To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Jennifer Gonzales, Police Chief
Prepared By: William Hernandez, Domestic Violence Detective
TITLE:
Title
State Grant to the City for the Law Enforcement Specialized Units Program
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
Authorize the City Manager to execute all documents necessary to accept the Law Enforcement Specialized Units Program Grant to fund services provided to survivors of domestic violence and their children from the California Office of Emergency Services, in the amount of $203,143 with a local match from the City of $67,714; and approving a transfer of $67,714 from the General Fund to the Non-Recurring General Fund and increases to the Non-Recurring General Fund revenue and expenditure budgets in the total amount of $270,857, as documented in Budget Adjustment No. BE2202502.
Body
DISCUSSION:
The City of Napa through the Napa Police Department (NPD) in collaboration with Nurturing Empowerment Worth Safety (NEWS) has been awarded the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) Law Enforcement Specialized Units (LESU) grant. This four-year grant funds a dedicated Domestic Violence Detective and Domestic Violence Counselor. The four-year grant provides $203,143 on a yearly basis to fund this partnership.
Since the early 1980’s when NEWS, the only domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy provider serving Napa County, was formed, there has been strong collaboration and partnership with NPD. Both NEWS and the NPD recognize that the best way to meet the needs of survivors and their children is to address the issues of domestic violence in a holistic, collaborative approach.
The LESU grant funded dedicated Domestic Violence Detective has specialized training to conduct follow-up on cases; ensure a consistent law enforcement response; provide trainings; and coordinate a response to domestic violence within the community. The grant funded dedicated full time Domestic Violence Counselor from NEWS provides immediate advocacy to victims of domestic violence and referrals to additional services including assistance with obtaining restraining orders, counseling services, financial assistance, housing assistance, and immediate safety net needs such as food, clothing, emergency shelter, and safety planning. The LESU Detective and Counselor are co-located at Monarch Justice Center, which is designed to provide wrap around services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, child abuse, dating violence, and elder abuse. Having the DV Counselor located at Monarch provides NPD Officers and the DV Detective the resource of an advocate immediately available to survivors. This collaboration creates improved relationships and trust in our response to victims of domestic violence.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
This grant positively impacts the Non-Recurring General Fund and increases the Napa Police Department budget by $270,857 over a one-year period offset by reimbursement of $203,143 from Cal OES. The grant requires a City match of $67,714, which is proposed to be funded by General Fund Patrol employee salary savings. The match dollars will be transferred from the General Fund to the Non-Recurring General Fund to be used for grant expenses.
CEQA:
The Chief of Police has determined that the Recommended Action described in this Staff Report is not subject to CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
ATCH 1 - Budget Adjustment No. BE2202502
ATCH 2 - Cal OES Notification of Application Approval
NOTIFICATION:
None