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
Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Grant Subaward Agreement, and any applicable amendments or related subaward documents, for the Law Enforcement Specialized Units Program Grant #LE22 06 7400 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 $67,715; and approving a transfer of $67,715 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 $270,858, as documented in Council Budget Amendment 3P09.
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 (CalOES) Law Enforcement Specialized Units (LESU) grant. This grant funds a dedicated Domestic Violence Detective and Domestic Violence Counselor. The four-year grant is available for renewal each year on a non-competitive basis and provides $203,143 on a yearly basis to fund this partnership. The grant requires a City match of $67,715.
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 $270,858 over a one-year period offset by reimbursement of $203,143 from Cal OES. The grant requires a City match of $67,715, 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 - Council Budget Amendment 3P09
ATCH 2 - CalOES Notification of Grant Subaward Application Approval
ATCH 3 - Resolution
NOTIFICATION:
None