TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Allison Haley - District Attorney
REPORT BY: Sophie Johnson, Staff Services Manager
SUBJECT: Approval of Amendments to Agreements for Gang Violence Suppression Multi-Component Program
RECOMMENDATION
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District Attorney requests approval of and authorization for the Chair to sign the following amendments to agreements extending the term through June 30, 2023 with three automatic one-year renewals related the performance of an ongoing Gang Violence Suppression (GVS) Multi-Component Program funded annually through 2011 Public Safety Realignment:
1. Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 180350 with City of Napa Police Department;
2. Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 180351 with City of St. Helena;
3. Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 180352 with City of Calistoga Police Department;
4. Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 180353 with On the Move; and
5. Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 180354 with Napa County Office of Education.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Napa County had been awarded the Gang Violence Suppression (GVS) grant administered by the California Emergency Management Agency since Fiscal Year 2001-2002, until it became an annual appropriation under the 2011 Public Safety Realignment Act. The District Attorney's Office has acted as the lead agency for the GVS Program, and each of the participating component agencies had entered into an ongoing grant operational agreement for the duration of the program.
On June 19, 2016 the Board of Supervisors authorized Agreements with non-County department GVS Program partners to provide components of prevention, education, and law enforcement.
Approval of Amendment No. 1 to Agreements will extend the term of the agreement through June 30, 2023 with three automatic one-year renewals. The agreements are fully funded by Public Safety Realignment funds appropriated in the District Attorney's annual operating budget, with no impact to the County General Fund.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
District Attorney |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
This item is discretionary in that there is no mandate to enter into agreements for the continued operation of the County’s Gang Violence Suppression Multi-Component Program. However, the County receives approximately $282,802 in annual funding dedicated to gang violence suppression activities in the County for the partnering components (prosecution, law enforcement, education and prevention). The recommended extension of the County Professional Services Agreements will allow the District Attorney’s Office to continue to reimburse the partners for their costs associated with participation in the Gang Violence Suppression Program. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Appropriations are included in the District Attorney’s recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2021-2022, and appropriations for future fiscal years will be budgeted accordingly. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
If the action is not approved the County will be unable to reimburse its Gang Violence Suppression partners for participation in this long-standing program and funds distributed to the County by the State under 2011 Public Safety Realignment will not be distributed to the multi-component partners for their intended purpose. |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Collaborative and Engaged Community |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The purpose of the Gang Violence Suppression Multi-Component Program is to reduce the level of gang violence in the community and divert potentially dangerous gang members and gang activity into more positive and constructive social behavior. A Grant Operational Agreement has been in place for the duration of the GVS Program (since Fiscal Year 2001-2002), outlining the responsibilities of each of the eight agencies to enact this program in Napa County. The District Attorney’s Office is the lead agency and receives the funds and distributes funds to the other participating agencies. The GVS Program addresses the following components:
1. Prevention (community-based organization, On the Move ): On the Move focuses programming on the prevention and intervention of potentially violent gang activity through communication and mediation with gang members and at risk youth in the community and by offering counseling and providing alternative activities.
2. Education (Napa County Office of Education): NCOE focuses on the implementation of intervention services within the schools by utilizing gang experts to train students, school staff, and community members on the indicators of gang activity and appropriate responses. The main target of the in-school programs are grades 6 through 8.
3. Law Enforcement: This component focuses on improving specialized gang units within law enforcement agencies to assist with the identification, investigation, and apprehension of gang violence perpetrators. In addition, Calistoga Police Department and St. Helena Police Department are able to offer summer activity programs for “at risk” youth. The Napa Sheriff’s Office and Napa Police Department attend specialized training. The grant provides overtime funding for assisting in probation searches and gang surveillance at community events throughout Napa County.
4. Prosecution: The District Attorney's Office focuses on the vertical prosecution of violent gang offenders by specialized prosecutors while protecting cooperating witnesses from intimidation or retribution by gang members or associates. The District Attorney’s Office dedicates a Deputy District Attorney, an Investigator, administrative support and oversight to this program.
5. Probation: The Probation component focuses on the intensive supervision of identified gang members on Probation in order to ensure the enforcement of their conditions of probation. The GVS Program provides funding toward Probation Officers assigned to concentrate their efforts and resources on individuals identified as gang members.
Consistent with the County's Purchasing Policy, the recommended action will amend agreements for an additional five (5) years with non-County department GVS Program partners, under the applicable signing authority of your Board. The County receives approximately $282,802 annually in 2011 Realignment funds for operation of the GVS multi-component Program, which shall continue to be distributed to the GVS Program participating agencies under the recommended agreements, based on services and activities performed and expenses actually incurred for the program for Fiscal Year 2021-2022. The agreements include a provision for renewal, based on ongoing Realignment funding being made available for future fiscal years, which shall continue to be appropriated in the District Attorney's annual budget, with no impact to the County General Fund.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
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CEO Recommendation: Approve