ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: August 26, 2026 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - PSVS TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Brent Stratton, Chief of Police
DATE: August 10, 2026
SUBJECT: Master Memorandum of Understanding with Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services. (not to exceed $413,000) for the Joint Provisions of Services for the communications Center, Homeless Co-Response Program, Mobile Crisis Intervention Team and Traditional MET Programs with the Bakersfield Police Department.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the Master Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
BACKGROUND: The Bakersfield Police Department (BPD) and Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (Kern BHRS) are using innovative strategies to partner on handling behavioral health (BH) matters in our community by establishing a Homeless Co -Response Program focusing on those suffering from mental health issues who are also experiencing homelessness. Homeless Co -Response units consist of a police officer and a BH Clinician working together in the field. These teams can increase service capacity, decrease response times and increase efficiency while also increasing the likelihood of obtaining a positive resolution.
The BPD and Kern BHRS conducted a pilot program and during this pilot program one clinician diverted approximately 70% of the 600 plus assigned calls, preventing a police officer respons e over 480 times to non-emergency calls. By implementing these strategies, we will decrease law enforcement contact with subjects in crisis who are better served by BH staff intervention and as a result decrease response times to other priority calls.
On August 31, 2022, the City and County of Kern, on behalf of Kern BHRS, entered into Agreement No. 2022-181 to solidify the joint provision of services between BPD and Kern BHRS, for a total annual amount of $405,000 ($135,000 per position), and a term date of June 30, 2023.
On August 8, 2023, the City and Kern BHRS entered into Amendment 1 to Agreement No. 2022 -181 to increase funding by $405,000 for FY23/24 and $405,000 for FY24/25; for a revised total not to exceed amount of $1,215,000 and a term date of June 30, 2025.
On July 15, 2025, the City and Kern BHRS entered into Agreement No. 2025-155 in the amount of $405,000 and a term date of June 30, 2026, for Communications Center and Homeless Co-Response Programs.
The City now desires to enter into a new agreement with Kern BHRS in the amount of $4 13,000 and a term date of June 30, 2027, for joint provisions of services for the Communications Center, Homeless Co- Response Program, Mobile Crisis Response, Crisis Intervention Team and Traditional MET Programs with the Bakersfield Police Department
FISCAL IMPACT:
Sufficient funds are budgeted and available within the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget to fully fund the total cost associated with this active and the agreement.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Safety and Resilience
ATTACHMENTS:
Signed Agreement