Agenda ep rt
TO:
FROM:
Honorable Mayor and City Council
Public Health Department
August 21, 2023
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND CONTRACT NO. 32390 WITH RICKY
PICKENS TO INCREASE THE TOTAL NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT BY
$30,000 FROM $228,000 TO $258,000 FOR GANG VIOLENCE
OUTREACH AND INTERRUPTION SERVICES IN FISCAL YEAR 2024
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Find that the proposed action is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Section 21065 of CEQA and Sections 15060 (c)(2), 15060 (c)(3), and 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines and, as such, no environmental document pursuant to CEQA is required for the project; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to amend Contract No. 32390 with Ricky Pickens to increase the contract amount by $30,000, thereby increasing the total not-to-exceed amount from $228,000 to $258,000 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024; and
3. To the extent the amendment to Contract No. 32390 could be considered a separate procurement subject to the Competitive Selection Process, grant the contracts an exemption pursuant to Pasadena Municipal Code (PMC) Section 4.08.049(8), contracts for which the City's best interests are served. This transaction is exempt from competitive bidding per PMC Section 4.08.030 and City Charter Section 1002(F) based on contracts for professional or unique services.
BACKGROUND:
On June 1, 2022, staff prepared and posted a Request for Proposals ("RFP") for "Gang Violence Outreach and Interruption Services." The RFP was posted on Planet Bids, 3,068 vendors were notified of the RFP opportunity and 37 vendors downloaded information about the opportunity. The city received a total of 5 proposals and a panel of City staff from Finance; Parks, Recreation & Community Services; Public Health; and MEETING OF 08/21/2023 AGENDA ITEM NO. __ 2 __ _
Authorization to Amend Contract No. 32390 with Ricky Pickens August 21, 2023
Police reviewed and scored each proposal. The proposal submitted by Ricky Pickens and his team was the highest rated.
On August 15, 2022, the City Council authorized the City Manager to enter into a contract with Ricky Pickens and approved two purchase orders to implement the work of a four-member gang interventionist team to provide gang outreach and violence interruption services. The contract issued to Mr. Pickens was for two years with the option of an additional one-year extension at the sole discretion of the City Manager.
The contract was originally administered by the Office of the City Manager and has since been transferred to the Public Health Department.
Between 2019 and 2021, the Pasadena community experienced a rise in gang violence leading to a 125% increase in confirmed shootings. In response to this crisis, the City initially contracted with Ricky Pickens to provide gang outreach and violence interruption services in January 2021. At that time, Mr. Pickens and his team began providing mediation, conflict resolution, and negotiated stand down agreements to reduce the incidence of violence. In Calendar Year 2021, Pasadena Police Department data indicate there were 31 gang-related or possibly gang-related shootings. In Calendar Year 2022, there were 18 gang-related or possibly gang-related shootings showing a 58% decrease from the prior year.
Beginning in early July 2023, there has been an increase in tensions within and between local gangs necessitating a significant increase for gang violence outreach and interruption services. The increase in gang activity appears related to the release of individuals from corrections facilities and very young individuals who are seeking to build credibility with older gang members. To reach these populations, the Department recommends temporarily adding two outreach members with the ability to connect with individuals as they are released from corrections facilities and who are familiar with youth involved in local gangs to disrupt the cycle of gang violence.
The proposed amendment will expand the scope of Mr. Pickens' contract to include directly hiring a third and fourth gang interventionist through September 30, 2023, at the same rate of compensation as other members of the team. If approved by City Council, the engagement is expected to increase the value of the agreement by $30,000 from $228,000 to $258,000 in Fiscal Year 2024.
The work of the Gang Outreach and Violence Interruption Services ("GOVIS") Team aligns with the Department's broader violence prevention efforts. The Board of State and Community Corrections ("BSCC") 'awarded the Department $2,510,394 through the CalVIP Grant in August 2022. The GOVIS Team will help the Department satisfy the 100% match required by the grant. The team provides monthly data to the Department, which is summarized in quarterly reports presented to the Public Safety Committee.
GOVIS provides important services to the Department's CalVIP grant program and the city overall.
Authorization to Amend Contract No. 32390 with Ricky Pickens August 21, 2023
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
The proposed contract amendment aligns with the City Council's strategic plan goal to ensure public safety.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
The action proposed herein is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") in accordance with Section 21065 of CEQA and State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060 (c)(3) and 15378(b). CEQA Guidelines Section 15060 (c)(3) excludes from environmental review those activities that are not a "project" as defined in Section 15378. Section 15378(b) excludes from the definition of "project" governmental funding activities which do not involve a commitment to a project which may result in a potentially significant environmental effect. The proposed action consists of a contract and appropriation of funds for gang prevention efforts. No direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment would result.
Authorization to Amend Contract No. 32390 with Ricky Pickens August21,2023
FISCAL IMPACT:
Sufficient appropriations in the General Fund are currently available within the Public Health Department's Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget. There are no anticipated impacts to other programs as a result of this action.
Prepared by:
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Division Manager
Public Health Department
Approved by:
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4/MIGUEL MARQUE{)
City Manager
Respectfully submitted,
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Acting Director
Public Health Department