TO:
VIA:
FROM:
DATE:
CITY COUNCIL
CITY ADMINISTRATOR
CHIEF OF POLICE
JUNE 21, 2022
Placentia Cit Council
AGENDA REPORT
SUBJECT: PLACENTIA S.T.R.O.N.G. PROJECT GRANT FUNDING BY THE PROJECT
SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS
FISCAL
IMPACT: EXPENSE: $ 537,160
REVENUE: $ 537,160 PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS
SUMMARY:
The City Council provided direction to Staff to examine ways the City could improve staffing and resources dedicated toward gang enforcement and prevention. Subsequent to that direction, Police Department Staff (Staff) worked with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. (Townsend) on a grant application with Project Safe Neighborhoods. Launched in 2001, the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders, and other stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. PSN is coordinated by the U.S. Attorney's Offices in the 94 federal districts throughout the 50 states and U.S. territories.
PSN grant funding would support the proposed Placentia S.T.R.O.N.G. Project that will allow our police personnel to undertake Systemic Teaching for the Reduction Of Neighborhood Gang - activity. Working with Townsend, Staff developed the framework for addressing these concerns within our City. The project will operate under the PSN timeline that all awarded proposals will be completed within three (3) years of the award date. In addition to the previous major goals stated, the Placentia S.T.R.O.N.G. Project will also include the implementation of increased participation in Lot 318, increased participation in the Orange County Gang Reduction and Intervention Partnership (OC GRIP) operated by the Orange County District Attorney's Office, and a Placentia Community Outreach Initiative.
The City of Placentia (the 'City') was approved and awarded grant funds for the "Placentia S.T.R.O.N.G. Project." This agenda report will allow the City Council to accept and receive the funds for the aforementioned program.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that City Council take the following actions:
1. Authorize the City's participation in the Placentia S.T.R.O.N.G. Project; and
1.i.
June 21, 2022
City Council Agenda
June 21, 2022
2. Authorize the City Administrator to execute the necessary documents, in a form approved by the City Attorney and accept the program funds.
DISCUSSION:
Last year, Staff worked with Townsend on a grant application with Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Launched in 2001, the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders, and other stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. PSN is coordinated by the U.S. Attorney's Offices in the 94 federal districts throughout the 50 states and U.S. territories.
A major goal of PSN is to incorporate research and data analysis, and lessons from other violent crime reduction initiatives, to inform its decision-making on the most effective violence reduction strategies. This major goal will be accomplished by addressing criminal street gang activity, the felonious possession and use of firearms, fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results of our efforts. And the U.S. Department of Justice expressly underscores that the fundamental goal of this work is to reduce violent crime in the places we call home, not to increase the number of arrests and prosecutions as if they were the ends in themselves.
The City is in dire need of Intervention/Prevention/Outreach resources. We need increased intervention and prevention on behalf of our at -risk youth as they are recruited and terrorized by the three rival criminal street gangs (Pias, La Jolla, and Atwood) that operate in the City. In addition, they are also in the crossfire of other competing criminal street gangs that operate in surrounding cities and counties.
PSN grant funding would support the proposed Placentia S.T.R.O.N.G. Project that will allow our police personnel to undertake Systemic Teaching for the Reduction Of Neighborhood Gang - activity. Working with Townsend, Staff developed the framework for addressing these concerns within our City. The project will operate under the PSN timeline that all awarded proposals will be completed within three years of the award date. In addition to the previous major goals stated, the Placentia S.T.R.O.N.G. Project will also include the implementation of increased participation in Lot 318, increased participation in the Orange County Gang Reduction and Intervention Partnership (OC GRIP) operated by the Orange County District Attorney's Office, and a Placentia Community Outreach Initiative.
Specifically, PSN funds will be used for police personnel, fringe benefits, radios, and educational handouts. The funding was designed to be provided over a three-year period, initially planned from September 2020 through September 2023, however there was a slight delay due to the nationwide pandemic and reduced staffing levels. Staff are now asking that the City take receipt of this funding for Fiscal Year 2022-23. The City will receive $537,160 in funds to be used in compliance with the goals set forth by the PSN.
City Council Agenda
June 21, 2022
FISCAL IMPACT:
The City has been awarded $537,160 from the PSN program for the Placentia S.T.R.O.N.G.
Project to provide funding for additional gang enforcement and prevention. The grant funds will be used to pay for personnel & fringe benefits, without supplanting, and will fund: one (1) existing Gang Officer (100%), two (2) existing Police Officers (100%), and one (1) existing Sergeant (50%). The awarded funds will all be used in FY 2022-23, ending on June 30, 2023.
Submitted by:
James MoMIFSinney
Captain
Reviewed and approved:
Jenni er Lampman
Finance Director City Administrator
Reviewed and approved:
rad Butts
Chief of Pofi
Reviewed and approved:
i
Damien R. Arrula
Attachments:
1. Grant Application
2. PSN Subaward Agreement