1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: April 4, 2023
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Michael Albanese, Chief of Police
BY: Courtney Padgett, Police Administrator
SUBJECT: Approval to Accept $103,908.23 from the Board of State and Community Corrections Officer Wellness and Mental Health Grant Program and to Amend the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Budget by Appropriating Funds
RECOMMENDATION
Accept $103,908.23 from the Board of State and Community Corrections Officer Wellness and Mental Health Grant program funds and amend the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 Budget by appropriating funds.
BACKGROUND
Established in the State of California 2022 Budget Act (Assembly Bill 178, Chapter 45, Statutes of 2022), the Board of State and Community Corrections Officer Wellness and Mental Health Program provides $50 million for city and county law enforcement agencies for the purpose of improving officer wellness and expanding mental health re sources.
The funding may be used for establishing or expanding officer wellness units, establishing or expanding peer support units, services provided by a licensed mental health professional, counselor, or other professional that works with law enforcement, expanding multiagency aid programs focused on officer wellness and mental health, and/or other programs and services that are evidence- based or have a successful track record of enhancing officer wellness. The City of Burbank received $103,908.23 in funds to be used for these purposes. Funding allocations were determined by the number of peace officers employed by the agency as defined by California Penal Code 830.1.
DISCUSSION
The Burbank Police Department (Department) recognizes the importance for law enforcement professionals to maintain physical and mental wellness to perform, survive,
POLICE DEPARTMENT
2 and be resilient in the face of the demanding duties of the profession. To emphasize this organizational priority, employ ee wellness was included as an objective in the Department’s current and prior Strategic Plans. The Department strives to educate all employees regarding resources available to them and to cultivate a positive work environment. In 2022, the Department implemented the Peer Support Team as an expansion of the existing Employee Wellness Program. Modeled after other successful law enforcement department programs, the team members (consisting of both sworn and non-sworn personnel who were nominated by their peers and have received specialized training) aid fellow employees and volunteers through education, provision of resources, one-on-one conversations, critical incident debriefings, and practical assistance for employees in need.
Grant funds will be used to enhance the initiatives and continue the development of the Department’s Employee Wellness and Peer Support program through continued specialized training for peer support team members, employee participation in professional conferences focused on law enforcement wellness, and facilitation of Department training for all employees emphasizing wellness topics such as stress management, alcohol and substance abuse, financial wellness, and nutrition and fitness.
The Department will also explore the provision of wellness related resource materials, facilitation of employee wellness events, and use of other emerging contemporary wellness resources and aid designed for law enforcement personnel. The grant performance period is from July 1, 2022, to December 1, 2025.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This activity has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and as such, is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City of Burbank has been awarded a total of $103,908.23 in grant funding. This is a one-time grant allocation with no requirement for matching funds. Staff is requesting City Council approval to amend the FY 2022- 23 Adopted Budget to accept funds from the Officer Wellness and Mental Health Program and appropriate $103,908.23 in grant funds received from revenue account 121.PD000.48010.0000.24809 (General City Grants, PD General, Other Intergovernmental Revenues, Mental Health Grant 2023) to expenditure account 001.PD03A.62300.0000.24809 ( General Fund, Police Administration, Special Departmental Supplies, None, Mental Health Grant 2023).
CONCLUSION
These funds have been awarded to the Burbank Police Department for the purpose of improving officer wellness and expanding mental health resources. 3 ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Grant Award Notification Letter
Attachment 2 – Grant Program Funding Distribution Schedule