Beach Associates (now named Downtown Long Beach Alliance) 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.
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, battery, 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 several years ago, all community prosecution programs in Long Beach were eliminated.
The Downtown Long Beach Alliance (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.
In 2014, the City Council approved a pilot program between the City Prosecutor and DLBA that resulted in a limited-scope community prosecution program in Downtown Long Beach. Discussions involving the City Prosecutor’s Office, DLBA, Councilmember Lena Gonzalez and then-Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal helped define the specific needs of the area and priorities for coordinated law enforcement efforts. The pilot program was funded by a grant of $18,000 from DLBA, which covers some of the costs to the City Prosecutor’s Office. The DLBA now seeks to continue the Neighborhood Impact Prosecutor program.
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 Long Beach 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 matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Monica J. Kilaita on March 13, 2017.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
This adjustment to the FY 2017 budget is requested to reflect the acceptance of this grant award. City Council action is requested no later than March 21, 2017, so that there is continuity between the pilot program and this new phase of the Neighborhood Impact Prosecutor Program in Downtown Long Beach. If approved, funds from DLBA will be used until exhausted, which may result in use of the funds over multiple fiscal years.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to receive $18,000 in grant funds that are not currently budgeted. Therefore, an appropriation increase in the City Prosecutor Grants Fund (SR 120) by $18,000 in FY 2017 in the City Prosecutor Department (CP) is requested as part of the recommended action. There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Douglas P. Haubert
City Prosecutor