APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
________________________
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. ______________ C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER REBECCA KAPLAN
RESOLUTION ACCEPTING AND APPROPRIATING GRANT FUNDS IN
AN AMOUNT UP TO $1,000,000 TO BE AWARDED TO THE CITY OF OAKLAND FROM THE 2023-2024 CALIFORNIA STATE BUDGET AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE GRANT
AGREEMENTS WITH UNCOMMON LAW IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $1,000,000.
WHEREAS, according to a 2018 Bureau of Justice Statistics report, five out of six state prisoners were rearrested one or more times in the nine years following their release; and
WHEREAS, the mass incarceration of people has profoundly affected the s ocial and economic structure of families and communities in cities such as Oakland; and
WHEREAS, a growing number of studies show that addressing mental health needs and providing support systems for formerly incarcerated people reduces recidivism; and
WHEREAS, California State Senator Nancy Skinner, in representing Oakland a n d a s Chair of the State Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety and the Judiciary, has been a tireless advocate for our residents impacted by incarceration and was able to secure needed funding for the healthy reentry of formerly incarcerated people; and
WHEREAS, California Assembly Bill No. 101 (Budget Act of 2023) awards one million dollars ($1,000,000) to the City of Oakland to prepare incarcer ated people serving sentences of life with the possibility of parole for parole hearings with therapeutic counseling; and
WHEREAS, UnCommon Law is an Oakland nonprofit that prepares incarcerated individuals for parole hearings and provides trauma-informed, healing-centered mental health and legal counseling with the ultimate goal of helping provide a sa fe pathway home for individuals currently serving lengthy prison terms in California; and
2 WHEREAS, UnCommon Law's work assisting incarcerated individuals navigate the parole process as well as the importance of providing rehabilit ative programming to individuals before and after release from prison was discussed extensively during the 2023-2024 State Budget deliberations; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council hereby accepts funds awarded by the Stat e in an amount up to $1,000,000 and appropriates said funds as follows: $1,000,000 to UnCommon Law; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City Administrator, or their designee, is authorized to enter into grant agreements with UnCommon Law in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City Administrator, or their designee, is hereby authorized to approve any amendments to the grant agreements, a nd take any other action with respect to the grant agreements consistent with this Resolution and its basic purpose; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That prior to execution, the grant agreements and any amendment thereto shall be reviewed and approved as to form and legality by the City Attorney, and executed copies of the agreements shall be filed with the City Clerk.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - FIFE, GALLO,
JENKINS, KALB, KAPLAN, RAMACHANDRAN, REID, AND
PRESIDENT FORTUNATO BAS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
ATTEST:
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the
City of Oakland, California
33334381v1 / FH - updated 2/7/2024