TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute all necessary documents to receive and expend grant funding from the California Board of State and Community Correction for the Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention Program in the amount of $500,000 for two years;
Authorize a required in-kind match of $500,000 from Pacific Gateway; and
Increase appropriations in the Community Development Grants Fund (SR 150) in the Department of Development Services (DV) by $500,000. (Districts 1,6,7,8,9)
DISCUSSION
The California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention Program (CalGRIP) is a State grant awarded by the California Board of State and Community Correction (BSCC). CalGRIP was designed to provide youth, who are identified as being involved in criminal or gang activity, or are at risk of becoming so, with positive alternatives to gang participation in a safe environment. CalGRIP promotes community awareness and education through anti-gang messages and enhances the coordination of existing youth and gang violence prevention efforts to maximize the return on the investment of limited resources.
Since 2008, the City has been the recipient of four other CalGRIP grants. The first three of these grants have been successfully implemented, while the fourth is currently underway and expected to be completed by December 31, 2013.
On November 14, 2012, the Department of Development Services was awarded a fifth round of CalGRIP funding (CalGRIP 5). The fifth grant, in the amount of $500,000, is a two-year grant beginning January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2014, and requires a 100 percent in-kind match for a total program budget of $1,000,000. The 100 percent, in-kind match will be provided by Pacific Gateway through existing programming such as the Hire-a-Youth Program and Workforce Investment Act's Youth Career Academies.
CalGRIP 5 aims to divert Long Beach youth from gang affiliation and contact with the juvenile justice system, as well as reduce recidivism rates for youth already involved with the justice system. In this round of CalGRIP funding, Development Services will partner with five community-based organizations that provide on-site mentoring services. CalGRIP 5 funding will provide 400 youth with community-based mentoring and youth development activities. Of those youth, 100 will receive additional workforce-based case management and mentorship by Pacific Gateway. Additionally, CalGRIP 5 partners (local community-based organizations) will be trained by Big Brothers Big Sisters using their evidenced-based model for effective mentoring.
The guidelines for the CalGRIP grant require that police beats with crime statistics related to gang activity be the focus of the grant activities. For this CalGRIP grant, the focus areas are police beats 4, 5, 7, 21, and 23 (Exhibit A). The objectives of CalGRIP 5 are attached (Exhibit B).
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Richard Anthony on December 10, 2012 and Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on December 17, 2012.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on January 8, 2013, to allow timely implementation of the program activities.
FISCAL IMPACT
The receipt of $500,000 in grant funds is not currently budgeted. Therefore, an appropriation increase in the Community Development Grants Fund (SR 150) in the Department of Development Services (DV) is requested as part of the recommended action. The required 100 percent match will be provided through the Pacific Gateway with its existing appropriations in the Community Development Grants Fund (SR 150) in the Department of Human Resources. There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund. This action will not have an impact on local jobs.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
AMY J. BODEK, AICP
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER